Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Bangladesh extends border closure with India by 14 days
Bangladesh has announced an extension of border closure with India by another two weeks from June 1 as the coronavirus situation hardly shows signs of improvement.
Border with India will remain closed till June 14 but the movement of cargoes carrying goods will remain uninterrupted.
Also read: Passengers' movement through Indo-Bangla land ports to remain shut till May 31
"We've extended it (border closure) for 14 more days and will evaluate the situation further," a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told UNB on Sunday.
Bangladesh decided to close its border with India for any kind of movement except that of cargo on April 26 which was later extended till May 31 to control the spread of Coronavirus as the situation in the neighbouring country deteriorated.
The passage of people through the border between Bangladesh and India has remained suspended since then.
In the first 15 days of May, India reported 58,431 deaths with a fatality rate of 1.06 percent. However, in the next two weeks, the country recorded 55,688 deaths with a 1.73 percent fatality rate, according to government figures.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s Covid-19 mortality stood at 1.58 percent and case positivity rate at 10.11 percent on Sunday.
Also read: Bangladeshi injured in BSF firing along Lalmonirhat border
The country recorded 34 more Coronavirus-related deaths and 1,444 new cases in 24 hours until Sunday morning.
On May 8, Bangladesh confirmed its first case of the Indian coronavirus variant. The government has extended the ongoing lockdown till June 6.
Ambassador Mahbub's Beijing tenure extended by 1 year
The tenure of Mahbub Uz Zaman, Bangladesh ambassador to China, has been extended for another year.
The public administration ministry issued a gazette notification Thursday confirming his contractual reappointment.
The previous conditions of the appointment will remain unchanged, it said.
The government extended the tenure of Mahbub with a one-year contractual appointment in August 2020 after appointing him as the Bangladesh ambassador to China in 2019.
He served as the secretary of the Asia and Pacific Wing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before heading for Beijing. The career diplomat also served as the Bangladesh high commissioner to Singapore and Sri Lanka.
Mahbub belongs to the 1985 batch of Bangladesh Civil Service Foreign Affairs cadre.
New Delhi mission observes Bangabandhu's Joliot-Curie award anniversary
Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on Sunday observed the 47th anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Joliot Curie Peace Prize given in recognition of his contributions to world peace.
The Father of the Nation was awarded the medal on May 23 in 1973. It was the first international award to the newly-independent Bangladesh.
The officers and employees of the mission, led by High Commissioner Muhammad Imran paid homage to Bangabandhu in the mission premises, said a media release.
Bangladesh elected to chair IOC Regional Committee for IOCINDIO
Secretary (Maritime Affairs Unit) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rear Admiral (Retd) Md. Khurshed Alam has been elected Chairperson of the IOC Regional Committee for the Central Indian Ocean (IOCINDIO) for the term May 2021-May 2023.
He was elected during the final day of the virtual meeting of the Eighth Session of the IOC Regional Committee for the Central Indian Ocean (IOCINDIO-VIII), held on 17-19 May.
This comes as a true recognition of the trust and confidence of the International Community in the outstanding career and eminent qualifications of Admiral Alam to preside over the Regional Committee.
Dr. Saif Mohammed Al Ghais from United Arab Emirates and Maryam Ghaemi from Islamic Republic of Iran were also elected as the Vice-Chairpersons during the session.
Stranded Bangladeshis in India: 3 more land ports to be reopened
Considering the sufferings of the Bangladeshis still stranded in India, three more land ports will be reopened for their entry from India from May 16 in addition to Benapole, Burimari and Akhaura.
The new land ports are Darshana, Hili and Sonamasjid.
The decision was taken on Wednesday in an inter-ministerial meeting chaired by Foreign Secretary (Senior Secretary).
Also Read: Border with India to remain shut for another 14 days
As the facilities for quarantine under the district administration of Jessore have been exhausted, entry through the Benapole might be suspended for the time being.
The Bangladeshi travellers are requested to follow the guidance of Bangladesh missions in India in this regard.
All other restrictions and conditions imposed previously would remain in effect, according to the decision of the meeting.
High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India; Secretary, Security Services Division, Ministry of Home Affairs; Secretary (East), Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Additional Secretary, Cabinet Division; Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and representatives of MoFA, MoHA, AFD, BGB, relevant District Administrations and Bangladesh missions in India attended the meeting.
Ambassador Li meets FS; explains his remarks
Chinese Ambassador Li Jiming on Wednesday met Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and explained his recent remarks made during a progamme of Diplomatic Correspondents Association Bangladesh (DCAB).
The meeting was held at the state guesthouse Padma after the vaccine handover ceremony.
They discussed different bilateral issues including Covid cooperation between the two countries, a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told UNB.
They highlighted the importance of the growing relationship between the two countries.
On Monday, the Ambassador attended a programme hosted by DCAB and talked about a number of issues including vaccine cooperation.
The envoy, while responding to a question, also talked about Quad, an initiative of four countries- the United States, Japan, India and Australia, that followed by a reaction by Dhaka.
Border with India to remain shut for another 14 days
The government has decided to extend the closure of border with India for another 14 days keeping movement of cargoes carrying goods uninterrupted as the Covid-19 situation keeps worsening in India.
“It has been extended for another 14 days. The previous conditions will remain unchanged," Secretary (East) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mashfee Binte Shams told UNB over phone.
The latest decision of the extension was taken at a virtual meeting held on Saturday with Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen in the chair.
Earlier, the government closed the border with India for 14 days with effect from April 26 but cargoes carrying goods were allowed to operate as usual.
Also read: Bangladesh detects first case of Indian Coronavirus strain
As per the previous decision, general movements of humans between Bangladesh and India will temporarily stay suspended through land ports.
The Bangladeshi citizens currently travelling to India for treatment and having visas with validity for less than 15 days could enter Bangladesh through only Benapole, Akhaura and Burimari after taking permission from Bangladesh Missions in New Delhi, Kolkata, and Agartala and with a mandatory Covid-negative certificates done through PCR test within 72 hours of entry.
People entering Bangladesh through this process would have to stay officially quarantined for two weeks.
Except for the aforementioned three land ports, all kinds of human movements through all other land ports between the two countries would completely stay suspended for two weeks.
Also read: Indian Covid Strain: Two more cases identified in Jessore
The vehicles carrying imported goods from India would have to be properly sterilised before entering Bangladesh borders.
The drivers and helpers concerned would have to observe the Covid-19 safety protocol strictly.
Railroads will be encouraged for the export and import of goods between the two countries during this period.
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh sees 45 more deaths with 1285 new cases
Bangladesh Missions in New Delhi, Kolkata and Agartala will convey the relevant information in this regard to the authorities concerned in India in the light of the friendly relations between the two countries.
India’s crematoriums and burial grounds are being overwhelmed by the devastating new surge of infections tearing through the populous country withb a terrifying speed, depleting the supply of life-saving oxygen to critical levels and leaving patients to die while waiting in line to see doctors, reports AP from New Delhi.
India recorded over 4 lakh new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours ending 8 am Saturday, taking the country’s total caseload to over 2.18 crore. Out of these, over 37 lakh cases are currently active while over 1.79 crore people have recovered.
Also read: India's surge hits southern states, prompts more lockdowns
With 4,187 new deaths, the toll now stands at over 2.38 lakh. At least 14 states are reporting cases in five figures.
Maharashtra reported about 54,000 cases, Karnataka had nearly 49,000, while Kerala had over 38,000.
Indian variant coronavirus found in Bangladesh
A confirmed case of Indian Coronavirus strain has been detected in Bangladesh, says theInstitute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research(IEDCR) on Saturday.
Also read: Shutting border with India: Experts praise it as prudent decision
"The Indian variant of Coronavirus was detected in a sample test at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. It has been published on Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data(GSID)," said chief scientific officer of IEDCR ASM Alamgir.
Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) DG Dr ABM Khurshid Alam also told the media that the Indian variant of Coronavirus has been found in Bangladesh.
Ziauddin reappointed as ambassador-at-large
Former ambassador Mohammad Ziauddin has once again been appointed as an ambassador-at-large with the rank and status of a minister.
The government issued a gazette notification Thursday confirming his appointment.
Prior to joining as Bangladesh ambassador to the US, he was ambassador-at-Large of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with the rank and status of a state minister.
Ambassador Mohammad Ziauddin served as Bangladesh ambassador to the US and was concurrently accredited to the Republic of Argentina, Belize, the Republic of Colombia, the Dominican Republic, the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
He was also permanent representative to the International Seabed Authority located in Jamaica.
After joining the diplomatic service, Ziauddin served in Bangladesh High Commission in London, Bangladesh High Commission in Nairobi, and at the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations in New York.
Also, he was director-general of the International Organizations Wing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and chief of protocol to the Government of Bangladesh before joining as Bangladesh ambassador to Italy.
Ziauddin was Ambassador to Italy, concurrently in charge as Bangladesh ambassador to the Republic of Albania and to the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
He was also the permanent representative of Bangladesh to FAO, WFP, and IFAD.
CVF Special Envoy appointed as Commissioner at WEF’S Global Commission on BiodiverCities
CVF Special Envoy Abul Kalam Azad has been appointed as a Commissioner of the World Economic Forum’s Global Commission on BiodiverCities by 2030.
The Global Commission on BiodiverCities by 2030 is convened by the World Economic Forum in partnership with the Government of Colombia.
Read Also: Saima Wazed calls for CVF-COP26 resilience action plan to address challenges
As Commissioner the CVF Special Envoy will be a part of the Global Commission on BiodiverCities by 2030, a high-level commission with 25 world-renowned experts and practitioners from the public and private sectors, academia and civil society.
The commission merges the latest research with practical solutions in the service of sustainable, inclusive and nature-positive urban development, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.
The Global Commission on BiodiverCities will advise on the development of a shared concept, framework and forward-looking perspective to integrate cities with nature.
Read Also: Dhaka seeks London's strong engagement in CVF, GCA
To realize the potential of a nature-positive pathway in the infrastructure and built environment that could create over $3 trillion in business opportunities and 117 million jobs by 2030 (according to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Nature and Business Report) and reimagine cities, the World Economic Forum is collaborating with the Government of Colombia on a new global initiative that will support city governments, businesses and citizens around the world to create an urban development model that is in harmony with nature: BiodiverCities by 2030.
Bangladesh, Indonesia for early signing of PTA
Bangladesh and Indonesia on Thursday stressed early signing of Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) within the ambit of which potential export items from both countries would be allowed to enter duty free.
The two countries agreed to complete the signing of pending MoUs and agreements on a fast-track basis, pursue sector specific agenda and do the needful to expand the volume of bilateral trade and investment.
Bangladesh sought Indonesia’s continued support for Rohingya repatriation and appreciated the last ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting which also called for early repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar. Indonesia assured to stand beside Bangladesh on Rohingya issue.
Bangladesh and Indonesia held their first ever Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) on Thursday and discussed the issues.
Also read: PM for building infrastructures to reap highest benefits from PTA