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Vibrant Bangladesh VVIIBBRRAANNTT BBAANNGGLLAADDEESSHH [[[OOcctttoobbeerrr 22000088]]] [[[IIIssssuuee 0099]]] HHiiigghhllliiigghhtttss • US Congress urges the President for generous “incentives” for Bangladesh • Hon'ble Chief Adviser calls for setting up of Global Food Bank • Council of Adviser approves Right to Information ordinance • Adviser for Commerce and Education visited Washington, DC US Congress urges the President for • Bangladesh elected UNCTAD President generous “incentives” for Bangladesh • Bangladesh donated US$ 100,000.00 for flood victims in Nepal The US House of Representatives unanimously • Bangladesh received US$ 6.8 billion passed a resolution on 23 September 2008 remittance until Sept 2008: Foreign urging the US President to consider extending Adviser generous economic support to Bangladesh • Eid-ul-Fitr celebrated in Washington DC upon completion of an internationally accepted • Durga Puja celebrated across the free and fair election before the end of country peacefully December 2008. The House of Representative in • Bangladesh: a potential destination for its resolution H.R. 1402 titled “Supporting a eco-tourism in South Asia transition to democracy through free, fair, • Bangladesh-Japan joint Venture credible, peaceful, and transparent elections in Company to invest $3.72 million at Bangladesh” made this request to the US KEPZ President. • UK drawn to Dhaka call centres at Expo The Resolution recognized the Caretaker 2008 Government’s initiatives to eradicate • Sri Lanka Bank eyes Bangladesh corruption from all levels of government and • German Company Germanischer Lloyd society through institutional and policy ordered new ships from Ananda reforms. The House also urged all political Shipyard parties to participate in the elections so that • Indian RMG unit in Dhaka EPZ shortly democratic governance in Bangladesh could • Korean company to invest Tk 85cr in continue the fight against corruption and Chittagong EPZ intensify efforts for institutional and policy reforms. In this connection, the US Congress welcomed the Caretaker Government’s initiative to hold dialogue with all political Hon'ble Chief Adviser calls for setting up parties and civil society organizations. In the of Global Food Bank Resolution, the House of Representative members expressed their strong support to the The Hon'ble Chief restoration of democracy in Bangladesh. Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Congress also urged the Government of Ahmed led the Bangladesh “to lift the state of emergency to Bangladesh delegation to allow free and fair elections to occur”. the 63rd United Nations Most notably, for the first time ever, the General Assembly Congress urged the US President to make (UNGA). During his stay democratic transition in Bangladesh a “high bin New York, he priority of United States foreign policy”. addressed the plenary of the United Nations Finally, the Congress affirmed “willingness of General Assembly on 26 September 2008 and the United States to provide assistance” to participated at a roundtable on 'Poverty and Bangladesh in its quest for a peaceful transition hunger' on 25 September 2008. The Chief to democracy. Adviser also attended the Special Commonwealth Heads of Governments The Resolution was moved in the influential Meeting (CHOGM) and high level plenary Committee on Foreign Affairs with co- meeting on Africa's development needs. sponsorship of as many as forty-one Congressmen. Congressman Joseph Crowley, The Chief Advisor, who also spoke on behalf of who is also the co-chair of Congressional the Least Developed Countries, at the general Bangladesh Caucus, sponsored this resolution. debate segment of the General Assembly on 26 The Embassy of Bangladesh in Washington, DC September 2008 stressed the importance of food worked closely with Congressmen Crowley security, democracy and development, which and other Congressmen to get this resolution are inextricably linked to one another, and are passed. of fundamental importance to welfare of the Bangladesh as well as of other LDCs. The Chief According to Congressional experts, Adviser said that the recent global rise in food consideration of a resolution on Bangladesh at price had been acutely felt in Bangladesh. He the last remaining precious hours of this mentioned that for a country like Bangladesh, Congress speaks for itself about how the US is such steep increase in food prices had going to recalibrate her foreign policy priorities significant adverse effects on food security, vis-à-vis Bangladesh in the days to come. poverty and human development. Hon’ble Chief Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed welcomed the initiative of the US Congress and Calling for long - term solutions for a hunger- stated that this is indeed a recognition of the free world, he said that the food security for all creative efforts undertaken by the democracy citizens in this world must be acknowledged loving people and the government of not just as a development imperative, but also Bangladesh to strengthen democratic and as a moral imperative. Food insecurity could accountable governance, which could serve the disrupt the core of a democratic polity and interest of the common men and women. He, derail its development priorities. The Chief once again, expressed resolve of his Adviser urged the UN Secretary General to government to hold free, fair and credible look into the possibility of creating a Global elections in Bangladesh on 18 December 2008. Food Bank. On the adverse impact of climate change on Bangladesh, Chief Adviser said that a one- meter sea - level rise would submerge about one- third of the total area of Bangladesh. Given the country's population and its vulnerabilities, order across the country. Hon’ble Chief Adviser this would result in the greatest humanitarian also met with the members of Network of crisis in history. He said that the international Young Bangladeshi-American Professionals efforts to minimize emission levels should not, (NYBAP). however, disproportionately tax poorer nations. He also gave interviews with several foreign He said that the LDCs must have guaranteed media, including Al Jazeera TV Channel and access to appropriate mitigation technologies Time Magazine, during his visit. The Chief and know-how at affordable terms. The post- Adviser was accompanied, among others, by Kyoto agreement should set up a Technology Mrs. Neena Ahmed, Foreign Affairs Adviser Transfer Board to ensure that the LDCs have Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury. access to affordable, eco-friendly technologies. Council of Adviser approves Right to The Hon’ble Chief Adviser mentioned in his Information ordinance address that his caretaker government is now totally focused on fulfilling the pledge to hold The Council of Advisers at a meeting presided free and fair parliamentary polls on 18 over by the Hon’ble Chief Adviser Dr. December 2008. He expressed the confidence Fakhruddin Ahmed on 20 September 2008 that all political parties would participate in the approved the Right to Information Ordinance elections under new laws and regulations. He to ensure transparency in government and said that the government had completed the private offices by providing information to monumental task of electronically registering common people on demand. According to the over 80 million voters with photographs and proposed ordinance, an information fingerprints. Commission would be formed with three members to be appointed on a four year term. On the sidelines of the UNGA session, the The Commission will supervise the general Hon’ble Chief Adviser held bilateral talks with activities related to people’s right to world leaders attending the session. He also information. held meeting with the UN Secretary General The President will appoint the Chairman and Ban Ki-Moon at the UN headquarters. members of the Commission at the suggestion of a five-member selection committee headed Apart from these programmes, the Chief by a judge of the Appellate Division of the Adviser also exchanged views with the Supreme Court. The other members of the expatriate Bangladeshi community at a civic Commission will be two lawmakers from the reception given in his honour by the Embassy treasury and opposition benches of the of Bangladesh in Washington, DC. He also parliament nominated by the Jatiya Sangsad interacted with the New York based Speaker, the Cabinet Secretary and a Bangladeshi journalists. During his interaction government representative. The government with expatriate Bangladeshis and New York will also appoint an appropriate number of based journalists, the Chief Adviser gave officials and employees at the suggestion of the answers to a number of questions raised by autonomous commission to discharge its them regarding country's politics, institutional responsibilities across the country. reforms, development, transition to democracy and investment opportunities. Under the law, people will have the right to seek information from public offices in a He gave a clear overview of the governments prescribed form. The public offices will also efforts especially the successful completion of maintain information so that the people can get the huge task of the preparation of voter list information on demand. If any official refuses with photograph, success in raising the food to provide information, individuals can file production against two consecutive floods and appeals with the information Commission. The cyclone Sidr riding on the resilience of the officials may be penalized TK 50 a day up to TK common masses, and improvement in law and 5,000 for
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