26-05-2021

WeDNeSDAY, MAY 26, 2021
3
Access to Covid vaccines top
priority for LDCs: Dhaka
DHAKA : Highlighting
multidimensional challenges posed by
the Covid-19 pandemic to the
LDCs,Bangladesh's Permanent
Representative to the UN
Ambassador RababFatima has
identified access to Covid-19 vaccines
as the top priority for the LDCs,
reports UNB.
She said if this issue is not addressed
immediately, the LDCs will face
serious humanitarian and economic
misery for years to come.
Ambassador Rabab Fatima and
Ambassador Bob Ray, Permanent
Representative of Canada, jointly
convened the first Session of the
Preparatory Committee (PrepCom)
meeting of the Fifth United Nations
Conference (LDC-5) on the Least
Developed Countries (LDCs) at the
UN Headquarters in New York on
Monday.
They were elected as the co-chairs of
the PrepCom at its organisational
session in February 2021.
The LDC-5 conference will be held
in DOHA, Qatar in January 2022.
The LDC-V conference is envisaged
to be one of the biggest UN
conferences in 2022. The next
programme of Action for the LDCs is
expected to come up with a new global
compact to address both the
immediate and structural issues of the
LDCs. As a co-chair, Bangladesh will
also have the opportunity to move
forward some of its key priorities,
including sustainable graduation and
international support measures for
graduation.
Notably, the UN recommended
Bangladesh to graduate from the LDC
category in February, 2021.
The President of Malawi Lazarus
McCarthy Chakwera joined the
meeting virtually as a keynote speaker
in his capacity as the global chair of
the LDCs.
As the host of the LDC-5 conference,
State Minister for Foreign Affairs of
Qatar Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi
also delivered a keynote speech.
Among others, President of the UN
General Assembly Volkan Bozkir,
President of the ECOSOC Munir
Akram, UN Deputy Secretary-General
Amina J Mohammed OECD
Development Assistance Committee
Chair Susanna Moorehead, and USG,
OHRLLSFekitamoeloa Katoa
Utoikamanu, spoke at the meeting.
The General Debate was addressed
by a large number of Member States,
including important development
partners, who highlighted serious
consequences facing LDCs due to the
pandemic and expressed solidarity
and partnership towards an ambitious
10-year Programme of Action for the
LDCs.
Ambassador Rabab Fatima stressed
the need for an incentives-based
graduation package for the graduating
and graduated countries from LDCs
as they are at a high risk of sliding
back-both by the Covid-19 impact and
the loss of LDC specific support
measures.
Among other things, she also
underscored the multidimensional
challenges and vulnerabilities faced by
the LDCs in the areas of poverty and
inequality, trade, climate change,
external debt, migration and
remittances.
This meeting sets in motion the
substantive work for the LDC5
Conference to be held in Doha, Qatar
in January 2022.
It will continue through the week.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr AK
Abdul Momen, and Information and
Communication Technology Affairs
Adviser to the Prime Minister Sajeeb
Ahmed Wazed are expected to
participate in different thematic
sessions of the meeting later this
week.
Rab members arrested two persons with heroin worth tk 35 lacs from Shyamoli are of the capital city
yesterday.
Photo : Courtesy
Ex-WB adviser writes how Pakistan may
end up taking aid from Bangladesh
DHAKA : Abid Hasan, a former adviser
to the World Bank for the Pakistan
Programme, has praised Bangladesh's
economic growth while highlighting how
Pakistan has gone around the world with
a "begging bowl" with a possibility
oftaking aid from Bangladesh in a
decade, reports UNB.
"It was unthinkable, 20 years back,
that Bangladesh's GDP per-capita in
2020 would be almost twice that of
Pakistan. Bangladesh could be an
economic powerhouse in 2030 if it
grows at the same rate as in the past," he
said in an article titled "Aid from
Bangladesh."
The article appeared on The News on
Monday, also reads, "If Pakistan
continues its dismal performance, it is in
the realm of possibility that we could be
seeking aid from Bangladesh in 2030."
Abid Hasan, former Member of
Pakistan Economic Advisory Committee
and Federal Board of Revenue Tax
Reforms Group, said if they continue
with a 'business as usual' policy, they
could end up taking aid from
Bangladesh in a decade.
In order to establish an economically
strong Pakistan, it is incumbent on the
PTI to reach out to all political parties to
develop a national consensus on the
fundamental reforms necessary to
accelerate inclusive growth and at the
same time lower debt, said the former
WB adviser.
At the beginning of his article, Hasan
said every government in Pakistan,
including the current one, has gone
around the world with a begging bowl.
"We're now drowning in debt and
stuck in an anemic growth orbit, and will
continue to be this way since no
government has pursued the deep
reforms necessary to establish an
economically strong Pakistan," he
mentioned. Hasan said Pakistan's poor
performance is their own fault, but their
leaders conveniently blame their
enemies and the IMF and the World
Bank.
There is no doubt that the IMF/WB
have often peddled "poorly thought out
and one-size-fits-all" policies and bad
loans but the deep hole that Pakistan is
in is largely its own doing.
While corruption and the economic
impact of terrorism have a role in the
mess, for the most part the poor
performance is a result of pursuing
irresponsible, inappropriate and
unpredictable policies, and half-hearted
reforms.
Deputy Commissioner of Natore District Mohammad Shahriaz PAA addressed the roundtable meeting
as the chief guest on increasing the participation of journalists in building an anti-drug society
in the district.
Photo : Courtesy
National Poet Kazi Nazrul's 122nd birth anniversary observed at DU. Vice-Chancellor of the
University Prof Dr Akhtaruzzaman placed wreath at the grave of Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam yesterday.
Photo : Courtesy
Bangladeshi injured
in BSF firing along
Lalmonirhat border
LALMONIRHAT : A
Bangladeshi national was shot
and wounded by the members
of Indian Border Security
Force(BSF) along Durgapur
border in Aditmari upazila of
Lalmonirhat district early
Tuesday. The victim was
identified as Milon Islam, son
of Raza Mia of Chauratari area.
Quoting local people, BGB
said, the BSF troops from Padna
Camp opened fire on a group of
Bangladeshi people numbering
4/5 when they reached near
border pillar no 925, leaving
Milon injured. Later, he was
taken to Lalmonirhat Sadar
Hospital from where he was
taken to Rangpur Medical
College and Hospital, said
commanding officer of BGB-15
Battalion, Towhid. A letter has
been sent to BSF protesting the
incident, he said.
SHAFIQUL ISLAM
Politically good enough: Palestine
on Bangladesh's clarification
DHAKA : Palestinian Ambassador to
Bangladesh Yousef SY Ramadan has
welcomed Bangladesh's clarification
on Israel issue, noting that it is
"politically good enough" but will be
happier to see those words - "except
Israel" - in Bangladesh e-passports,
reports UNB.
"Politically this (Bangladesh's
clarification) is good enough for me,"
he said on Monday thanking Foreign
Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen who
explained the situation and clarified
the position of Bangladesh assuring
everybody that nothing has changed in
the foreign policy of Bangladesh and
Bangladeshi citizens are still
prohibited to go to Israel.
While talking to a small group of
journalists at the Embassy, the
Palestinian Ambassador appreciated
the generosity of Bangladeshis,
including expatriates Bangladeshis in
Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, the United
Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar and
Bahrain.
"You've such an amaging principle.
We don't compare you with anyone.
I'm saying that from my heart. It's not
lip service. It's true. You're magnificent
people. We'll never forget your
support, solidarity and principled
attitude," he said.
The Ambassador, however, said they
sincerely hope that Bangladesh will
revise this decision and keep this
sentence in the passport - "except
Israel" - because this also represents a
very good support to the people of
DHAKA : Neaz Ahmed and Shams
Mahmud have been elected President and
Secretary General respectively of the
Consular Corps in Bangladesh (CCB) for
the next two years (2021-2023), reports
UNB. Neaz Ahmed is the Honorary Consul
of New Zealand while Shams Mahmud is
the Honorary Consul of the Federal
Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
The Consular Corps in Bangladesh (CCB)
formed the new Executive Committee at
National poet Kazi Nazrul's 122nd
birth anniversary celebrated
The 122nd birth anniversary of national poet
Kazi Nazrul Islam has been celebrated
through various programs. On the occasion
of the poet's birth anniversary, people of
different political parties and different
professions have paid their respects with
flowers at his grave. On Tuesday (May 25)
morning, they paid their respects at the grave
of the poet located in the central mosque
premises of Dhaka University. In the
morning, the ruling party Awami League
paid homage at the National Poet's Shrine.
Under the led by Awami League General
Secretary Obaidul Quader, the party's
Organizing Secretary Ahmed Hossain, Abu
Saeed Al Mahmud Swapan, SM Kamal
Hossain, Afzal Hossain, Science and
Technology Secretary Engineer Abdus
Sabur, Office Secretary Barrister Biplob
Barua, Deputy Office Secretary Sayem Khan
Palestine.
"I didn't receive this news, frankly
speaking, with happiness or with joy. I
was sad to receive the news," said
Ambassador Ramadan, adding,
"because at least the blood of our
children is not dried yet."
The envoy said they can only request
the government to revise the decision
and they hope Bangladesh will do that.
"It is unacceptable, it's obviously
unacceptable. It cannot be acceptable
for us. But finally Bangladesh is a
sovereign State and that we respect.
Since you've asked about my feeling
and the majority of the Palestinian
people, I'm being frank with you about
my feeling that is unacceptable," he
told one of the questioners.
A government official said he is
"surprised" to see Ambassador's such
comments (unacceptable) even though
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen
himself clarified the matter on Israel
and passport issues on Sunday.
Ambassador Ramadan said the
change in passport was received by
Israel in a way like it was a reward.
"And they've tweeted, the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MoFA) tweeted as you
all know, the next step for Bangladesh,
they wish, will be diplomatic relations.
That's why it didn't send a clear
message to Israel, the wrong message
was sent to Israel after the incident,
after the crime was committed, after
the atrocity, and after we faced this
suffering. It was not the right time at
the 12thannual general meeting (AGM)
held virtually recently, said a media release
on Tuesday. KM Mozibul Hoque,
Honorary Consul General of Yemen, is the
immediate past President of the CCB.
The two newly elected vice presidents are
Reshadur Rahman, Honorary Consul
General of the Republic of Poland in Dhaka
and Abul Hossain, Honorary Consul of the
Republic of Uganda. Mohammed Taneem
Hasan, Honorary Consul of Bosnia and
and others were present.
Meanwhile, BNP chairperson's adviser
Abdus Salam, joint secretary general Khairul
Kabir Khokon, co-organizing secretary
Abdus Salam Azad, Chhatra Dal secretary
Iqbal Hossain Shyamal, Dhaka University
Chhatra Dal's president Rakibul Islam Rakib
and member secretary Md Aman Ullah were
present on behalf of the party. Bangladesh
NAP Secretary General M Golam Mostafa
Bhuiyan also paid tributes on behalf of his
party.
It may be mentioned that the 122nd
birth anniversary of the national poet Kazi
Nazrul Islam, known as the rebel of
Bengali poetry and the bulbul of song, was
yesterday. He was born on 11 May 1306 BS
(25 May 1899) in the village of Churulia,
Jamuria Police Station, Asansol, Burdwan
District, Undivided Bengal (now West
Bengal, India).
all. And I believe it should have been
[done] later on," he added.
Foreign Minister Dr Momen on
Sunday told UNB that there has been
no change in Bangladesh's position
towards Israel as it still does not
recognise Israel.
He said removing the words like
valid for travelling except Israel in the
new passport does not mean that there
has been a change in Bangladesh's
position.
The ban on travel of Bangladeshi
passport holders to Israel remains
unchanged.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said
the confusion appears to have
emanated from the new booklets of E-
passports which do not contain the
observation "all countries except
Israel".
The removal of the observation has
been done to maintain international
standards of Bangladeshi e-passports
and does not imply any change of
Bangladesh's foreign policy towards
the Middle East, it said.
The government of Bangladesh has
condemned the recent atrocities
inflicted upon the civilians by the
occupation forces of Israel in al-Aqsa
mosque compound and at Gaza.
Bangladesh reiterates its principled
position concerning the two-State
Solution of the Palestine-Israel conflict
in light of the UN resolutions
recognising pre-1967 borders and East
Jerusalem as the capital of the State of
Palestine, said the MoFA.
Neaz, Shams elected President,
Secretary General of CCB
Herzegovina, is the treasurer of the CCB.
ASM Mohiuddin Monem, Honorary
Consul of Czech Republic, Syed Farhad
Ahmed, Honorary Consul of the Republic of
Estonia, Riad Mahmud, Honorary Consul,
Consulate of Georgia in Bangladesh,
Zulfikar Ali, Honorary Consul of the
Republic of Guatemala and Samira Rahman
Ali, Honorary Consul, Consulate of Iceland
have been elected as Executive Committee
members of the new committee.