MoFA
Qatar to continue supplying LNG to Bangladesh: MoFA
Amid uncertainty over global energy supplies, Qatar said it will continue supplying liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Bangladesh, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).
Qatar Ambassador to Bangladesh Seraya Ali Al-Qahtani met State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam and discussed issues of mutual interest Sunday.
The state minister thanked the government of Qatar for extending its vaccine support to Bangladesh expatriates and not sending them back during the Covid crisis.He appreciated the government of Qatar for supporting each other in international fora.
Read: Dhaka, Ankara eye Turkish president's visit this yearShahriar Alam informed the ambassador about investment opportunities in Bangladesh and hoped that during his tenure trade and investment between the two countries would expand.As Seraya Ali expressed his commitment to further strengthen relations with Bangladesh, Shahriar Alam assured him of all support.The ambassador praised the Bangladesh government for the country's steady economic growth and continued socio-economic development.
Also, he briefed the state minister about preparations taken by his government for hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 despite Covid.
MoFa holds training on e-governance on easy and quick services
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday said e-governance and innovation will make the service receiving easier and more comfortable ensuring transparency and accountability to the people.
The MoFA said it has the necessary foundations for delivering e-governance promises and instituting innovation in its architectural framework.
This was acknowledged at an online training session on “E-governance and Innovation.” It was presided over by Secretary (West & ICT) Ambassador Shabbir Ahmad Chowdhury.
Wing Heads and officers of the ministry attended the session.
Read: Bangladesh now an important economic, political partner: Germany
Along with discussing the successful initiatives (digitalising consular services, implementation of E-nothi in the Ministry, meeting on Boithok platform) taken by the ICT wing of the ministry, senior officers of the Ministry suggested the future course of actions.
There will be a similar session to brief the missions on “E-governance and Innovation” next week and the process of reconstituting the innovation team will soon be finalised.
The chair thanked everyone for their presence in the session and requested everyone to provide their suggestions for easing of service provisions.
MoFA sets up human rights cell under its UN wing
The foreign ministry has set up a dedicated human rights cell under its United Nations (UN) wing to look into human rights issues with greater importance and present the facts before the international community by analysing the situation properly.
Read: MoFA trashes reports on learning centre closure in Rohingya camps
The ministry issued an office order on Tuesday in this regard and Director M Rabiul Islam will look into the human rights cell under Director General DG (UN) Samia Anjum.
Bangladesh condemns Houthi militias’ explosive-laden drones attack in Abu Dhabi
Bangladesh has strongly condemned the Houthi militias’ attack with explosive-laden drones on Abu Dhabi causing damage to civil property and loss of lives.
This is a repeat terrorist attack following the hijack of a UAE-flagged cargo ship called Rawabi off the coast of Al Hudayah Governorate on 2nd January 2022, said the ministry of foreign affairs on Tuesday.
"Bangladesh feels that the recent drone attack targeting civilian establishments and killing of innocent civilians constitutes an unlawful and cowardly act of terrorism. Bangladesh also believes that such insensible and illegal acts are targeting civilians and civilian facilities and are a flagrant violation of international law and norms of civilized behavior," reads the MoFA statement.
Bangladesh called upon the Houthi militias to refrain from repetition of such unlawful activities and deliberate escalation of tension since such irresponsible activities may aggravate tension in the region.
Bangladesh expressed its firm solidarity with the United Arab Emirates and its brotherly people against any threat to its safety and security.
Bangladesh also remains steadfastly committed towards all efforts for maintenance of peace and stabilityin the region, MoFA said.
MoFA to celebrate Digital Bangladesh Day-2021 at home, abroad
Digital Bangladesh Day-2021 is set to be celebrated on December 12 through various programmes across the country and Bangladesh Missions abroad.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has undertaken an ambitious set of ICT reforms and application building, complementing the Digital Bangladesh initiative of the government.
READ: 'Charer Master' applauded for highlighting Digital Bangladesh
The day is of special significance to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry has arranged a set of programmes to celebrate the 5th “The Digital Bangladesh Day-2021.”
The programmes will include a debate competition, an essay writing competition on various aspects of digital Bangladesh, a global 50-word short story contest on the Bangladesh dream and a 4IR themed webinar on December 12, said MoFA on Wednesday.
READ: KOICA helped establish pillars of Digital Bangladesh: Zunaid Palak
Passenger movement through land ports relaxed: MoFA
Cross-border movement of passengers through land ports has been relaxed, considering the Covid-19 scenario in Bangladesh and the region.
With the lifting of the restrictions Thursday, passengers travelling to Bangladesh through land ports will no longer be required to obtain any objection certificate (NOC) from Bangladesh missions abroad.
Also, passengers exiting from the country through land ports will not be required to provide prior intimation to the concerned Bangladesh authorities before their exit.
The regular immigration hours and days will resume with immediate effect at the currently operational six land ports – Benapole, Akhaura, Sonamasjid, Hili, Darshana and Burimari – for cross border movement of passengers.
Read: MoFA introduces Public Diplomacy wing
Talha new Bangladesh Ambassador to France
The government has appointed Khondker M. Talha, currently serving as the Director General of East Asia and Pacific Wing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as the next Ambassador of Bangladesh to France.
Talha is a career foreign service officer of the 15th batch of Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) Foreign Affairs Cadre, said the MoFA on Thursday.
In his overseas assignments, he served at Bangladesh Permanent Missions to the UN in New York and Geneva where he was elected to the bureau of a number of UN and International Organisations.
Read: GSP+ probably to be way forward in post-LDC period: EU Ambassador
He was also posted to Bangladesh Missions in Tehran and London in his diplomatic career.
In his earlier stints at the headquarters, he served as the Chief of Protocol and also worked at South Asia and Multilateral Economic Affairs Wings in various capacities.
Talha holds a Masters degree in Economics from Dhaka University, an MBA from IBA, Dhaka University and another Masters in Foreign Affairs and Trade from Monash University, Melbourne.
UNGA: No scope for side events this time due to Covid-19
The Ministry Foreign Affairs on Tuesday said there is no scope for any country, as advised by the UN headquarters, to hold any side events during the 76th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 76) next month due to Covid-19 pandemic.
The decision to hold any event on the sidelines of the UNGA depends on the country concerned and there is no need to take permission from the United Nation, said the MoFA in a media release as it dismissed a media report on this as “misleading”.
The ministry, however, said the concerned country discusses with the concerned authorities for logistic and technical supports if that country wants to hold any event on the sidelines at the UN headquarters.
The 76th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 76) will open on September 14. The first day of the high-level General Debate will begin September 21.
Read: PM likely to join 76th UNGA in person
The UN has already shared the Covid-19 related guidelines and Bangladesh is trying to hold some side events maintaining health protocols.
Many side events were arranged in the six years when Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen was a Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN which helped brighten Bangladesh’s image in the international arena and protect Bangladesh’s interest, said the ministry.
No permission was required to host such side events at the UN headquarters, it said.
Currently made up of 193 member states, the UN and its work are guided by the purposes and principles contained in its founding Charter.
Protests in Swaziland: Dhaka in constant touch with Mission
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) is in constant touch with the Bangladesh Mission in South Africa to help Bangladeshis in Swaziland who are worried over the current situation there, said a senior official on Friday.
"We’re in constant touch with our Mission," Mashfee Binte Shams, Secretary (East) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told UNB.
She said the Bangladesh Mission in South Africa will facilitate if any Bangladesh national requires any support.
Also read: Section of global media, CSOs campaigning against Bhasan Char with distorted info: MoFA
One of the Bangladesh nationals in South Africa reached out to UNB saying Bangladesh nationals, around 1200 to 1300, in Swaziland are much worried over the current situation there.
He said their business establishments are mostly looted.
Pro-democracy protesters in Eswatini have defied an overnight curfew to call for constitutional reforms as tensions increase in Africa’s last absolute monarchy.
Demonstrations flared on Monday in the tiny and landlocked kingdom previously known as Swaziland, with protesters taking to the streets in the two largest cities of Manzini and Mbabane, reports Al Jazeera.
Also read: MoFA introduces Public Diplomacy wing
The Bangladesh Mission in South Africa is also in touch with the South African Foreign Ministry in this regard, said a diplomatic source.
Eswatini, officially the Kingdom of Eswatini, is still commonly known in English as Swaziland and it is a landlocked country in Southern Africa.
It is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its north, west and south.
Section of global media, CSOs campaigning against Bhasan Char with distorted info: MoFA
The government of Bangladesh has said a section of international media and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have been continuously campaigning against Bhasan Char and Rohingya relocation with distorted information.
Noting this with "great disappointment" the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday said such campaign will undermine the magnanimous humanitarian gestures and the sincere efforts of Bangladesh.
"Excessive focus on temporary arrangement and undue criticism will only shift the focus from the permanent solution, which lies in repatriation to and reintegration of Rohingyas in Myanmar," said the MoFA in a media release.
Also read: Fully cooperating with ICJ to “ensure justice” for Rohingyas: NUG
During UNHCR senior officials tour to Bhasan Char, a large number of Rohingya gathered and launched a demonstration.
At one point, the crowd got agitated and in the process, some of the Rohingyas reportedly got minor injury, said the Ministry adding that once the delegation left the island, the situation normalized.
The two-member team from the UNHCR Headquarters in Geneva, comprising the Assistant High Commissioner for Protection and the Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, is currently visiting Bangladesh.
As a part of their protection-mandate, the team, accompanied by senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visited Bhasan Char on Monday.
The crowd had "free and frank interactions" with the AHCs and vented out their frustration and concerns over uncertainty vis-a-vis repatriation.
In absence of any progress in repatriation, they expressed desperation to get out of the present situation and requested to consider relocation to a third country, said the Ministry.
The Rohingyas demanded UN’s presence in Bhasan Char to ensure facilities such as education, livelihood activities, skill development etc, MoFA said.
Also read: UNHCR seeks adequate medical assistance for Rohingyas affected in Bhasan Char
They also confirmed to the AHCs that their relocation to Bhasan char was completely on a voluntary basis.
In recent times there have been a number of important visits to Bhashan Char including the visits of the OIC Assistant Secretary General, the 18-member UN team and most recently a group of Ambassadors.
During all these visits, the Rohingyas spontaneously and happily interacted with the visiting guests both in informal and formal settings.
The MoFA said Rohingyas are Myanmar nationals and any arrangement for them in Bangladesh; be it in Cox’s Bazar or in Bhasan Char; is purely on a temporary basis until they return to their country.
The Rohingyas also want to return to their homeland and all including the UNHCR need to work constructively to that end, said the Ministry.
The UN is expected to assume their responsibility and operate within their mandate taking into account the ground reality and concerns of the host community, Bangladesh says.
The Government of Bangladesh, on its part, is ready to address any realistic needs and concerns of the Rohingyas, said the Foreign Ministry.