Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Sunday said Myanmar responded positively to begin Rohingya repatriation with the next round of talks scheduled for the first week of February. “We got some positive responses. We told them it’s an opportunity…
Category: Int’l relations
Global Covid-19 cases surpass 102 million
Dhaka, Jan 30 – The pandemic continues to grow even as nations race ahead with mass vaccination programmes. In fact, the global Covid caseload has now surged past 102 million.
Bangladesh-India Foreign Office Consultations Held
Dhaka, 29 January – The Foreign Secretary level talks between Bangladesh and India was held today at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi. Bangladesh delegation was led by Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and Indian side was led by Foreign…
Treaty on Teesta should cover basinwide management
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen has said one day before his departure for New Delhi that Bangladesh wants to hear positive news on Teesta water sharing and simultaneously continue the discussion on water sharing of other common rivers.
US Envoy lauds BD students’ resilience, tenacity, ingenuity
Dhaka, January 25 – U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh, Earl Miller congratulated outbound students who are beginning their studies at U.S. colleges and universities during the Spring 2021 semester.
With Trump Gone, is the World Safe from Nuclear Brinkmanship?
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS, Jan 22 2021 (IPS) – A war-mongering president, with his finger on the nuclear trigger— and who threatened to attack North Korea and Iran– was unceremoniously drummed out of office on January 20.
Celebrating or cursing democracy?
This week the United States inaugurated a new President, much to the joy of many Americans, but to the utter dismay of millions of others. And the swearing in took place in a Washington, DC locked down, not by fear of a pandemic, but by fear of domestic terrorists.
Myanmar committed to repatriating Rohingyas as per 2017 deal
Myanmar has said they are committed to beginning the repatriation of Rohingyas as per the bilateral agreement signed with Bangladesh in 2017.
Russia: Crackdown Ahead of Pro-Navalny Protests – HRW
Russian authorities are harassing, intimidating, and detaining activists and students ahead of protests planned for January 23, 2021 in solidarity with the detained opposition leader Alexey Navalny, Human Rights Watch said.
In Zimbabwe there is ‘no Freedom After the Speech’
A long-running gag says “in Zimbabwe, there is freedom of speech, but no freedom after the speech”. But for journalists and activists who have been forced to endure nights in the country’s overcrowded and filthy holding cells, this is no laughing matter as prison inmates have no personal protective equipment to guard against COVID-19.
US Embassy accepting petitions for (Fulbright TEA) FY 2021-22
U.S. Embassy Dhaka is pleased to announce the opening of the application period for the Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (Fulbright TEA) program.
Washington DC prepares for Biden inauguration
Security has been ramped up in Washington DC in preparation for an inauguration like no other.
Pompeo failure to call attacks on Rohingya genocide deplored
Secretary Pompeo has declined to make a … finding of genocide against the state of Myanmar for its vicious mass attacks against the Rohingya
Covid vaccine: WHO warns of ‘catastrophic moral failure’
The world faces a “catastrophic moral failure” because of unequal Covid vaccine policies, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned.
Biden’s Challenge: Redeeming a US Role for Human Rights
Kenneth Roth After four years of a president who was indifferent and often hostile to human rights, the November 2020 election of Joe Biden to the presidency of the United States provides an opportunity for a fundamental change of course.
What saved American democracy?
by Bo Rothstein on 13th January 2021 Democracy in the United States survived last week’s assault by Donald Trump and his supporting mob. But why it survived raises questions awkward for some. Democracy is a fragile form of government. History…
Bangladesh to seek LDC benefits for 5 years after graduation
Dhaka, Jan 12 – Bangladesh has called on the international community for the continuation of international support measures for an extended period to make its upcoming graduation out of Least Developed Country (LDC) status smooth and sustainable.
2nd Term for Guterres to Negate First Female UN Chief move?
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS, Jan 12 2021 (IPS) – The United Nations has been one of the most vociferous advocates of gender empowerment and a persistent critic of gender discrimination worldwide. But still, it has continued to fall far…
Israel is non-democratic apartheid regime, says rights group
Embassy spokesperson rejects ‘false claims’ in a report that alleges policies perpetuate supremacy of Jews over Palestinians Israel is not a democracy but an “apartheid regime” that enforces Jewish supremacy over all the land it controls, a leading domestic rights…
Bangladeshi sentenced for conspiracy to bring aliens to US
Washington – A Bangladeshi national formerly residing in Monterrey, Mexico, was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his role in a scheme to smuggle aliens from Mexico into the United States.
Global COVID-19 cases near 90 million, deaths 1.92 mn
Dhaka, Jan 10 (AP/UNB) – Almost 90 million people have been infected with coronavirus as COVID-19 cases hardly show any sign of slowing down, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University (JHU).
Freedom ends if someone spreads falsehood, hurts others: Joy
Dhaka, Jan 9 – Prime Minister’s ICT Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy has said everyone has the right to freedom of speech, but that freedom ends when someone spreads falsehoods that ends up hurting others.
Global Covid cases inch closer to 89 million
Dhaka, Jan 9 — The COVID-19 pandemic continues to devastate countries across the world, as cases approach 89 million. According to the latest data released by Johns Hopkins University, the total count of COVID cases reached 88, 821,629, while the…
President Trump, Backers in Congress should Accept poll Loss
Washington, DC – United States President Donald Trump and his supporters in Congress should immediately acknowledge Joe Biden’s win in the November presidential election and cease their attack on US democratic processes, Human Rights Watch said today.
Trump blocked by Twitter and Facebook
Donald Trump has been suspended from Twitter and Facebook after tweeting to supporters who attacked the US Capitol.
Warnock makes history with Senate win as Dems near majority
ATLANTA (AP/UNB) — Democrat Raphael Warnock won one of Georgia’s two Senate runoffs Wednesday, becoming the first Black senator in his state’s history and putting the Senate majority within the Democrats’ reach.
Snowden welcomes rejection of Assange extradition
Moscow, Jan 4 – Fugitive US whistleblower Edward Snowden said Monday he hoped the British refusal to extradite Julian Assange would mark “the end” of attempts to see the WikiLeaks founder face espionage charges in the United States. A British…
Pelosi narrowly reelected speaker, faces difficult two years
WASHINGTON (AP/UNB) — Nancy Pelosi was narrowly reelected Sunday as speaker, giving her the reins of Democrats’ slender House majority as she and President-elect Joe Biden set a challenging course of producing legislation to tackle the pandemic, revive the economy…
Hasina-Modi talks agenda: BD Foreign Secy to visit New Delhi
Dhaka, Jan 3 – Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Sunday expressed his optimism over fulfilment of Bangladesh’s expectations by India as the two countries maintain a strong, very friendly and historic relationship.
China, Russia vote against UN resolution on Burma minorities
Dhaka, Jan 2 – China and Russia have once again stood beside Myanmar while India and Japan refrained from standing against them as a draft resolution on the situation of human rights of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar…