Chief of India’s Border Security Force (BSF), Pankaj Kumar Singh, has said that they will install 5,500 CCTV cameras along the borders with Bangladesh and Pakistan. “The central government has sanctioned Rs 30 crore for this procurement,” he said on Wednesday while addressing the annual press conference in Delhi, reports the Hindustan Times. Read more: BSF hands over body of Bangladeshi farmer after 15 days through Feni border The fund has been sanctioned for surveillance cameras, drones and other monitoring gadgets, the BSF chief said. “We have got around 5,500 CCTV surveillance cameras and some other gadgets and the Union home ministry has sanctioned a Rs 30-crore fund for this procurement,” Singh said. Soon, he said, the CCTV cameras will be installed in the front areas – at the borders with Bangladesh and Pakistan. Read more: BGB, BSF agree to cut border killings While terming the use of drones from across the border as a “major challenge”, for which they do not have a fool proof solution yet, Singh said that BSF has developed “low-cost” technology solutions for monitoring infiltration, drone activity and other crimes at the Indian border. “We have tried to enhance the surveillance in border areas in a big way. This entails use of surveillance cameras and drones on the western and eastern theatres (Pakistan and Bangladesh fronts respectively),” the BSF chief was quoted. India and Bangladesh share 4,096km land border.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming had a farewell meeting with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the capital Wednesday. During the meeting, the state minister appreciated Jiming's efforts and contributions to strengthening Bangladesh-China ties. Read more: Masud Bin Momen bids farewell to Doraiswami He also appreciated the Chinese government and the Chinese ambassador for their support in addressing the Covid-19 pandemic in Bangladesh, the repatriation of Bangladeshi students from Wuhan and the return of Bangladeshi students to China to complete their higher studies.

Recover, a global producer of low-impact, high-quality recycled cotton fibre and fibre blends, and the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) have discussed a possible collaboration to enhance the capacity of recycling the textile waste in Bangladesh to make the country a global hub of recycling. They expressed high optimism about developing the recycling industry in Bangladesh as 75 percent of apparel products are cotton-based and nearly 400,000 tons of recyclable pre-consumer waste is produced in Bangladesh every year, of which only 5 percent is locally recycled. Benjamin Joseph Malka, executive chairman of Recover, met with BGMEA President Faruque in Dhaka Wednesday. Alejandro Raña, chief business development officer, at Recover, was also present at the meeting. Read more: Bangladesh's RMG bracing for next phase of growth: BGMEA "We see a huge prospect in developing the recycling industry in Bangladesh. By capturing and reusing textile waste, we can reduce our cotton import and export clothing, made of recycled fibres, worth around USD 3 billion," Faruque said. Bangladesh's apparel industry has turned its focus on a shift from the linear economic model to circular as a circular fashion system could bring not only environmental but financial benefits for Bangladesh, he added. BGMEA has already entered into a partnership with Global Fashion Agenda (GFA), Reverse Resources, and P4G in an initiative "Circular Fashion Partnership" which aims to achieve a long-term, scalable transition to a circular fashion system. Read more: BGMEA seeks uninterrupted energy supply by special arrangements  Ben said Recover had already made a huge investment in the recycling industry of Bangladesh and was keen to invest more to develop the recycling capacity in the country.    

India is set to arrive in Dhaka Thursday evening to play a three-match ODI and two-match Test series against hosts Bangladesh. It will be the first ODI series between these teams in Bangladesh in seven years. India last toured Bangladesh for an ODI series in 2015 when the hosts beat them 2-1. Read more: Unofficial Test: India A in the driving seat against Bangladesh A Bangladesh took on India in 36 ODIs; they won five and one was a no result. Rohit Sharma will lead Team India in the series and Lokesh Rahul will play the role of his deputy. The first ODI of the series will take place in Dhaka on December 4 and the second at the same venue on December 7. The third and last ODI will be played in Chattogram on December 10. After the ODI series, both the teams will lock horns in a two-match Test series. The first Test is scheduled to be played in Chattogram from December 14 and the second and last one in Dhaka from December 22. Read more: Unofficial Test: Fragile Bangladesh A on the back foot against India A India squad for ODIs Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul (VC), Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Shreyas Iyer, Rahul Tripathi, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Shahbaz Ahmed, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Mohammad Shami, Mohammad Siraj, Deepak Chahar, and Kuldeep Sen

Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Dhaka Helen LaFave on Wednesday hosted a graduation ceremony of 50 Dhaka-based students of the English Access Microscholarship Program.  The Language Proficiency Center administered the program.  LaFave praised the 25 young women and 25 young men from local madrasas and public schools for their hard work in completing the two-year course during the pandemic. Read more: US Embassy’s University Fair on Sep 23: Bangladeshi students can talk to admission officials “This year, we are celebrating 50 years of friendship between the United States and Bangladesh and we celebrate the power of young minds to design the next 50 years.  You can take your new skills and use them as leaders who will shape the future of Bangladesh,” LaFave said.

Newly appointed Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma today said that Bangladesh always gets the highest priority from his country. “India has a policy for neighbouring countries. But in this regard, Bangladesh gets the highest priority. Bangladesh always gets priority in any case,” the envoy was quoted as saying. He said this while calling on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganabhaban. PM’s Deputy Press Secretary KM Shakhawat Moon briefed reporters after the meeting. Read: New Indian envoy meets State Minister Shahriar Alam The Indian high commissioner said that Bangladesh and India will continue to work together to curb terrorism in the region. He also termed Bangladesh as “a very good friend” of India. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has categorically said that Bangladesh never allows terrorism, adding that terrorism has no religion and boundary. “Awami League has never tolerated terrorism, and it never allows using Bangladesh’s soil for that purpose,” she said.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahabuddin says Bangladesh played a strong and effective role on behalf of the countries most vulnerable to climate change at the recently concluded United Nations Climate Conference in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt or COP27. Bangladesh made a strong call for achieving significant progress in the 'New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance' negotiations, with the aim of securing USD 100 billion per year until 2025 and securing long-term climate finance. The environment minister said these while addressing a workshop "27th World Climate Conference (COP 27): Expectations and Achievements and Future Action Plan" at the auditorium of the Department of Environment on Tuesday, as the chief guest. The minister said developed countries have been requested to double adaptation financing to developing countries by 2025.  Read more: COP27: How will UN climate deal on loss and damage work? Shahabuddin said 197 member states of the UNFCCC have reached a consensus on important issues including the adoption of the 'Sharm Al Sheikh Implementation Plan' on the morning of November 20 after long discussions.  The minister for environment said the conference decided to create a new fund to address "loss and damage" in the most vulnerable developing countries.   A 'Transitional Committee' has been set up for COP-28 to 'Operationalize' the Fund and fix its 'Detail Arrangements'. The minister also said that a decision has been taken to finalise 'Loss and Damage' in the conference, decide its host and form an advisory committee. Countries have agreed to take action on the 'Global Goals on Adaptation'.  He said that $230 million have been pledged to the 'Adaptation Fund'. Funding has been given importance for the implementation of NAP.   In addition, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced a $3.1 billion plan over the next five years to protect everyone on earth through early warning systems. The Minister of Environment said the "Sharm El Sheikh Implementation Plan" has been accepted with congratulations by all the countries of the world, including the decision to form a new fund to address "Loss and Damage" in the more vulnerable developing countries like Bangladesh, but its successful implementation will depend on its proper implementation.  Read more: COP27: Rich countries couldn’t agree yet on loss and damage funding for vulnerable nations With Dr Farhina Ahmed, secretary of the Ministry of Environment, in the chair at the programme, Deputy Minister for Forest and Climate Change Habibun Nahar, and President of the standing committee on environment, forest and climate change Saber Hossain Chowdhury, among others, spoke as special guests.

Bangladesh and Myanmar have agreed to share prior information on any flying of drones/aircrafts/helicopters at the border of the two close neighboring countries to avoid misunderstandings and any untoward situation.  Besides, they also decided to exchange information about any incident of firing/shooting/explosion/ movement of security forces at the border.  The decisions were taken during the 8th Senior Level Border Conference between the respective border security forces, the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) and Myanmar's Border Guard Police (BGP) held at Nay Pyi Taw in Myanmar, that ended with the signing of Joint Records of Discussion (JRD) on November 27.  Major General Shakil Ahmed, Director General (DG) of Border Guard Bangladesh, who led a 10-member delegation at the border conference, revealed it at a press briefing at BGB headquarters here on Tuesday.  Briefing reporters, Maj Gen  Shakil Ahmed  said that they have taken up the issue of some incidents of airspace violations along the border during the conference. "We also requested our counterpart to share prior information if they need to fly a drone or a chopper in the border area," he said.  After discussion, both BGB and BGP agreed to maintain the border norms and practices and to share information with each other about any incident of firing/shooting/explosion/ movement of security forces at the border including early information of any flying of drones/aircrafts/helicopters to avoid misunderstanding and untoward situation.   The Myanmar side took note of the concerns of Bangladesh on the issues of landmine and electrification of the border fence.   During the border conference, the DG BGB expressed his grave concern over the ongoing unstable security situation in close proximity to the international boundary inside Myanmar and urged the BGP to adopt necessary measures in arresting the situation.   Read more: BGB-BGP flag meeting ends with Myanmar officially regretting border incidents He also highlighted the need for joint efforts of both forces in curbing the drugs and narcotics inflow to Bangladesh from Myanmar and combating different trans-national crimes including illegal border crossing and sought cooperation from BGP.  The DG BGB also reiterated the national concern about the early repatriation of the Rohingyas, officially referred to as Displaced Myanmar Nationals from Rakhine temporarily sheltered in Bangladesh and solicited appropriate endeavors from the Myanmar side to that end.  Recognizing the significance of information sharing to maintain peace and law enforcement in the border areas, both sides agreed to share information by various means on a timely basis between the designated contact points at various levels.  Both sides also agreed to collaborate with each other actively and effectively to prevent the activities of trans-border criminal gangs by sharing real-time information.   Besides, the conference also agreed that Bangladesh will maintain a 'Zero Tolerance' policy with all-out efforts to prevent illicit drugs and psychotropic substances especially Yaba and Crystal Meth ICE trafficking along the border and the Myanmar side will continue anti-drugs measures following its national drug control policy. Based upon the local situation, both sides agreed to arrange a seminar/symposium about the negative impact of drugs to facilitate public awareness amongst the bordering people, he said.   Both sides also agreed to work jointly to improve the present border situation through information sharing and informing respective appropriate agencies/authorities and pursue to keep the border stable and peaceful for bordering people.  Read more: BGB wide awake along border with Myanmar: DG Police Major General Aung Naing Thu, Deputy Chief of Myanmar Police Force (MPF), who led a 15-member Myanmar delegation in the conference, emphasized Myanmar's adherence to the Border Agreement-1980 and he urged to enhance bilateral cooperation in combating illicit drugs and psychotropic substances and to prevent illegal border crossing.   He also urged to resume coordinated patrols between the two guarding forces to counter the potential threats posed by terrorist groups along the border, relayed the DG BGB.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Shipping Ministry recommended the government to reopen the immigration services at Sonamasjid land port in Chapainawabganj, which has remained suspended for nearly three years. The parliamentary watchdog made the recommendation at its 51st meeting held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban with its chairman Maj. (Retd.) Rafiqul Islam, Bir Uttam in the chair, said a press release. Read more: Parliament reconstitutes six standing committees The people of the country’s northwestern region are facing problems in travelling to India through Sonamasjid-Mehandipur route as the immigration services in Sonamasjid land port was shut on March 15, 2020 amid the global outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, but hasn’t opened yet. Now the travellers need to cross a long way to enter India through the Benapole immigration check post, which cost them extra money and time. Besides, the committee suggested the ministry to connect the Payra port with Dhaka and other river ports for conducting commercial activities, and collect the necessary number of dredgers to protect the navigability of the river channels to this end. The parliamentary body put emphasis on saving energy and use of solar systems in the land ports. It also recommended resolving the border related problems through discussions with the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Read more: Parliamentary committee gets 2 more months to review media employees bill Committee members Mazaharul Hoque Prodhan (Panchagarh-1), Ranajit Kumar Roy (Jashore-4), Mahfuzur Rahaman (Chattogram-3), Dr. Shamil Uddin Ahmed Shimul (Chapainawabganj-1) and SM Shahjada (Patuakhali-3) attended the meeting.  

Bangladesh reported another Covid-linked death with 11 more Covid cases in 24 hours till Tuesday morning. With the new numbers, the fatalities rose to 29,433 and the caseload to 2,036,567, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Read more: Bangladesh logs another death, 29 Covid cases in 24 hrs The daily case test positivity dropped to 0.72 per cent from Monday’s 0.79 per cent as 1,520 samples were tested during the period. The deceased was a woman from Chattogram division. The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.45 percent while the recovery rate rose to 97.51 per cent. Read more: China's Xi faces public anger over draconian 'zero COVID' In October, the country reported 60 Covid-linked deaths and 10,043 cases. Bangladesh registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 the same year.