Foreign-Affairs
Japan hopeful of better election in Bangladesh; sees positive step
Japan’s ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki on Tuesday expressed his optimism that Bangladesh will have a better election this time compared to the last national election as he sees some positive measures to that end.
“I have noticed some positive moves by the government….so, after 50 years, for the first time there was the enactment of a new law. I think that’s a positive step,” he said, referring to the "Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners Appointment Law, 2022."
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The Japanese envoy said the election is scheduled for the end of next year but he is aware that the media outlets are talking about and covering the election issues almost every day.
“So, naturally any ambassador is required to have a certain level of interest in this upcoming election,” he said speaking at "DCAB Talk" at Jatiya Press Club organized by Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB).
DCAB President Rezaul Karim Lotus moderated the programme while its General Secretary AKM Moinuddin delivered welcome remarks.
Ambassador Naoki said his hope and expectation is that there will be some more measures between now and the end of next year in light of holding a better election, a free and fair election, compared to the last national election.
The envoy said he has been telling some of the government officials that Japan hopes that Bangladesh will have a better election; a free and fair election, this time. “I am going to continue to raise these points to the government.”
"You will be surprised to hear that even the Japanese embassy issued a statement with some concern immediately after the last general election, in December 2018. The main focus was the violence which occurred surrounding the election situation," he said.
Also read: Take advantage of geopolitics to tap huge economic potentials, Japanese ambassador urges Bangladesh
Reportedly, the envoy added, there were some unfortunate cases regarding how elections were conducted last time.
Talking about the role of media, the ambassador said, "I think to conduct better elections, the space for the media is important on how they can play a role to portray people's voices here so that every single vote can be counted, every voter can have an opportunity to state his or her say. So, I think the media's role should not be underestimated."
He also mentioned some rules and legislation including the Digital Security Act (DSA) and said, "I am hopeful that there will be space for media during the election next year."
The ambassador laid emphasis on continuation of policy consistency and stability in the country to keep its growth unhurt.
Padma Bridge, other quality projects to boost foreign investors’ confidence: Japan
Japan’s ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki on Tuesday said the inauguration of mega project Padma Bridge and other under-construction quality infrastructure projects will help boost foreign investors’ confidence in Bangladesh.
“Padma Bridge is going to be opened on June 25. This is really a wonderful moment for the country," he said highlighting the growing presence of quality infrastructure in Bangladesh.
Ambassador Naoki said clearly those who are looking at Bangladesh and its economy will have strong confidence in the improvement of quality infrastructure across the nation – in Dhaka, Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar.
This gives confidence in the minds of investors and in three to five years’ time from now, infrastructure development can be an advantage in attracting foreign investment in Bangladesh.
The ambassador was speaking at "DCAB Talk" at Jatiya Press Club organized by Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB).
DCAB President Rezaul Karim Lotus moderated the programme while its General Secretary AKM Moinuddin delivered welcome remarks.
Ambassador Naoki said the direct flight operations between Dhaka and Narita will soon be resumed which will give a sense of confidence among investors. He said Covid-19 pandemic delayed the overall preparations.
Naoki said there is growing interest among the Japanese investors to come and invest in Bangladesh. “There’s no doubt that Bangladesh is going to be the fastest growing economy in Asia in this decade.”
The ambassador highlighted the key factors, including growing quality infrastructure and stable environment.
He said the Dhaka Metro rail will begin its commercial operation by December this year and Bangladesh is becoming a very important destination for investment.
Also read: Padma Bridge: Khulna residents eagerly anticipating inauguration
Connectivity always a priority: BIMSTEC secretary general
BIMSTEC Secretary General Tenzin Lekphell has hoped that the member states will take advantage of the recently adopted master plan for connectivity and implement its components to achieve their aspiration of a truly connected Bay of Bengal region.
"Connectivity has always been a priority for the region," he said while addressing the BIMSTEC Day reception at a city hotel Monday.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen joined the reception virtually from Hungary as the chief guest.
Planning Minister MA Mannan, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, representatives of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) member states, diplomats stationed in Dhaka, foreign affairs experts and economists were present.
Momen hoped BIMSTEC would become a smarter and result-oriented regional organisation by boosting connectivity and ensuring free mobility of people, goods and services.
Also Read: BIMSTEC leaders pledge to intensify regional cooperation to offset economic losses
This year's BIMSTEC Day celebration is special as the member states are celebrating their silver jubilee anniversary.
The BIMSTEC secretary general reaffirmed the Secretariat's commitment to work hand-in-hand with all member states, at all times, to pursue the goals and objectives of BIMSTEC as envisioned by the member states.
BIMSTEC, a regional organisation, was established on 6 June 1997 with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration.
Initially known as BIST-EC (Bangladesh-India-Sri Lanka-Thailand Economic Cooperation), the organisation now comprises seven member states with the admission of Myanmar on 22 December 1997, and Bhutan and Nepal in February 2004.
Depot Fire: UN for joint efforts in addressing “safety deficits” in workplaces
The United Nations has said the tragic accident at the BM Container depot in Chattogram is reminder of the need to work together towards effective industrial and enterprise safety frameworks and their enforcement.
The UN in Bangladesh on Monday called upon all parties involved to apply renewed vigor in addressing the safety deficits in workplaces across the country.
Also read: Ctg depot fire: DNA samples collection begin to identify deceased
The UN said they extend their assistance to continue to build a safer Bangladesh for all.
“We’re shocked and saddened by the tragic loss of lives and destructions caused by the devastating fire and blast at the BM Container depot in Chattogram,” said the UN in a statement issued by office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh.
The UNRC office conveyed their deepest and heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased including nine firefighters and the hundreds who are injured.
Also read: ‘Pray for me,’ fireman Shakil’s last words to mother
ILO calls for ensuring proper handling, storage of chemicals in Bangladesh
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has said the fire and explosion at BM Container Depot illustrates the urgent need to ensure proper handling and storage of chemicals.
The incident also illustrates the urgent need to ensure proper training for storage facility staff at awareness and operational levels, and effective crowd control during an emergency incident, it said in a statement on Monday.
Additionally, the UN agency said, the incident underscores the need for an effective industrial and enterprise safety framework and enforcement and training system to ensure a structured approach to mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery to all hazards.
This will require improved collaboration and partnership between government departments, employers and workers representatives, and civil society, it said on Monday.
Read: Operation to douse Ctg depot fire continues; Death toll stands at 50
The ILO says it is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life of at least 50 people including nine fire services professionals from a fire and explosion at BM Container Depot in Chattogram on June 4. “We extend our heartfelt condolences and solidarity with the families of the injured and deceased.”
Tackling this problem calls for action in a number of areas, says ILO, adding that, “These include a review of regulations and enforcement in the transport and logistics sector, the payment of adequate compensation and income support to injured and disabled workers and families of workers who lost lives in work-related accidents, and to conduct safety campaigns that target transport/logistic service providers as well as emergency-service personnel.”
Recently the government, employer and worker representatives have agreed to roll out a modern, comprehensive Employment Injury Scheme (EIS) in Bangladesh starting from the ready-made garment (RMG) sector, with the possibility of extension to other sectors.
Such a system includes accident prevention, immediate and long-term compensation, and rehabilitation to return to work.
Read: Chinese ambassador Li visits Bhasan Char
The ILO continues to work closely with the government of Bangladesh, employers’ and workers’ organisations and development partners to improve working conditions in all industries expanding learning from the ready-made garment RMG industry since the Rana Plaza tragedy in April 2013.
Proper monitoring of industries by government to ensure that industrial and accidental risks are properly understood, addressed and prevented is essential to improving safe working conditions in Bangladesh, said ILO.
ILO and the broader UN system in Bangladesh hoped that this tragic accident will drive all parties involved to apply renewed vigour in addressing the safety deficits in workplaces across the country and we extend our assistance to continue to build safer Bangladesh for all.
Chinese ambassador Li visits Bhasan Char
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming has recently visited Bhasan Char to meet the Rohingyas staying there temporarily and see the facilities there for them.
Ambassador Li also inspected two projects on the island undertaken by Chinese companies, said the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka on Monday.
Also read:Chinese ambassador greets Bangladeshis, wishes for global peace
US, UK, Swiss envoys condole loss of lives in Sitakunda fire
British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson Sunday condoled the loss of lives in the deadly fire at BM Container Depot at Sitakunda in Chattogram.
The death toll from the fire climbed to 49 by today, with nine fire service members among the deceased.
UK Minister of State for Foreign Commonwealth and Development Affairs Tariq Ahmad, who is of Bangladeshi origin, also extended his deepest condolences to all those affected by the blaze.
"Shocked and saddened to see reports of the tragic container depot fire in Chattogram in Bangladesh," he tweeted.
Robert Chatterton Dickson said he was shocked to see reports of the impact of the fire and hear of the lives lost and people injured.
"My thoughts and prayers for the victims and their families," he tweeted.
US Embassy in Dhaka has also extended its deepest condolences to those affected by the tragic Chattogram container depot fire.
"I am very saddened by the terrible fire at a container depot in Chattogram," Ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh Nathalie Chuard tweeted.
On behalf of the Embassy of Switzerland, she extended her sincere condolences to all who lost their loved ones and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.
Also read: Massive fire at Ctg container depot: Death toll climbs to 49, over 200 injured
Indian media delegation due June 7 to see Bangladesh’s development
A ten-member media delegation representing leading Indian media outlets will visit Bangladesh June 7-12 to see and report about the country’s development success stories under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The media delegation will visit a number of places in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country including the Padma Bridge, an independently funded mega project, which is set to be inaugurated on June 25.
The people of the country are waiting to see mega celebration and be a part of the achievement that Bangladesh has seen.
Also read: Bangladesh, India enjoy excellent relations: Information Minister
The media delegation members will also visit Rohingya camps and travel though the Marine Drive in the beach town Cox’s Bazar, Shaban Mahmood, Minister (Press) at Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, told UNB on Sunday.
He, however, did not disclose the names of the journalists.
Senior journalists from a number of prominent media outlets including The Hindu, The Times of India, Indian Express and NDTV are part of the delegation who will arrive Dhaka on June 7, said sources familiar with the preparation of the visit.
Bangladesh a star of growth, says IFAD urging continued focus on rural areas
Terming Bangladesh a growth star in the region, Reehana Rifat Raza, the regional director of the Asia and Pacific Division at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), has urged Bangladesh to keep the focus on rural development.
“The rural economy is very important. You know, that's where a large share of people lives. Despite having heavy urbanization, it's not a sustainable path in some sense. And we have to look at how we make rural areas attractive economic centers,” she told UNB in an interview.
The rural areas should be made 'attractive' for economic growth to keep the people resilient to different shocks both on climate change and poverty fronts, she said
The economist who visited Bangladesh recently, said their projects are doing very well and there is a real benefit on the ground as they do impact assessments.
She said the countries like Bangladesh which are moving towards the next level of development have a real challenge as they have a large number of populations that live in the rural areas.
“The real challenge is when the structural change happens, and it happens in all the economies as they develop. We move from agriculture to industry and to services,” Raza said, emphasizing that they need to think about looking at shifting people and see how they generate the income because agriculture no longer can serve as the primary means of livelihood.
Raza, who joined IFAD in May 2022 from the Urban Institute in Washington D.C., USA, said they are looking at resilience and offering multiple means of generating incomes and helping the people live in the rural areas as climate change is a big issue there.
Small-scale farmers produce one-third of the world’s food, but receive only 1.7 per cent of climate finance, according to the international financial institution and specialized United Nations agency based in Rome.
IFAD is stepping up its investments globally to build small-scale farmers’ long-term resilience to climate change by dedicating 40 per cent of its core resources to climate action over the next three years, up from 35 per cent (equivalent to US$1.2 billion) over the previous three-year period.
READ: It's a priority for IFAD to invest in Bangladesh, says its regional director
Responding to a question on the situation in Ukraine and its impact on food prices, Raza said these are very difficult times and she thinks in difficult times, it is the poorest of the poor, who struggle the most as the inflationary impact is huge.
“I think it's going to be a huge challenge and a huge challenge for organizations like the IFAD and others who work in these economies to work with the rural poor,” said the economist who visited activities implemented under IFAD’s Bangladesh portfolio.
It is composed of eight ongoing projects with a total investment of US$1.25 billion that includes $475 million of IFAD financing, making Bangladesh IFAD’s second-largest country programme overall.
“Bangladesh is very good at taking advantage of its allocation,” said the IFAD official.
Responding to a question on Bangladesh’s economic situation, she said, “I think Bangladesh is doing very well. We see that across the board in the region. I'm also from this region. We see Bangladesh as the start compared to the other countries at the moment.”
Raza said there is a sort of “sustainable” growth and it is “very inclusive growth” in Bangladesh. “And I think this is the real thing to really commend the government of Bangladesh.”
Responding to a question on Sri Lanka, Raza said, “I think you are the least vulnerable. I think in countries like Sri Lanka, and even in Pakistan, these are not just economic crises, but political crises as well.”
Explaining why Bangladesh seems less vulnerable, she said, “You have an inclusive growth and people are seeing the real change. The challenge often is when governments can't deliver. That becomes a big problem for the governments. And then once you add a macro-economic crisis to that, it becomes very complicated.”
The regional director was on a mission to Bangladesh recently, her first official visit to the region since she took up appointment on 9 May 2022.
She took the opportunity to personally praise the government of Bangladesh for pledging US$2 million to IFAD’s 2022-2024 replenishment cycle.
This is the highest amount that Bangladesh has pledged during its 42-year membership to the fund.
Raza who previously served as a Senior Economist at The World Bank also commended the robust implementing capacity of national partners, which has been key to the success of the large and complex development portfolio.
IFAD invests in rural people, empowering them to reduce poverty, increase food security, improve nutrition and strengthen resilience.
Bangladesh, India enjoy excellent relations: Information Minister
Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud said Bangladesh and India have a very good relationship and unity is needed to take the relationship forward.
“It is very normal that we have a good relationship with India as the country contributed to our Liberation War. We have no major differences of opinion. To carry forward the relationship, we have to work together,” he said.
Hasan Mahmud said this while addressing the Bangladesh-India relations-based reporting award on the occasion of Connections 2022 of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication Alumni Association-Bangladesh (IIMCAA B) at Dhaka Club in the capital on Saturday.
Mentioning that relations between the two countries has reached a new height led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, the minister said, “India had sheltered one crore Bangladeshi refugees during the Liberation War. Late Indira Gandhi had travelled to many countries to campaign for independence of Bangladesh and to free Bangabandhu from Pakistani jail. For these reasons, India’s name will be written forever in the history of Bangladesh.”
He also congratulated the award winners, saying IIMCAAB graduates can play an active role to accelerate the relationship between the two countries.
In the programme, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Kumar Doraiwami said as a bosom friend India is committed to cooperating with Bangladesh to its level best.
IIMCAAB president and prime minister's press secretary Ihsanul Karim presided over the programme while IIMCAAB general saecretary Zahid Newaz Khan, senior journalist Azizul Islam Bhuiyan, among others, were present.
UNB Editor Farid Hossain also spoke at the event. He was the chief of the jury board of the Bangladesh-India relations-based reporting award.
News24 television's "Team Undercover" programme won the 2019 award for its in-depth investigation of how firearms are being smuggled into Bangladesh from India.
Prothom Alo Special Correspondent Raheed Ejaz won the 2020 award for his report: "Bangladesh-India relations through the lens of Dhaka: India wants Bangladesh as geopolitical partner."
Shamima Dola, editor of News Now Bangla, won the 2021 award for the reports "Line of credit: One of the bedrocks of India-Bangladesh ties," and "Implementation of motor vehicles agreement to increase Bangladesh-India trade by 25 percent."
IIMCAAB Joint Secretary Angur Nahar Monty conducted the programme while its Senior Vice President Azizul Islam Bhuiyan gave vote of thanks.
Also read: Huge scope of India-Bangladesh power, energy cooperation: Experts