Ministry of Foreign Affairs
21 Bangladeshis return after serving jail in India
Twenty-one Bangladeshis, including five children, returned home through the Benapole checkpost on Friday evening after serving time in Indian prison in different terms, starting from six months to five years.
The returnees comprising 10 women, 6 men and 5 children, belong to Dhaka, Bagerhat, Khulna, Barguna, Narail, Munshiganj and Cox's Bazar districts.
Read:17 Tablig jamaat members return after serving jail in India
They returned to the country with a special travel permit issued by the Government of India on coordinated efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, and the Special Task Force on Prevention of Trafficking in Women and Children in West Bengal and Kolkata, according to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Raju Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Benapole checkpost immigration, said they were lured to India with promises of good jobs in different times. But Indian police arrested them while working from home in different parts of the country, including Kolkata.
From there, NGOs called MM Rescue, Sanglap and Talash put them in a shelter home.
Read:3 Bangladeshis return home after serving jail in India
In the presence of the Director General (Consular and Welfare) and Assistant Secretary (Welfare) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a delegation from Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata handed over all the Bangladeshi women and children to the local Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Upazila Women and Children Affairs Officer and law enforcers’ agencies, said the release.
After the immigration process, they were handed over to two NGOs -- Justice Care and Rights Jashore.
Bangabandhu's portrait hung at DCAB Lounge first time in 24 yrs
Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB), for the first time since its inception, has hung the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the "DCAB Lounge," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In its first meeting on Thursday, the newly elected DCAB Executive Committee, led by its President Rezaul Karim Lotus and General Secretary AKM Moinuddin, unanimously took the decision to hang the portrait of Bangabandhu inside the "DCAB Lounge".
Read:Lotus, Moin elected DCAB President, GS
T10 Cricket on Nov 30 marking World Peace Conference
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) with support from the Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) will hold a friendly T10 Cricket match on Tuesday marking the forthcoming World Peace Conference’2021 in Dhaka.
The match will kick off at 10 am at the Maulana Bhashani Hockey Stadium here.
Read:Chattogram Test: Shaheen puts pressure back on Bangladesh Two teams -- Team Harmony and Team Unity -- studded with former national cricketers will compete in the match.
It’s enlightening to learn about Bangabandhu’s life: Maldives VP
Visiting Vice President of the Maldives Faisal Naseem on Monday visited Bangabandhu Memorial Museum and paid tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“It was enlightening to learn about the life and deeds of Bangabandhu, whose selfless efforts paved the way for the country to become an independent nation,” he said
The Vice President of the Maldives signed the visitors’ book after placing a floral wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum.
Read:UNSDCF to contribute to more resilient recovery, achieving 2030 Agenda
He was accompanied by Maldives Foreign Secretary Abdul Ghafoor Mohamed and Maldives High Commissioner to Bangladesh Shiruzimath Sameer.
Keep watch against further efforts to malign state institutions, country's image: Govt
The government has urged all concerned to uphold the spirit of tolerance, inclusivity, peace and pluralism and stand guard against further efforts to malign the state institutions and tarnish the image of the country. "The government remains committed to preventing the recurrence of such untoward incidents and would expect that further complication or misunderstanding would be averted through responsible and fact-based reporting through all media platforms," said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday. The government remains "concerned" that certain vested quarters are carrying out such pre-meditated attacks to gain some dubious political mileage. "It’s regrettable that the local elements that had opposed Bangladesh’s independence 50 year ago are still propagating their toxic narratives to instigate violence, hatred and bigotry," MoFA said.
Read:PM orders stern action against those involved in communal attacks They are trying to undermine Bangladesh’s secular, non-communal and pluralistic credentials in the international context by deliberately targeting one of the biggest religious festivals of the country, it mentioned. The government appreciated the Hindu community for concluding the festivities in a befitting spirit and also welcomed the overwhelming show of solidarity by people in general. When the people of Bangladesh were celebrating the Durga Puja in a joyous mood, there emerged reports of attacks on Hindu religious sites and idols in different parts of the country. The government "unequivocally condemned" those incidents and took "serious note of the reactions" from within and outside the Hindu community. As an immediate measure, MoFA said, the Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) forces were deployed in 22 districts of the country in aid of the civilian administration.
Bangladesh condemns bomb-laden drone attack in Saudi Arabia
Bangladesh has strongly condemned the recent Houthi bomb-laden drone attack targeting Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Airport that wounded civilians, including few Bangladeshis, working at the airport.
Such attacks are a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, moral values and completely unacceptable, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday.
Bangladesh expressed its grave concerns over the growing number of Houthi militia attacks on Saudi Arabia which undermines the ongoing peace initiatives.
Read: Bangladeshi’s conviction: FM says evidence to be shared with Saudi govt
While urging a peaceful resolution to Yemen conflict, Bangladesh expressed its solidarity with the government of Saudi Arabia and its brotherly people in condemning such irresponsible activities.
The Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh has been asked to look after Bangladeshi citizens injured in latest Houthi attack and provide necessary support.
Deal over UN's operational engagement in Bhasan Char likely on Saturday
Bangladesh and the United Nations are likely to sign a formal document on Saturday to find ways for UN engagement in Bhasan Char demonstrating support to the government’s massive investment there to ensure better living for Rohingyas, officials said.
“We’re expecting that the MoU will be signed on Saturday morning if there’s no last-minute change,” a senior official told UNB, mentioning that things are finalised.
However, he did not elaborate further what will be the nature of UN engagement in Bhasan Char and the specific areas of cooperation.
The numerous challenges associated with the temporary hosting of persecuted Rohingyas from Myanmar have compelled the government of Bangladesh to plan the relocation of 100,000 Rohingyas to Bhashan Char, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
So far, nearly 20,000 Rohingyas have moved to Bhasan Char since December last year in a number of groups.
Some 1642 Rohingyas were relocated to Bhashan Char on December 4, 2020, while the second batch, comprising 1,804 Rohingyas, had been transferred from Cox’s Bazar to Bhashan Char on December 29 last year.
On Wednesday, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said the operational engagement of the UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, in Bhasan Char will begin soon. “Everything is final. It has been done as agreed.”
Read: Bhasan Char: an excellent example for a safe, sustainable, and resilient place for Rohingya relocation
Recognizing Bangladesh’s massive investment in Bhasan Char, UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Mia Seppo said there has been, rather, a lot of negative coverage about Bhasan Char and it is important that they have somehow managed to move away from that.
She said they want to be partners in trying to create something so that everybody can live and the conversation that they are having now is important.
Regarding the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to engage in Bhasan Char, Mia said there are protections and humanitarian imperatives and they are obviously looking to support the massive efforts of the government in Bhasan Char.
Bangladesh concerned over growing crimes, unrest in Rohingya camps
Bangladesh has expressed concern over the increased crimes, human and drug trafficking and unrest in the Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar as their stay in Bangladesh is prolonging.
Bangladesh urged Myanmar as well as the international community to take effective steps to sustainably repatriate the Rohingyas to Myanmar at the earliest, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday.
Bangladesh is now hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen condemned the murder of Mohib Ullah, who was a widely recognized leader of the Rohingyas staying in Bangladesh.
Mohib Uullah was an avowed supporter of the repatriation of the Rohingyas to Myanmar, according to a message shared by the MoFA on its verified Facebook page.
The government of Bangladesh is committed to investigating the heinous crime and bringing the killers to justice, the message reads.
Also read: Rohingya leader Mohibullah assassinated
Earlier in the morning, the Foreign Minister vowed to bring the killers of Mohib Ullah to justice soon, in his first remarks since the Rohingya leader's murder sparked global condemnation.
Dr Momen said a vested quarter killed Mohib as he wanted to return to Myanmar, his homeland.
"The government will take stern action against those who were involved in the killing. Nobody will be spared," he said.
On Thursday night, police registered a murder case in connection with the killing of Mohib Ullah at Ukhiya camp in Cox's Bazar on Wednesday night.
The FIR for murder was filed against unknown persons at the Ukhiya police station on a complaint from Mohib Ullah’s brother Habib Ullah, officer-in-charge Sanjur Morshed had said.
Unknown assailants gunned down the 44-year-old on Wednesday night. He was first rushed to a local medical facility and later shifted to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Read: Mohib's murder: FIR lodged, probe in full swing, say police
He was buried in Lambashia camp-1 in Ukhiya upazila on Thursday afternoon after his namaz-e-janaza, which was attended by a large number of Rohingya refugees from camps in Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilas.
Formerly a teacher in Myanmar, the slain human rights activist was popularly known as Master Mohib Ullah among the Rohingya refugees.
He was the head of Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights (ARSPH) at Kutupalong camp.
Bangladesh observing Afghanistan situation, in touch with stranded citizens
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday said the government is in regular touch with the stranded Bangladeshi nationals in Afghanistan and has taken every measure for their safe and orderly departure from the troubled country.
So far, the government has facilitated the return of around 20 of them from Afghanistan, said the ministry.
Read:12 Bangladeshis reach US Military base along with Afghan students: FM
Bangladesh has urged all concerned to ensure safety and security of the Afghan people as well as foreign nationals in Afghanistan.
Bangladesh has also called upon all concerned to exercise maximum restraint during this challenging time hoping an early return of normalcy and restoration of peace in Afghanistan.
While appreciation efforts for facilitating the safe departure of all foreigners including Bangladesh nationals, Bangladesh wants to see continuation of the return process of the remaining foreign nationals.
Read:Taliban guard airport as most NATO troops leave Afghanistan
"It is expected that the development workers can return to Afghanistan once conducive environment is restored," MoFA said.
Bangladesh expressed deepest condolences to the bereaved families who lost their near and dear ones at the bomb attack near Kabul Airport on 26 August and prayed for early recovery of the injured.
Bangladesh observing fast evolving situation in Afghanistan: MoFA
Bangladesh is carefully observing the fast evolving situation in Afghanistan, which Dhaka believes may have an impact on the region and beyond.
"We urge all stakeholders in Afghanistan to maintain peace and calm ensuring safety and security of all including foreign nationals," said the ministry of foreign affairs in a statement on Monday.
Bangladesh said it would be happy to continue to work with the people of Afghanistan and the international community for the socio-economic development of the country.
Bangladesh and Afghanistan share historical and cultural linkages. It is a fellow member of SAARC and an integral part of South Asia.
Bangladesh recalls the invaluable support extended by the government and the people of Afghanistan to Bangladesh during the War of Liberation.
"Bangladesh is committed to working with Afghanistan for fulfilling the visionary policy of the Hon’ble Prime Minister that the region must grow and prosper together for this development to be sustainable," the statement reads.
Bangladesh believes that a democratic and pluralistic Afghanistan as chosen by its people is the only guarantee of stability and development in the country.
In this regard, Bangladesh considers itself a potential development partner and a friend of Afghanistan.
"We stand ready to share our best practices with Afghanistan in a range of areas, such as basic education, community healthcare, sanitation, human resources development, agriculture, climate change adaptation, disaster management and ICT enabled public service delivery," said the ministry.
The statement said Bangladeshi NGOs have successfully been working in Afghanistan for the last 20 years.
"Bangladesh firmly believes that it is upon the people of Afghanistan to rebuild their country and decide the course of the future themselves," said the statement.
It said Bangladesh wishes to see Afghanistan as a peaceful, stable, prosperous, responsible and contributing member of the South Asian region and the global community.