BRIEFING NOTES the MONTHLY PUBLICATION of the MINISTRY of FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DHAKA, BANGLADESH March-July 2020
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BRIEFING NOTES THE MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DHAKA, BANGLADESH March-July 2020 PRESIDENT MR. MD. ABDUL HAMID VISITS URUGUAY President Mr. Md. Abdul Hamid had a bilateral meeting with the newly elected Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou at the Presidential Palace on 02 March 2020 President Mr. Md. Abdul Hamid visited requested his Uruguayan counterpart to for an eventual repatriation of the Rohingya Uruguay from 26 February to 04 March honour the just-immediate Uruguayan people to their homeland in Myanmar. 2020 to attend the inauguration ceremony administration’s commitment to support the The two leaders also discussed on of the newly elected Uruguayan President Bangladesh proposal in the Mercosur group, the potentials of some of the ongoing Luis Lacalle Pou, the 42nd President of to which he readily agreed. Bangladeshi and Uruguayan proposals the Oriental Republic of Uruguay assumed President Mr. Md. Abdul Hamid thanked the designed to further improve the two presidency on 01 March 2020. Uruguayan government for its unflinching countries’ relations, including conclusion They had a bilateral meeting on 02 support on the Rohingya issue and briefed of instruments related to MOU on FOC, March 2020 at the Presidential Palace on the current state of play of the Rohingya MOU on cooperation between diplomatic focusing on the Bangladesh-Mercosur crisis, the ICJ interim order, etc. Uruguayan academies, visa exemption for holders of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as proposed President promised his government’s diplomatic and official passport, avoidance by Bangladesh. Bangladesh President continued support to Bangladesh on the issue of double taxation, cultural cooperation, etc. MARCH-JULY 2020 1 FOREIGN OFFICE BRIEFING NOTES PRIME MINISTER SHEIKH HASINA INAUGURATES THE DHAKA OIC YOUTH CAPITAL 2020 Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurates the Dhaka OIC Youth Capital 2020 in a virtual inauguration declaration ceremony on 27 July 2020 Dhaka OIC Youth Capital 2020 was Humanitarianism, Sports, Culture & inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh HPM reiterated Arts and Entrepreneurship to honour the Hasina in a virtual inauguration Bangladesh’s true spirit of Bangabandhu’s undying declaration ceremony on 27 July 2020. idealism. She reiterated Bangladesh’s It was attended by Dr. A K Abdul commitment to arrange Momen, MP, Foreign Minister of safe, secured and commitment to arrange safe, secured Bangladesh; Md. Zahid Ahsan Russel, dignified return of and dignified return of Rohingyas to MP, State Minister for Youth and Sports their own motherland with the help of Rohingyas to their own of Bangladeshl; Yousef bin Ahmad the international community. She also Al- Othaimeen, Secretary General, motherland with the extolled the role of youth leadership to Organization of Islamic Cooperation; help of the international build a resilient and sustainable future. Azad Rahimov, Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Azerbaijan; community. She also Earlier, Dhaka was announced as the Dawda A. Jallow, Justice Minister and extolled the role of youth “OIC Youth Capital 2020” marking a Attorney General of the Gambia; Taha leadership to build a significant recognition for the leadership Ayhan, President, Islamic Cooperation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Youth Forum (ICYF) along with other resilient and sustainable global leaders and dignitaries. future. spirited Government in the youth sector. The Istanbul based Islamic Cooperation In her inaugural speech, Prime Minister of Dhaka-OIC Youth Capital 2020 Sheikh Hasina announced “Bangabandhu Youth Forum (ICYF), an entity affiliated Global Youth Leadership Award” to for outstanding contribution in the to the OIC, made this declaration on 25 be awarded at the closing ceremony field of Innovation, Environment, December 2019. 2 MARCH-JULY 2020 INDIA HANDS OVER EMERGENCY MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO BANGLADESH UNDER SAARC COVID-19 EMERGENCY FUND On 06 May 2020, the third tranche of medical assistance, containing RT-PCR COVID-19 testing kits capable of running 30,000 tests was delivered. Bangladesh was the first country to receive these test kits from India on priority. Indian High Commissioner Riva Ganguly Das hands over the humanitarian aids to Foreign Minister Dr. A K Abdul Momen, MP at his office During the crisis period of COVID-19 India, handed over the humanitarian aids consisting of 50,000 sterile surgical latex pandemic, the Government of India to Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dr. A gloves and 1,00,000 Hydroxychloroquine extended humanitarian assistance to the K Abdul Momen, MP. medicine tablets arrived here on 26 April Government of the People’s Republic of 2020. On 06 May 2020, the third tranche The first tranche of Indian emergency Bangladesh under the SAARC COVID-19 of medical assistance, containing RT-PCR Emergency Fund to support its efforts to medical assistance containing 30,000 COVID-19 testing kits capable of running contain the spread of Coronavirus. On surgical masks and 15,000 head-covers 30,000 tests was delivered. Bangladesh behalf of the Government of India, Riva was handed over to Bangladesh on was the first country to receive these test Ganguly Das, the High Commissioner of 25 March 2020 while the second one kits from India on priority. FOREIGN MINISTER CALLED BRITISH SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO INCREASE PRESSURE ON MYANMAR FOR EARLY REPATRIATION OF ROHINGYAS Foreign Minister Dr. A K Abdul Rohingyas to Rakhine. Dr. Momen of COVID-19 in Bangladesh, including Momen, MP while talking with British also expressed his sympathy for the the challenge of job loss by a significant DFID Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan severity of COVID-19 in the UK number of Bangladeshi migrant workers on 24 June 2020 called on the UK to and briefed her on the steps taken by abroad, particularly in the Middle East. exert and increase pressure on Myanmar Bangladesh to contain the virus. He He requested for the support of the UK for solving the Rohingya crisis urgently briefed the Secretary of State for DFID in overcoming this difficulty. by sustainable repatriation of the about the economic and social impact During the meeting, Foreign Minister MARCH-JULY 2020 3 FOREIGN OFFICE BRIEFING NOTES During the meeting, Foreign Minister also flagged that Myanmar has not done anything till date for repatriation of the Rohingyas. Foreign Minister Dr. A K Abdul Momen, MP attends a virtual meeting with DFID Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan on 24 June 2020 also flagged that Myanmar has not the international community exerts moratorium, the Rohingya crisis will done anything till date for repatriation more pressure on Myanmar, including not be resolved. of the Rohingyas. He insisted that until by putting trade and investment STATE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS URGED UK FOR CREATING FUND TO CONTINUE RMG IMPORTS FROM BD and retailers. He highlighted that orders play an important role globally in the post amounting to close to 300 million dollars COVID19 world. have been cancelled or postponed by UK The two Ministers also discussed the buyers, putting the livelihoods of close issue of the Rohingya crisis. Lord Ahmad to a million workers in Bangladesh in appreciated the humanitarian gesture by jeopardy. He suggested that the UK may Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in providing take the initiative of creating a COVID19 shelter to the 1.1 million Rohingyas fund which can be used to bail out the UK who have been persecuted in their own brands/retailers so that they can continue country by their own state machinery. with their imports from Bangladesh. The UK Minister highlighted that as the On the other hand, the fund can also be penholder on this issue in the UN Security used to help the workers to sustain their Council, the UK has remained engaged families. Lord Ahmad agreed that action on ensuring that the accountability for the needs to be taken on this regard atrocities committed against Rohingyas During the meeting, the two Ministers is established, and the perpetrators are State Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. discussed the current situation of the brought into justice. In this regard, he Md. Shahriar Alam, M.P. had a telephone COVID19 pandemic, and the way forward. informed about the UN Security Council meeting with Lord Tariq Ahmad, UK The UK Minister appreciated the steps meeting held last week. UK also reiterated Minister (State Minister) for South Asia taken by the Government of Bangladesh its commitment to the decision of the and Commonwealth in the UK Foreign and led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in International Court of Justice regarding Commonwealth Office on 18 May 2020. containing the spread of Coronavirus. The genocide and the crimes against humanity two Ministers agreed to work together committed against the Rohingyas in During the discussion, State Minister in WHO to find a solution of the global Myanmar. The two Ministers agreed to Alam raised the issue of confirmed orders crisis of COVID19. The Ministers also continue their fruitful dialogue in near of RMG exports from Bangladesh to the discussed how the Commonwealth can future. UK being cancelled by the UK brands 4 MARCH-JULY 2020 RESILIENT YOUTH LEADERSHIP SUMMIT HELD IN JULY 2020 The two day long Resilient Youth panelists stressed on reshuffling held with the presence of Justice Leadership Summit under the auspices economics theory to ensure resilient Minister of Turkey Abdulhamit of Dhaka-OIC Youth Capital 2020 global supply chain, robust production Gül. He reiterated his country’s was held on 27-28 July 2020 with mechanism and equitable wages. The unwavering support to ensure justice the participation of 250 influential speakers lauded the Bangladesh’s and accountability for the persecuted youths from more than 75 countries. commitment to readjust Rules of displaced people of Myanmar to pave Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen procedure to conform to the ever- the path to sustainable repatriation. moderated the first session of the changing ICT-centric evolution.