AK Abdul Momen
Foreign Minister talks tough against smuggling along Bangladesh-Myanmar border
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday said the government will take tougher steps to prevent illegal arms and drugs smuggling, and human trafficking along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border and warned of “firing shots”, if necessary.
"There was a decision not to open fires along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border. But now, firing shots will be allowed (if necessary) to prevent illegal activities," he said.
The Foreign Minister came up with the warning while talking to reporters at a function here.
Also read: FM seeks Commonwealth solidarity for Rohingya repatriation
Dr Momen said there has been a discussion with the Home Minister to take tough action to stop all kinds of smuggling along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border. "The Home Ministry will take a decision in this regard.”
Two ambulances, gifted by the Indian government, were handed over to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College and Hospital.
Earlier, a decision had been taken to stop firing along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border but illegal smuggling is still carried out along the border, said Momen.
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Kumar Doraiswami was present.
Talking about the incomplete Sylhet Airport-Badaghat bypass, the Foreign Minister said the officials of Roads and Highways Department should quit their jobs for failing to complete the work.
The construction work on the 12-km Sylhet Airport-Badaghat bypass started in 2010 during the tenure of former Finance Minister AMA Muhith.
He also expressed dissatisfaction over the delay in implementing many development works and the negligence of the authorities concerned.
Referring to the development work on Sylhet Specialized Mother and Child Hospital, Momen slammed the authorities concerned for failing to upgrade the hospital to a 200-bed one hospital from the existing 100-bed hospital.
An amount of Tk 110 crore had been allocated for the development of the hospital but the authorities concerned spent only Tk 10 crore and returned the rest of the amount without upgrading it.
Also read: Rohingya children must be educated in their own language: FM
"They’ve just wasted the money allocated for the health sector of Sylhet and it happened just due to negligence of the authorities concerned,” he said.
Referring to the six-lane work of the Dhaka-Sylhet highway, Momen said the work has been divided into 13 sections and tenders for that of eight sections have been floated.
"The work on the Sylhet portion is being delayed due to the complexity in land acquisition," he said, hoping that the work would begin soon.
Bangladesh keen to contribute to global productivity, finance networks: FM
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday said Bangladesh is looking for opportunities where it could contribute meaningfully to the global productivity and finance networks together with the Netherlands.
"Blue economy and the circular economy are avenues where we could imagine, envision and create more work," he said adding that RMG and leather products are Bangladesh's pride.
The Foreign Minister was addressing the 5th international conference on inclusive business as the chief guest.
Dutch-Bangla Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DBCCI) and SNV Netherlands Development Organisation in Bangladesh hosted the event at a city hotel.
READ: Germany urged to waive intellectual property rules for COVID19 vaccines
Md. Sirazul Islam, Executive Chairman, BIDA attended the programme as the special guest.
Ismene Stalpers, Country Director, SNV Bangladesh, Kevin Teo, COO, AVPN, attended the event online as guest of honor.
DBCCI Board of Directors Md. Shahjahan Shaju, Vice President Md. Shakawat Hossain Mamun, Secretary General, Ataus Sopan Malik, Joint Secretary General Noafel Bin Reza, Director Finance, Md. Nazmul Haque, Shahid Alam, Director were present. Farzana Afser, First Lady of DBCCI and Managing Partner of TRIMOYEE were also present in the event.
Farhtheeba Rahat Khan, Team Leader, RMG Inclusive Business Programs, SNV Bangladesh delivered the keynote speech on the subject.
Jamal Uddin, Inclusive Business Consultant, RMG Inclusive Business Program, SNV Netherlands Development Organisation in Bangladesh led the panel sessions.
With the theme “Inclusive Investment for Poverty Resilient”, this year's conference aims to find solutions on how business inclusion could contribute to eradication.
The Foreign Minister said value is not intrinsic, it is contextual.
"The value of a commodity or even and idea depends on the way the actors in a given time and space perceive or conceive its value. It is thus important that we correctly identify the relevant parametric tests to examine and evaluate what matters to us. It is only with greater collaboration that our pay-off matrix becomes positive," he said.
Dr Momen said both the Dutch and the people of Bangladesh are resilient and have braved the inclement climates and survived.
"There must have been something common to both our nations which we can leverage for greater benefits to both and beyond," he said.
Dr Momen said the Netherlands is the seventh largest investor in Bangladesh in 2019. "The two-way trade has increased."
Md. Anwar Shawkat Afser, President, Dutch-Bangla Chamber, presided over the inaugural session.
Afser said that DBCCI and SNV are jointly working on this inclusive business concept to cooperate with Bangladesh to turn poverty into prosperity.
The sectors they work on energy and water, sanitation and hygiene are very important in context with our present demand.
READ: Bangladesh on track to get 24 crore Covid jabs by April: Momen
He thanked the people of the Netherlands, their prudent government leaders and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Dhaka for their earnest cooperation for our country.
It came out from the discussion that the new challenges demanded for extra skills and knowledge in the supply chain and business has the potential risk factor to address those situations.
The new trends of the business in the changing world may create more opportunities in the supply chain to explore diversity and inclusion.
Bangladesh to work for resolving dispute between Guyana and Venezuela: FM
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, Chair of Commonwealth Ministerial Group on Guyana, on Tuesday reaffirms the proposal of the group for peaceful settlement of the dispute between Guyana and Venezuela through the intervention of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
''Bangladesh looks forward to steering the Commonwealth Ministerial Group on Guyana to reach a peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue and international adjudication which also is in line with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's visionary foreign policy doctrine," Momen said.
The foreign minister attended the virtual meeting for the second time during his tenure as the chairman.
Bangladesh took over the chairmanship from South Africa for this Ministerial Group.
Read: Bangladesh to be voice of climate vulnerable countries: FM
The Group is currently overseeing the long-standing territorial dispute between the British Guyana and Venezuela over their maritime territory.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Baroness Patricia Scotland and Foreign Ministers of Antigua and Barbuda, Canada, Guyana, Jamaica and the UK were present in the meeting.
Momen reiterated firm and unswerving support for the maintenance and preservation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana.
He assured that Bangladesh would steer the deliberations of this Ministerial Group's work towards a peaceful settlement of the territorial dispute between Guyana-Venezuela.
Bangladesh now 'friendless': Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Saturday said Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen’s frustration over not getting Covid vaccines from different countries has manifested that Bangladesh has become 'friendless' in the world.
“The Foreign Minister expressed deep frustration over not getting the corona vaccines after visiting several countries. He told the media that the rich countries aren’t willing to give Bangladesh vaccines. If this is the case, Bangladesh has become friendless in the world,” he said.
The Jatiya Party chief made the remarks while speaking at a meeting of Jatiya Jubo Sanghati at Jugantar Bhaban in the city’s Baridhara area.
READ: GM Quader wants crackdown on illegal arms
He said though the Foreign Minister has said the status of the country has enhanced across the world, Bangladesh ranked 106th in the 2021 Henley Passport Index while its position was 96th in 1996.
“The dignity of the Prime Minister and her cabinet member may increase in the world. The dignity of the common people hasn’t improved at all, but it has declined. That’s why those who now go abroad with Bangladeshi passports have to face various kinds of harassment,” the Jatiya Party chairman observed.
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, said the country lacks good governance due to politicisation.
He said the country’s situation has turned so worse that now it is not possible to get a job even after becoming first in the examination without the affiliation with the ruling party.
READ: Waterways must be made safe: GM Quader
The Jatiya Party chief said the ruling party leaders are acquitted by court even after committing crimes as the laws are not enforced equally for all.
He said no one was above law during the rule of Jatiya Party founder HM Ershad. “So, people are expecting Jatiya Party as an alternative force to Awami League and BNP. They want Jatiya Party to return to power.”
GM Quader urged the party leaders and activists to strengthen the party by holding the councils of its all district units by December 31.
Stay alert about conspirators everywhere: Dr Momen
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has urged all to remain alert about conspirators at home and abroad so that brutal incidents like August 15 can never take place in Bangladesh.
"Conspirators haven't stopped yet," he said, adding that the number of enemies might increase following Bangladesh's economic growth and significant development in other fields.
Dr Momen said all need to get prepared to face the enemies of the country and need to remain alert about negative propaganda against Bangladesh.
The Foreign Minister was addressing a webinar ahead of the National Mourning Day as the chief guest. Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University Teachers Association hosted the event on Friday night.
Dr Momen said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been able to work successfully due to realistic Foreign Policy given by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
He said Bangabandhu had always laid emphasis on establishing peace.
READ: ‘Thanks Japan’, Dr Momen says over vaccine supply
The Foreign Minister encouraged the university teachers to do research on Bangabandhu's leadership, ideology and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's prudent leadership and achievements.
The Foreign Minister said Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina is also moving forward taking the people for the development of the country and building a developed and prosperous Bangladesh.
The Prime Minister has introduced a culture of peace at the United Nations with the aim of overcoming conflicts and establishing lasting peace, he said.
Dr Momen said no one in the world will be a refugee if lasting peace is established.
He mentioned that on the occasion of the recent Golden Jubilee of Independence and the birth centenary of Bangabandhu, the governments and heads of state of different countries of the world have praised the unimaginable success of Bangladesh.
READ: Globalisation poses a challenge for linguistic diversity: Dr Momen
World leaders praised the Prime Minister for her unique human qualities as well as leadership in tackling climate change and women's empowerment, Dr Momen said.
Former Vice Chancellor of Jagannath University Prof Dr Mizanur Rahman was the key speaker while Vice Chancellor of Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University AHM Mustafizur Rahman spoke as a special guest.
READ: Turkish FM to hold talks with Dr Momen to advance ties
Momen Foundation opens help desk for poor, helpless COVID-19 patients
Momen Foundation on Tuesday opened a "help desk" at Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital for poor and helpless COVID-19 patients.
Medical oxygen, medicines and food will be supplied free of cost for the poor patients through the help desk set up at the hospital.
The help desk will also assist people to get registered for COVID-19 vaccination.
READ: Momen mourns loss of lives in Maharashtra landslides
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen virtually inaugurated the help desk. Selina Momen, Chairman of Momen Foundation and wife of the Foreign Minister, also spoke at the function.
Momen Foundation provided 45 oxygen cylinders and two oxygen concentrators to three hospitals in Sylhet marking the formal inauguration of the help desk.
The Foreign Minister thanked all the doctors, nurses and health workers in Sylhet and beyond for working very sincerely during COVID-19 situation.
Selina Momen said Momen Foundation has been created to work for the people's welfare and it will always stand by the poor and helpless people.
The Foundation, established last year, helped 8000 families apart from providing medical supplies for the nurses and health workers, said a media release.
READ: ‘Thanks Japan’, Dr Momen says over vaccine supply
Sylhet City Corporation Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury, central Awami League leader Shafiul Alam Chowdhury Nadel, Sylhet District AL General Secretary Advocate Nasiruddin Khan and Sylhet City AL General Secretary Prof Zakir Hossain also spoke.
Dhaka for establishing fund for climate migrants by V20
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has proposed establishing a fund by V20 for the rehabilitation and reintegration of climate migrants to societies, or else, they could be a "security risk".
"V20 (Vulnerable Twenty) may think of establishing a Fund for their rehabilitation and reintegration to societies, otherwise they could be a security risk," he said.
Each year, Dr Momen said, thousands of people are uprooted from their sweet homes and traditional jobs due to global warming, inundation and river erosion.
Also read: Vulnerable economies call on rich nations to avert global climate-Covid economic threat
"These displaced people, we term them as ‘Climate Migrants’ need to be rehabilitated," he said while addressing the Climate Vulnerables' Finance Summit on Thursday night.
Ready to stand with Bangladesh, S Asian countries to defeat pandemic: China
China has said it will continue to support Bangladesh's fight against COVID-19 and is willing to facilitate the discussion of cooperation in "vaccine filling" between Chinese and Bangladeshi companies.
China also said as a "good neighbour, partner and friend" of South Asian countries, it is ready to stand with the people of all countries, including Bangladesh, until the coronavirus pandemic is defeated.
"South Asia is currently facing the severe challenges of a new round of pandemic," said State Councillor and Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi when he had a phone conversation with Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Friday evening.
Wang Yi said that the COVID-19 pandemic is the common enemy of humanity.
There is a greater need for neighbouring countries to render mutual assistance and overcome adversities, he said.
Read: Covid vaccine: China to send additional 6 lakh doses as gift
Wang Yi said that in March this year, President Xi Jinping sent a video message to an event hosted by Bangladesh in commemoration of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and also in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the country's independence, which injected strong impetus to the development of China-Bangladesh relations.
The Chinese Foreign Minister said the two countries have always firmly supported each other on issues concerning each other's core interests.
"China will continue to support the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bangladesh," he said.
Wang Yi hoped that the two countries will earnestly advance the Belt and Road cooperation, ensure early completion of key projects, expand cooperation in the fields of information, communication and digital economy, and create new prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Bangladesh.
Dr Momen extended congratulations on the successful Mars landing of China's probe, and his gratitude for China's invaluable support and strong assistance in Bangladesh's fight against the pandemic.
He said that Bangladesh will always adhere to the one-China principle, and continue to staunchly support China on the issues concerning Hong Kong, Taiwan and human rights.
Read: More countries approached for vaccines; talks with China at final stage: FM
Dr Momen said Bangladesh is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in pandemic control and economic recovery, and push the Bangladesh-China strategic cooperative partnership to a new level.
He also highly appreciated China's positive role on the question of Palestine recently.
Nature of peacekeeping has changed: FM
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Sunday said the nature of peacekeeping has changed due to the use of advanced technology and sophisticated weapons, the misuse of social media and the ongoing global epidemic.
He made the remarks at the “Army Chiefs' Conclave” at multipurpose complex of Dhaka Cantonment.
Bangladesh Army organised the seminar with the participation of local and foreign military and civilian dignitaries.
Also read: Bangladesh tops in UN Peacekeeping Mission
Foreign Minister Momen said meaningful mutual cooperation, increased participation of women and development of health-related emergencies were essential to address the challenges posed by this unprecedented global epidemic in establishing world peace.
The main topic of discussion at the seminar was ‘Future Trend of Global Conflict: The Role of UN Peacekeepers’.
Dhaka for promoting intra-trade, investment in innovation among D-8 members
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Monday said D-8 Member States should leverage the commonalities and aim to promote intra-trade, investment in innovation; and minimise tariff and non-tariff barriers.
"We need common investment policies, guidelines, and strategies including diaspora investment opportunities; and work for minimising tariff and non-tariff barriers," he said at the "D-8 Business Forum" held virtually.
Also read:Bangladesh never supports country-specific, motivated issues ...
President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Sheikh Fazle Fahim and President of Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) Rifat Hisarcıklıoglu also spoke.
The chairmanship of D-8 Chamber of Commerce and Industries (D-8 CCI) was handed over to the FBCCI from the TOBB.
Rifat Hisarcıklıoglu took over as the Chair of the D-8 CCI in 2017.
Bangladesh will assume the chairmanship of D-8 for the term of two years through the 10th Summit scheduled to be held on April 8. As part of the 10th Summit, Bangladesh also hosted the D-8 Youth Summit for the first time on Monday.
Dr Momen said they need to create funds for development, R&D, technology transfer, capacity building and support for institutions and centres of excellence, including the SME and blue economy sectors.
Also read:Bangladesh indomitable: FM
"We’d like to particularly stress on the area of innovation and mainstreaming them in our developmental strategy circuit," he said.
The D-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation, also known as Developing-8, is an organisation for development co-operation among Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey.
Dr Momen said the total GDP of the D-8 Member States is around 4.9% of world GDP and the total population is around 15.3% of the world population. This is a manifestation of the region’s consumer base for both service and commodities along with its inherent growth potentials.
"To tap into that, I believe D-8 CCI could play the key role through effective collaboration and partnership with their government sector in addition to their own networking mechanism," Dr Momen said.
The Foreign Minister said today’s world is facing uncertainty in all aspects because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The UN has estimated that the global economy is expected to lose nearly $8.5 trillion in output over the next two years.
Also read:Singapore, Romania to recruit 12,000 Bangladeshis: FM
"It’s this unfortunate situation that has compelled us to hold this auspicious Business Forum virtually. At the same time, it’s on you, the leaders of business sector who have a special responsibility and challenge, to help the global economy turn around," Dr Momen said.
Through people centric leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has been able to balance between ‘life and livelihood’ to a great extent during this pandemic, he said.
Dr Momen said the government has adopted a series of stimulus packages worth of US$14.6 billion, which is around 4.44% of the GDP with a view to protecting the income of the poor, the vulnerable and helping the revival of economic activities.
He expressed his appreciation to the new Chair of the D-8 CCI, the FBCCI, and also to the immediate past Chair, the TOBB, for their laudable arrangements.
Dr Momen said the Secretary-General of the D-8 Secretariat deserves special appreciation for his sincere efforts and significant contribution.