Day: September 21, 2023

The visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders of Bangladesh and Myanmar under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on visa services between the two countries has been reinstated.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Myanmar Dr. Md. Monwar Hossain has been pursuing in the recent weeks with Myanmar's relevant authorities for resumption of the visa exemption services.

Finally, Myanmar has agreed to resume the relevant provision on September 14, a press release said here today.

Foreign offices of both the countries have completed necessary formalities for the reinstatement of the MOU.

Bangladesh Embassy in Yangon through a diplomatic communication conveyed the consent of the Bangladesh Government to Myanmar.

The MOU, signed in 2004, was temporarily suspended unilaterally by Myanmar side on 28 March 2020 as a precautionary restriction measure to control Covid-19 pandemic.

Under this MOU, diplomatic and official passport holders of both the countries will be allowed to travel in each other's territory for a maximum period of 90 days without visa requirement.

The reinstatement of the MOU will not only facilitate official visits but also strengthen the existing bilateral relations between the two neighbouring countries, the release added.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

A three-day international conference on 'Information and Communication Technology for Sustainable Development' began Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) here today.

BUP Information and Communication Engineering Department is organizing the conference for the second time on the university campus with the theme 'Shaping a sustainable future through advancement in information and communication technology', which will ultimately support the government's vision of building a 'Smart Bangladesh', said a BUP press release.

Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni inaugurated the conference as the chief guest through a videoconferencing while BUP Vice-Chancellor Major General Md Mahbub-ul Alam was present as the chief patron.

Deputy Vice Chancellor of University of Malaysia Pahang Professor Dr Kamal Zuhairi Bin Zamli, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of bKash Limited Kamal Quadir, CEO Grameenphone Limited Yasir Azman and Director of Research and Policy Integration (RAPID) Dr Mohammad Abdur Razzaque presented papers on the first day of the conference.

BUP's military and high civil officials, faculty members and students along with invited guests from home and abroad were present at the inaugural ceremony.

The conference has already drawn 287 research papers from 15 countries on 'Scope of ICT in healthcare, education, business, agriculture, industry, and smart city'. Among them, a total of 100 papers would be presented in the conference.

To foster a congenial environment in exchanging scientific, technical, and engineering ideas amongst academia and industries, this conference has also included an industry exhibition.

The conference will end on 23 September (Saturday).

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will deliver her speech at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) tomorrow (Friday).

The Prime Minister will highlight Rohingya crisis, climate change, the government’s inclusive economic development and other global and regional issues during her address at the General Debate at the General Assembly Hall, UN Headquarters.

Sheikh Hasina will address the session of the UNGA in Bangla for the 17th times following the footsteps of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who delivered his address on September 25 in 1974.

This year’s UNGA theme is: “Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all.”

The Prime Minister arrived in New York on September 17 to attend the 78th UNGA session and other high-level side events.

She will leave New York for Washington on September 23 where she will stay till September 29. After wrapping up her visit to Washington in the USA, the Prime Minister will leave for London on September 29 where she will stay till October 3 and will finally reach home on October 4.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called upon the international partners to extend cooperation in five areas to ensure Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for all.

"I request our international partners to support us in five areas to ensure Universal Health Coverage for all," she told the "UNGA High-level Meeting on "Universal Health Coverage (UHC)" at the conference room of the United Nations Headquarters here.

The areas are:

First, to sustain development assistance for children, mothers, and adolescents' health and address migrants' health and the climate-health nexus;

Second, to share expertise in developing an inter-operable, data-driven Health Information System with Health ID for all;

Third, to help develop a robust health insurance scheme suited to our context;

Fourth, to enhance health sector investments, including in fast-growing health-tech start-ups; and

Fifth, to comply with TRIP obligations on patent disclosure and technology transfer for protecting public health.

"Our generation can change history by promoting UHC. Let us all join hands to make that possible," she said.

The prime minister said the Universal Health Coverage is one of the most ambitious yet achievable SDG targets.

In Bangladesh, she said, "We have a constitutional obligation to ensure health access for all. We have established a nationwide healthcare system, from Community Clinics to specialized medical hospitals. We work closely with non-government partners at the grassroots."

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh's growing health sector investments have paid dividends as Bangladesh has reduced maternal mortality to 163 per one hundred thousand live births.

Apart from these, the neonatal mortality has decreased to 15 and under-five mortality to 28 per thousand live births, she said.

"Our emphasis on child immunization has achieved universal coverage. Our average life expectancy is now close to 73 years," she observed.

The premier said that Bangladesh has been recognized as one of the world's best at managing the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We are now working on high alert to combat dengue. We are introducing advanced treatments for cancer, diabetes, and heart diseases," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh has set standards for providing medical care in humanitarian and peacekeeping operations.

She continued that Bangladesh's policies and interventions on mental health and neurological disorders are widely appreciated.

"We provide reproductive health services in a culturally sensitive manner. We are promoting a "One Health Approach" to prepare against Antimicrobial Resistance. We are raising awareness about nutrition, vision impairment, and drowning," she said.

The premier said she strongly believes that no one should suffer from out-of-pocket health expenses.

"Our public health facilities provide services at zero or minimum costs, covering nearly 80% of our population," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh's focus remains on improving their service quality with a trained workforce.

"Our next target is to develop a viable financing model for reimbursing costs. In Bangladesh, we meet 98% of our pharmaceutical needs through domestic production," she said.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque, MP, and Senior Secretary of the Health Services Division Dr. Md. Anwar Hossain Howlader were present.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

The Embassy of Nepal in Denmark organized a programme, celebrating the Constitution Day and the National Day of Nepal on September 20.

The programme was inaugurated by Ambassador of Nepal to Denmark Prof Dr Ram Swarth Ray.

During the programme, various Nepali cultural performances were presented. The event was attended by around 200 persons including ambassadors, officials of the government of Denmark, politicians, businessmen, journalists, and representatives from Nepali diaspora among others, according to a press statement issued by Nepali Embassy in Copenhagen.

Speaking at the programme, Ambassador Prof Dr Ray outlined major provisions and changes the Constitution has made and highlighted the major achievements made by Nepal since the promulgation of the Constitution in 2015. He briefed the efforts made by Nepal government towards consolidating the political achievements as enshrined in the Constitution by implementing the provisions of the constitutions such as social justice, inclusion, devolution of power, strengthening local bodies etc.

Ray also highlighted unique and major tourist attractions of Nepal and explained why Nepal should be a next destination for all persons who love to travel and have unique experiences. He also underlined the conducive environment Nepal has created for the foreign investors in order for them to make reasonable assurances for their profit planning. The Embassy is ready to facilitate the investors investing in Nepal, according to him.

Source: National News Agency Nepal

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha has said that the government's main priority was to maintain good-governance by ending corruption.

At a programme organized by Nepal Intellectual Organization on 'challenges to promote good-governance against corruption' on Thursday, he said the government's key focus is on good-governance, social justice and prosperity adding that good-governance will prevail if duties were discharged as per the constitution and laws.

He also urged the ruling and opposition parties to unite for the cause of the country's development.

On the occasion, Shrestha stated that no one will be spared if s/he was found guilty on the basis of laws and evidences. They will be booked irrespective of their political affiliation, he added.

Likewise, Shrestha argued that model of development should be pro-people and investment-friendly environment should be there for national capital formation.

On the occasion, CPN (Maoist Centre) leader Khimlal Devkota presented a paper on challenges to promote good-governance.

Source: National News Agency Nepal

CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairperson Madhav Kumar Nepal has said increasing foreign meddling in the county could cause challenges in the national interest and security.

Addressing a party programme here Thursday, the former Prime Minister stressed that all political parties have a common approach on foreign policies with the priority to interests of the nation.

"Undue pressure and influence of any nation is not tolerated," he stressed, pointing out the need of strengthening country's international relations on the basis of panchasheel principles.

The leader took time to insist on the implementation of the interpretative declarations regarding the Millennium Challenge Corporation, warning that the party would take to the street if the document was found not implemented during the monitoring. He doubted whether the United States of America intended to impose the Indo-Pacific strategy in Nepal through the implementation of MCC.

Source: National News Agency Nepal