Dhaka
Momen ‘surprised’ to see his name as chief guest at Bay of Bengal Conversation 2022 opening
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen says he was surprised to see his name as the “chief guest” at the inaugural session of Bay of Bengal Conversation 2022.
“It’s very unfortunate,” Momen said while responding to a question at a media briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday.
Read more: Diplomats should remember Bangladesh is an independent, sovereign country: Momen
The foreign minister said he attended a programme marking 7,000 episodes of the television talk show “Tritiyo Matra” where CGS Executive Director Zillur Rahman verbally talked about the event.
“We didn’t give him any date. This is very strange,” Momen said.
The Foreign Minister said he was not going there and at this moment he is very busy with many foreign guests.
Read more: Russian FM Lavrov’s changed decision on Dhaka visit understandable: Momen
“I have plenty of people to meet, including MPs from Assam. I have an obligation to meet them bilaterally (IORA ministers). We are very busy with the state jobs,” he added.
The three-day Bay of Bengal Conversation 2022 began at a Dhaka hotel on Monday.
Air quality in Dhaka 'unhealthy' this morning
Dhaka's air quality continued to be in the 'unhealthy' zone on Monday morning.
With an air quality index (AQI) score of 152 at 9am, the metropolis ranked 14th in the list of world cities with the worst air quality.
An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy', particularly for sensitive groups.
Read more: Dhaka's air quality continues to be 'unhealthy'
Pakistan’s Lahore, India’s Delhi and Poland’s Krakow occupied the first three spots in the list, with AQI scores of 354, 263, and 187 respectively.
An AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be 'poor', while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.
Read more: As winter approaches, Dhaka's air quality 'unhealthy' in the mornings
Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as increasing a person’s chances of developing a heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies.
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.
Dhaka for easing visa process, recruitment of more Bangladeshis in Bahrain
Bangladesh has urged Bahrain to work towards easing the process of applying as well as obtaining Bahraini visas for Bangladeshi nationals.
Bangladesh also requested Bahrain to approve the re-entry of its 207 stranded workers and 150 stranded families whose visas expired during the pandemic time.
The issues were discussed at the long-awaited first round of the Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) between Bangladesh and Bahrain in Manama Sunday.
Bahrain assured Bangladesh of solving the issues at the earliest.
Read: Climate Change: UN, Bangladesh to strengthen cooperation
The Bangladesh delegation was led by Secretary (East) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mashfee Binte Shams. The Bahrain delegation was led by Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa.
During the meeting, the two sides also stressed the importance of forming a "strategic partnership" between the countries to promote the steady growth of bilateral relationships.
"Mashfee requested Bahrain to open its labour market to new Bangladeshi workers. Her Bahrain counterpart underscored a fair and transparent recruitment system," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
The Bangladesh side mentioned a few good models by which Bangladeshis are being recruited for overseas employment.
Also, the government has taken a zero-tolerance policy against illegal migration and signed MoU to prevent human trafficking in some countries, it added.
The delegations from both sides sought each other's support and cooperation in trade, economics, labour, youth, sports, airing candidacies in international elections, mutual exchange of visits of senior-level officials, blue economy, and the signing of pending bilateral instruments that are yet to be finalised and several other topics of mutual interest.
Read: Bangladesh, Cyprus keen to expand cooperation on public safety
The secretary briefed the Bahrain side about Bangladesh's recent remarkable progress in socio-economic development as well as the government's efforts to establish the country as the regional hub of connectivity.
Mashfee requested the undersecretary to consider exporting fertiliser to Bangladesh and importing agricultural foods from Bangladesh. She also sought Bahraini support for a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis.
The undersecretary appreciated the role of Bangladeshi expatriates in the development efforts of Bahrain, contributing to the economies of both countries.
The secretary invited the undersecretary to visit Bangladesh at the earliest opportunity.
The next round of FOC will be held in Dhaka in 2023.
Dhaka's air quality continues to be 'unhealthy'
Dhaka's air quality continued to be in the 'unhealthy' zone on Sunday morning.
With an air quality index (AQI) score of 173 at 9am, the metropolis ranked sixth in the list of world cities with the worst air quality.
An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy', particularly for sensitive groups.
Pakistan’s Lahore, India’s Delhi and Mongolia’s Ulaanbaatar, occupied the first three spots in the list, with AQI scores of 286, 188, and 184 respectively.
Read more: Dhaka’s air quality stays ‘unhealthy’
An AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be 'poor', while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.
Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as increasing a person’s chances of developing a heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies.
Read more: Dhaka's air quality is 'unhealthy'
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.
55-member Assam delegation in Dhaka
A 55-member Parliamentary delegation from Indian State of Assam including 35 MLAs arrived here on an official visit on Saturday.
Iqbalur Rahim MP, Whip of Bangladesh National Parliament, received the delegation at a city hotel.
The delegation members visited the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 on Saturday afternoon and paid tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing floral wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu there.
Read more: Indian High Commission in Dhaka welcomes back Bangladesh Youth Delegation
Dhaka, Seoul to explore untapped potential for brighter future: Ambassador
South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Lee Jang-keun has said Bangladesh and South Korea will celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties together next year and will head for a brighter future making the anniversary a milestone year for relations bettween the two countries.
“I have many plans and ideas to make it happen. But it requires support and participation of all important stakeholders,” he said while speaking at KOICA Alumni Night-2022 at a hotel in Dhaka on Thursday.
Though the two countries have enjoyed close and strong ties, the ambassador said, there still is huge untapped potential.
“Our relations can surpass the level of Korea’s relations with other regional partner countries such as Vietnam and India, the third and eighth major trading partners of Korea,” he said.
The ambassador said KOICA Bangladesh Alumni Association (KBAA) can be and should be the leading agent and facilitator in their joint efforts for untapping potentials.
This year, the Korean government decided to significantly increase the amount of the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) funding to Bangladesh, from US$ 0.7 billion to US$ 3 billion over the next five years.
Read more: Dhaka, Seoul to work together for their prosperity
Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in collaboration with KOICA Bangladesh Alumni Association (KBAA) hosted the grand annual event known as “KOICA Alumni Night” strengthening friendly ties between Bangladesh and South Korea.
State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak spoke as the chief guest.
Nasima Begum, Member (Secretary), Planning Commission and President, KBAA, A.B.M. Amin Ullah Nuri, Secretary, Road Transport and Highways Division, Young-Ah Doh, Country Director, KOICA Bangladesh Office and Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Additional Secretary, Wing Chief (Asia, JEC and F&F), Economic Relations Division also spoke.
Dhaka's air quality still 'unhealthy'
Dhaka's air quality continued to be in the 'unhealthy' zone as winter is approaching.
With an air quality index (AQI) score of 181 at 8:30am today, Dhaka ranked fifth in the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.
An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy', particularly for sensitive groups.
Read more: As winter approaches, Dhaka's air quality 'unhealthy' in the mornings
Pakistan’s Lahore, India’s Delhi and Pakistan’s Karachi occupied the first three spots in the list, with AQI scores of 292, 277 and 189, respectively.
An AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be 'poor', while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.
Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as increasing a person’s chances of developing a heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies.
Read more: Dhaka’s air quality stays ‘unhealthy’
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.
Rio Olympics Silver medalist Iizuka Shota visits Dhaka
Iizuka Shota, silver medalist of the 4×100 m relay at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics 2016, and his coach Toyoda Yasuhiro concluded their four-day visit in Dhaka on Wednesday.
The visit was part of commemorating the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Japan.
Iizuka participated in an exchange programme with primary school students of Sunnydale School at Sultana Kamal Women's Complex and demonstrated how to run faster with a proper posture.
Read more: FS Masud gets 2-year extension as senior secretary
Air quality: Dhaka world’s 2nd most polluted city this morning
Dhaka's air quality continued to be in the 'unhealthy' zone on Monday morning.
With an air quality index (AQI) score of 195 at 9am, the metropolis ranked second in the list of world cities with the worst air quality.
An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy', particularly for sensitive groups.
Read more: Dhaka’s air quality ‘very unhealthy’ this morning
India’s Delhi and Kolkata occupied the first and third spots in the list, with AQI scores of 225 and 188, respectively.
An AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be 'poor', while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.
Read more: Dhaka's air quality is still 'unhealthy'
Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as increasing a person’s chances of developing a heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies.
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.
Dhaka’s air quality ‘very unhealthy’ this morning
Air pollution still remains one of the top-most challenges for Bangladesh and Dhaka has been ranked as the second most polluted city in the world with ‘very unhealthy’ air quality on Sunday (November 13, 2022) morning.
Dhaka’s air quality index (AQI) score was 235 at 9 am today.
An AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be ‘very unhealthy’, while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.
Read more: Dhaka's air quality is still 'unhealthy'
Pakistan’s Lahore and India’s Delhi occupied the first and third spots in the list, with AQI scores of 333 and 202, respectively.
An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy', particularly for sensitive groups.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.
Read more: No improvement in Dhaka’s ‘unhealthy’ air
Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as increasing a person’s chances of developing a heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies.
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.
The worsening air quality of Dhaka city is threatening the health status and life of its residents.
Read More: AQI: Dhaka's air quality improves after morning rain