Commonwealth
Baton’s arrival sets another milestone in Bangla-UK ties: Dickson
With the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh-UK relations and the two countries’ ties going through the Commonwealth, the arrival of the Queen’s Baton Relay in Bangladesh is another important milestone of “Brit Bangla Bondhon”, said British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson.
“The Baton Relay has been an essential part of the Commonwealth Games for over 60 years and celebrates communities from across the Commonwealth during the run up to the Games,” said the High Commissioner.
The British envoy made the remarks at a reception hosted by the British High Commission on Friday evening to welcome the Queen’s Baton Relay to Bangladesh.
The Baton was carried to the High Commission by celebrated Bangladeshi sport shooters Abdullah Hel Baki and Shakil Ahmed, where they were welcomed by British High Commissioner Dickson, alongside the President of the Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) and Chief of Army Staff General S M Shafiuddin Ahmed.
“We feel really honored in Bangladesh as the Baton has reached us,” said the BOA President, adding that he will be very happy if Bangladesh can come up with a good number of medals.” ‘I’m looking forward to that.”
The UK is hosting Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Birmingham 2022 will bring together 6,500 athletes and team officials from the Commonwealth countries in a spirit of friendly competition and a celebration of the Commonwealth family's rich diversity and shared goals of democracy, development and peace.
After Bangladesh, the Baton Relay will travel to India on January 10, said the High Commission on Saturday.
The British envoy said it ignites hope, solidarity, and collaboration as it connects communities embracing unique cultures and inspires the next generation of sporting heroes.
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The reception was attended by several renowned sports persons in Bangladesh, representatives of the Bangladesh government, different civil society organisations, youth groups, British businesses, and heads of missions of the Commonwealth countries in Bangladesh.
UK reinforces commitment to deepening of bilateral ties with Bangladesh
UK’s Minister for South Asia, the United Nations and the Commonwealth Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon on Thursday reinforced the UK’s commitment to deepening bilateral relations with Bangladesh as he left for London concluding his 3-day visit to Bangladesh.
In a busy programme of meetings and visits to places, the Minister reinforced the UK’s commitment to deepening cooperation with Bangladesh across a wide range of issues including trade, security, climate change and the Rohingya crisis.
Lord Ahmad, who is also the UK Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, held meetings with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, as well as with representatives of civil society organisations and the humanitarian sector.
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In his meetings, Lord Ahmad discussed the path to Bangladesh’s landmark graduation from Least Developed Country Status, which is due in 2026.
Summit signs MoU with Commonwealth LNG to help supply fuel to Bangladesh
Summit Oil and Shipping Co. Ltd. (“SOSCL”), the private sector importer and supplier of fuel oil to Bangladesh, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Commonwealth LNG to collaborate in the supply of LNG to Asia, including Bangladesh.
The SOSCL is part of the Summit Group, Bangladesh’s largest infrastructure conglomerate.
According to Summit Group, the signing ceremony took place at the Bangabandhu Auditorium of the Embassy of Bangladesh in Washington, D.C. in the presence of Dr. Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, Energy Advisor to the Prime Minister.
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Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury underscored the importance of ensuring access to energy sources to support the economic development related activities in Bangladesh.
He welcomed the signing of the MOU between SOSCL and Commonwealth LNG as an important step towards further expanding the existing energy cooperation between Bangladesh and the United States.
The scope of the MOU includes SOSCL potentially contracting for 1 million tonnes per year (MTPA) of LNG offtake, for a term of up to 20 years, from Commonwealth’s 8.4 MTPA facility currently under development in Cameron, Louisiana.
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SOSCL’s associated companies within Summit Group have approximately 3 GW of gas-to-power electricity in operation or development within the Indian subcontinent, and operate a 500 mmcf/d Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) and LNG terminal under Summit LNG Terminal Co (Pvt) Ltd (“SLNG”) in Moheshkhali of Cox’s Bazar.
“We’re proud of what this step means towards securing this major source of clean energy for the growing economy of Bangladesh,” said Farid Khan, Vice Chairman of Summit Group.
“We look forward to having Commonwealth LNG as a partner that can deliver U.S.-sourced LNG, providing diversification of supply for Bangladesh and the pricing stability associated with Henry Hub”, he added.
From Commonwealth LNG’s perspective, President and CEO Paul Varello said the MOU is evidence of just how aligned the parties are in achieving their shared objectives.
“Commonwealth’s focus on producing the lowest-cost liquefaction in the U.S. remains important in a highly competitive global market,” said Varello.
“This becomes even more critical for a rapidly emerging economy such as Bangladesh where the need for additional energy is critical for sustaining its economic growth. Summit has recognized that need and Commonwealth LNG looks forward to partnering in these efforts,” he said.
Commonwealth is implementing an accelerated construction schedule that will allow the project to be built in three years using a predominantly modular approach with major components being fabricated offsite, said the Summit Group.
Korvi honoured with "Commonwealth Point of Light Award"
Korvi Rakshand has been honoured with "Commonwealth Point of Light Award" for his exceptional voluntary services helping young people take part in volunteering.
“It is such an honour for me to receive the Commonwealth Point of Light Award. I am earnestly grateful to Her Majesty the Queen as the Head of the Commonwealth for the recognition I have received for my work," he said.
Korvi said it is truly amazing to win such a prestigious award and able to represent the work of our volunteers.
"Our 40,000 volunteers throughout Bangladesh have been doing amazing works to develop their community, this award shows that their hard work and dedication is significant," he said.
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Korvi hoped that ‘JAAGO Foundation’ and ‘Volunteer for Bangladesh’ will keep continuing doing amazing work to create a better society and keep inspiring others to join in this great cause.
The Queen has recognized Korvi representing Bangladesh as the 181st Commonwealth Point of Light.
British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson congratulated Korvi on his outstanding work.
In a message he said, “My warmest congratulations to Korvi Rakshand on his Points of Light award. As I have seen for myself in a Jaago school in a poor community in Dhaka, his contribution to improving access to quality education and efforts to inspire Bangladeshi young people are outstanding."
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Dickson said he is delighted that this award further strengthens the British-Bangla ties and the spirit of the Commonwealth in Bangladesh.
The Commonwealth is a diverse community of 54 nations that work together to promote prosperity, democracy and peace.
The Heads of Government meeting brought together leaders from all the 54 Member countries to reaffirm common values, address shared global challenges and agree how to work to create a better future for all citizens, especially young people.
Voluntary service is a vital part of this agenda, which is why The Queen has chosen to recognise outstanding volunteers across the Commonwealth in this special way, said the British High Commission in Dhaka.
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Bangladesh committed to media freedoms 'in Commonwealth and beyond': Muna Tasneem
Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem, who also represents the country on the Board of Governors of the Commonwealth, has reaffirmed her government's commitment to upholding media freedoms within the Commonwealth and beyond. “The government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will continue to work closely with the UK, Namibia and our Commonwealth fraternity to continually uphold and improve media freedom nationally, globally and within the Commonwealth," she said.
The High Commissioner made the remarks at a virtual event organised by the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and High Commission of Namibia, on ‘Media Freedom in the Commonwealth’ on Wednesday in London.
The event was co-hosted by the UK and Namibia at the advent of the World Press Freedom Day Conference 2021 scheduled to be hosted in Windhoek, Namibia on April 29 to May 3 in collaboration with the UNESCO.
Reflecting on the theme of this year’s World Press Freedom Day, “Information as a Public Good”, the High Commissioner paid her tributes to journalists all around the world including those who lost their lives in the line of duty.
She called upon the Commonwealth to support sustainability and economic viability of news and media houses across the Commonwealth especially in developing countries during the Covid crisis, enhanced transparency of internet companies, and greater media and information literacy among young people to ensure information is indeed delivered as ‘public good’.
High Commissioner Tasneem also briefed the Commonwealth meeting on wide-ranging initiatives and reforms undertaken by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government towards rapid liberalization, privatization and expansion of Bangladesh’s print, electronic and digital media industry over the past decade.
The High Commissioner said apart from promoting an exponential growth in private electronic and digital media in Bangladesh, specially the internet-based news portals and TV channels leveraging media freedom and freedom of expression, the present government also created the country’s first journalists’ welfare trust to support special needs of journalists and their family members, and commissioned two wage boards to enhance their pay and salary packages by more than sixty percent since 2013.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland QC and High Commissioners of a number of Commonwealth countries, spoke on the occasion.
The meeting was co-chaired by Head of Media Freedom at the UK FCDO Mr Kanbar Hussein and High Commissioner of Namibia to the UK Linda Scott.
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