Vibrant Bangladesh
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VVIIBBRRAANNTT BBAANNGGLLAADDEESSHH [March 2008] Celebrating the 37 ththth Anniversary of Our Independence [Issue 03] Table of Contents Nation pays tribute to the martyrs of New York Bangladesh Press Club launched Independence War Independence Day observed by the Bangladesh The election will be held by December 2008: communities Chief Adviser Bangladesh elected vice president of Migration is an important driver for poverty Commonwealth Women Association of alleviation and economic development: Foreign Washington DC Adviser Bangladesh Embassy hosts students from This is the best opportunity to get things right in University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Bangladesh: Congressman Crowley Biman plans to buy 8 Boeing aircrafts Bangladesh outshines India, Pakistan in South Asia’s largest shopping mall in women's status, gender equality: World Bank Bangladesh Report Bangladeshi scientist leads a team of Special Assistant Prof. Tamim visits Washington researchers to invent cost effective alternative DC energy th Bangladesh Embassy celebrated 38 Seven US-Bangladesh students selected for Independence and National Day in Washington admission into Bangladesh Government DC Medical Colleges Bangladesh is the leader in building human and social capital: Ambassador Kabir News from Bangladesh Opinion: a meeting with Bangladesh's future - Mark Ward, USAID 1 Please visit us at www.bangladoot.org NATION PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE MARTYRS OF INDEPENDENCE WAR he 38th Independence and National Day was T observed with due solemnity at home and abroad. In Dhaka, a 31-gun salute at dawn heralded the day with ceremonies and parades at the National Parade Square. President Professor Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief Advisor Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed led the nation in paying tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Memorial at Savar in the early hours of the day. On the occasion, President Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed, Chief Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed and Foreign Adviser Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury in separate messages congratulated all Bangladeshis home and abroad and urged them to work unitedly for a modern, democratic and prosperous country. The Chief Adviser and the British Prime Minister exchange greetings at 10 Downing Street, London. The Prime Minister and Chief Adviser agreed that credible elections would sustain democracy in Bangladesh. Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed informed the British Prime Minister that the caretaker government would hold early dialogue with the political parties and remove restrictions to enable them to fully participate in successful democratic Parliamentary elections. Both the heads of government agreed that strong Hon’ble President and Chief Adviser paying public institutions, justice and observance of due homage to the martyrs at Savar National Memorial process and human rights were the bedrock of healthy on 26 March 2008. democracy. They reflected with satisfaction on the institutional reforms of the caretaker government to THE ELECTION WILL BE HELD BY strengthen the mandate of the Anti-Corruption, DECEMBER 2008: CHIEF ADVISER Election and Public Service Commissions and establish a Human Rights Commission. he Chief Adviser categorically reaffirmed his government's firm resolve to hold free, fair and T The Chief Adviser highlighted, among other things, credible parliamentary elections in Bangladesh by the climate change challenge uniquely faced by December 2008. He expressed the hope to work Bangladesh due to global warming and sea level rise. closely with international partners such as Britain Both sides agreed to work together in international towards that end. He told this during a meeting with forums to secure an effective and responsible the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in London international response to climate change. on 18 March 2008. The Chief Adviser was on a three- day bilateral visit to the United Kingdom on his way Both sides agreed to work closely together to combat back to Dhaka after attending the 11th Summit of the terrorism and enhance Bangladesh's institutional Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in Dakar, capacity to that effect. They agreed that education, Senegal from 16-18 March 2008. women's empowerment, opportunity and prosperity in mainstream society offered the most effective defense against extremism. 2 Please visit us at www.bangladoot.org The two heads of government expressed satisfaction at this process more effectively by bringing together all the thriving strategic partnership between Bangladesh stake-holders. and Britain and acknowledged the important role played by the vibrant British-Bangladeshi community Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury also chaired a high- in forging that partnership. Foreign Adviser Dr. level panel discussion on Millennium Development Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury accompanied the chief Goals (MDGs) focusing on education and sustainable Adviser during his visit. development. He highlighted Bangladesh's impressive Source: The New Nation, internet edition. strides in achieving universal primary education (UPE) for all children. Bangladesh already attained MIGRATION IS AN IMPORTANT DRIVER FOR gender parity in primary and secondary enrollment, POVERTY ALLEVIATION AND ECONOMIC the Adviser underscored. Highlighting the linkages DEVELOPMENT: ADVISER FOR FOREIGN between education and sustainable development, he AFFAIRS said "Education is a sine qua non for innovation, technological progress and economic development." r. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Adviser for D Foreign Affairs, underscored the need for the UN Earlier, Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury called on the to play a greater role in protecting the rights and UN Secretary General at the UN Headquarters in New promoting the welfare of migrant workers. He made York on 31 March 2008. Dr. Iftekhar Chowdhury this request when he called on the General Assembly apprised Mr. Ban Ki-moon about the determination of President on 01 April 2008 at the UN headquarters in the Caretaker Government to hold "free, fair and New York. The Adviser arrived in New York on a credible elections in accordance with the Road Map two-day official visit on 31 March to Chair a Session before the end of December this year". Mr. Ban Ki- on poverty alleviation and education and to address moon lauded the reforms initiatives being undertaken the Plenary of the General Assembly on Millennium in Bangladesh during the meeting and expressed the Development Goals in his capacity as Chairman of hope that this would render democratic institutions Least Developed Countries. sustainable. THIS IS THE BEST OPPORTUNITY TO GET THINGS RIGHT IN BANGLADESH: CONGRESSMAN CROWLEY his is the best time to get things right in “T Bangladesh and there is an urgent need to strengthen democracy through free, fair and transparent election for receiving continued US support” said the Co-chair of US Congressional Bangladesh Caucus, Congressman Joseph Crowley at the Capitol Hill in Washington DC on 12 March 2008 during the first ever formal meeting of the Adviser for Foreign Affairs Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Congressional Bangladesh Caucus with the Chowdhury meets UN Secretary General Ban Ki- Bangladesh Embassy. Moon in New York. Referring to the ongoing anti- The Adviser for Foreign Affairs said 'managed corruption drive, Mr. Crowley also migration' can be an effective tool for poverty suggested the need for maintaining alleviation and development. He added that in the past due process of law during trials of the year Bangladesh sent 8,32,000 workers abroad which arrested leaders. Earlier, Co-chair of was a record, and the remittance received home was the Caucus Congresswoman Nancy US$7 billion which was also a new record. He Boyda expressed her keen interest in the observed that if host societies are made to be more developments in Bangladesh and assured the readiness responsive to the welfare needs of the migrant of Bangladesh Caucus to extend all possible workers, it can be a 'win-win' situation for both sides. cooperation to Bangladesh in her efforts to strengthen Dr. Iftekhar Chowdhury thought the UN could assist democracy. Mentioning the vastness of change in Bangladesh, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee has 3 Please visit us at www.bangladoot.org said that Bangladesh Caucus would work to Leading members of Bangladesh Community from strengthen democracy in Bangladesh. She appreciated Kansas and Georgia Mr. Rehan Reza, Mr. Rabiul the leadership of the Embassy in working with the Karim and Mr. Jashim Uddin were present during the Caucus. Congressman Dennis Moore of Kansas, meeting Congressman Bill Pascrell of New Jersey, Jr, Congressman Michael A. Arcuri of New York also The Bangladesh Caucus in the US House of attended the meeting. Representatives is a bipartisan body and currently has 33 members. BANGLADESH OUTSHINES INDIA, PAKISTAN IN WOMEN'S STATUS, GENDER EQUALITY: WORLD BANK REPORT angladesh outperforms India and Pakistan in B many areas concerning women's status and gender equality, although more progress needs to be done on access to reproductive health services, labor markets and decision-making process, said a World Bank report. The report said Bangladesh stands out as a shining Ambassador and others are seen meeting with new example in South Asia achieving impressive Congresswoman Nancy Boyda, Congressmen gains in gender equality despite facing economic Dennis Moore and Michael Arcuri. challenges. After Sri Lanka and the Indian state of Kerala, Bangladesh dwarfs Pakistan and India in In his introductory remarks, Bangladesh Ambassador many areas, said the WB report titled