The Colours of Bangladesh Newsletter of the Embassy of Bangladesh, Stockholm Volume IV| Issue II | March - April 2010 Inside this Issue: Perspective...................................................... : 02 Feature............................................................. : 10 Current Affairs............................................... : 03 Did U Know?................................................. : 12 Foreign Affairs............................................... : 04 History & Culture......................................... : 13 Special Focus.................................................. : 05 Embassy Activities ....................................... : 14 Business, Economy, Trade & Investment. : 07 Important Links............................................ : 16 PerspectivePerspective First Word 39th Anniversary of the Independence of Bangla- 14 April to celebrate the day, there were numbers of desh came to us with renewed hope and aspiration. Boishakhi Mela and cultural programme organized by Day before Bangladesh went into celebrating the them to welcome the year 1417. Independence and National Day on 26 March, The War Crimes Tribunal was formed and declared by the Our celebration was not over with those special days government to try war criminals of 1971 War of only. Bangladesh has, for the first time, received Liberation. Frustrated people of Bangladesh, who sovereign credit ratings during this period. Standard and have been waiting for so long after the independence Poor rated Bangladesh BB- and Moody’s Investors to see the war criminals brought to justice, has seen Service rated Ba3 which put Bangladesh in front of all the light of hope after the formation of the tribunal other countries in South Asia except emerging India. along with an investigation team. This was a formal recognition of the fiscal discipline, macroeconomic and financial stability that is prevailing We have celebrated two more joyous events during in the country. Hopefully, this formal recognition will this March-April period. On 17 March, we have boost confidence of foreign investors to invest more in celebrated 90th Birth Anniversary of Father of the Bangladesh and would ensure more access for Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Bangladesh to international credit. We believe that the on 14th April, Pohela Boishakh, we welcomed our trend of development in Bangladesh will continue and Bangla New Year 1417. As this Pohela Boishakh is even accelerate and we shall be able to come back to the biggest celebration event of Bangladesh, our you every time with news of new hope. expatriates living abroad never fall behind joining the celebration. While expatriates in Sweden joined Imtiaz Ahmed enthusiastically to our arrangement at the embassy on Ambassador & Chief Editor Editor’s Note Shuvo Nabobarsho, Happy Bangla New Year, 1417. sured of increased investment in our gas and energy sec- Bangladesh has received Pohela Boishakh, the first tor. Foreign investment is expected pick up after receiv- day of Bangla New Year, the 14th of April, with ing good credit rating from S&P and Moody’s. South colour and festivity. We have been recharged with Korean investors already have shown their interest to new hopes in the New Year and came back with invest in Bangladesh’s shipbuilding sector as well as big more news and articles that will remind our readers infrastructure projects. An Iranian car manufacturer the core strength of Bangladesh as a nation. SIPA has planned to establish a car manufacturing fac- tory in Bangladesh labeled as made by D-8 and to be During this period our Hon’ble Prime Minister sold primarily in the market of D-8 countries and then Sheikh Hasina went on a very important state visit to the excess productions to other places. We hope its not China which opened many new windows of coopera- far when Bangladesh people will drive cars made in tion between China and Bangladesh and furthered the Bangladesh. ties between the two countries. Danish Minister for In the end, I wish you all a very nice and sweet summer Development visited Bangladesh with business and time as sweet as famous jackfruits and mangos of Bang- industry delegations which will enhance the remain- ladesh that makes summer heat bearable for us. ing close tie between the business sectors of the two countries. US Deputy Secretary of State James B Khandker Masudul Alam Steinberg during his recent visit to Bangladesh as- First Secretary 2 KALEIDOSCOPE MARCH–APRIL ISSUE 2010 Current Affairs Hon’ble Prime Minister Visits China China will allow duty free access of Bangladeshi products to its markets and increase its supports for the country’s efforts to face floods and other natural calamities caused by global warming. Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao gave the assurance during official talks with Bangladesh Prime Minister H.E. Sheikh Hasina held at Great Hall in Beijing on 18 March 2010. In the meeting, the Bangladesh Prime Minister sought short and long term Chinese assistance, grants and approval of State to State loan for implementing seven projects in Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chinese President Hu Jintao Bangladesh’s agriculture, power and infrastructure sectors. She sought Chinese support and cooperation dum of Understanding (MoU) aiming at further in modernizing flood forecasting and warning centre, enhancing cooperation for Bangladesh’s river dredging projects, satellite launching and setting economic, technical, infrastructure and energy up remote sensing satellite, increasing stipend for sectors. The agreements are economic and technical Bangladeshi students upto 150 and providing cooperation agreement with substantial grants, frame- scholarship facilities to the Foreign Service officials. work agreement for construction of Shahjalal Fertil- izer Factory, Agreement for Construction of the Referring to defence cooperation, Prime Minister seventh Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge and the Sheikh Hasina requested the Chinese govern- MoU on Bangladesh-China Cooperation in oil and gas ment to provide two frigates with three helicop- sectors. ters under long term loan assistance and called for extending support to her government’s The Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also endeavours in tackling the challenges of climate sought Chinese cooperation to construct a deep-sea change. Giving emphasis on regional cooperation, port in Chittagong and establish road link between HE Sheikh Hasina said, concerted efforts have to be Chittagong and Kunming. “China can be benefited taken to eliminate terrorism and militancy from the by using the deep seaport while all neighbouring region. The Chinese Prime Minister assured her to countries also can use it,” H.E. Sheikh Hasina said provide his country’s support for these sectors for as a key speaker at the Bangladesh-China Business Fo- overall development of Bangladesh. Regarding the rum on 18 March 2010. The Prime Minister invited climate change issue, the Chinese Premier appreci- Chinese investors to put money in Bangladesh's ated the role of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her promising sectors like textiles, small machineries, prudent leadership in those forums where she raised fertilisers, footwear and ceramics. She also en- the vulnerability of the affected countries and sought couraged investment in IT outsourcing, tourism, international support to tackle the climate change healthcare, education, power, telecommunica- challenges. tions, infrastructure development, gas and energy, agro-based industries and pharmaceuticals. In addition, on 18 March 2010, Bangladesh and For more information about the Prime Minister's Office of the government of the China signed three treaties and one Memoran- people's Republic of Bangladesh, please visit the website www.pmo.gov.bd KALEIDOSCOPE 3 MARCH–APRIL ISSUE 2010 Foreign Affairs Foreign Minister on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms The Hon’ble Foreign Minister Her Excellency Dr. Dipu Moni said that the Bangladesh government is working to build a society free of exploitation with human rights and fundamental freedoms protected and justice as well as equality secured by 2021. She said this while speaking at the high-level segment of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on 01 March 2010. The Foreign Minister said that the Vision 2021 of the Bangladesh Foreign Minister H.E. Dr. Dipu Moni. Government aims to build a society free from ex- ploitation, where human rights and fundamental in infant and maternal mortality rates. The govern- freedoms are protected, and justice and equality ment has undertaken a programme to establish one are secured. She said Bangladesh is making ef- community healthcare centre for every 6,000 people forts to build a society where all can fully enjoy across the country. H.E. Dr. Dipu Moni said that human rights—civil and political, social, eco- Bangladesh high importance to guaranteeing nomic and cultural as well as right to develop- food security for its people as an essential precon- ment. Describing eradication of poverty as a top de- dition for ensuring their socio-economic develop- velopment agenda of the government she said that ment. However, the Foreign Minister mentioned Bangladesh now focuses more on empowering the that the government measures in the health, agri- poor, especially the vulnerable segments of the soci- culture sectors and ensuring food security which ety, including women, children and the elderly. H.E. is being challenged by the unabated climate Dr. Dipu Moni mentioned that education, par- change. She expressed her concern