The US Embassy, through its EducationUSA platform, in partnership with EdPrograms, will host US University fairs and tours in Dhaka, and Chattogram.  The program aims to provide prospective students, teachers, and college counsellors with a unique opportunity to learn about the US higher education application process from admissions officers of 31 accredited higher education institutions, according to a press release US Embassy.  The tour entails two university fairs – the first one will be held at the Radisson Blu Chittagong Bay View on Thursday, September 7, and the second one at Banani's Sheraton Dhaka on Saturday,  September 9. Chattogram Fair:  September 7, 2023: 04:00 pm to 06:00 pm  Both Undergraduate and Graduate applicants can attend this fair  Dhaka Fair:  September 9, 2023:  Undergraduate Fair: 11:00 am to 01:00 pm  Graduate Fair: 03:00 pm to 06:00 pm  Register here: https://edusafair.com EducationUSA is the official source on US higher education Follow the EducationUSA Bangladesh's Facebook page for more information about the fair at www.Facebook.com/EdUSABangladesh or by emailing [email protected].

High Commissioner Pranay Verma inaugurated a new Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) at Kushtia on 16 April 2023.  This is the 16th IVAC Centre in Bangladesh and will provide greater ease and convenience to the residents of Kushtia and its adjoining areas seeking visa services for visiting India.  Speaking to media after the inauguration of the new Centre, High Commissioner Pranay Verma underlined efforts being made to constantly improve visa facilities for the people of Bangladesh and highlighted recent steps taken by the High Commission to facilitate smoother visa services for the citizens of Bangladesh. He expressed hope that the new Centre will further strengthen the people-to-people contacts that bind our two countries and which are at the core of India-Bangladesh relations rooted in their shared sacrifices during the Liberation War of 1971. Hon’ble Member of Parliament from Kushtia-3, H.E Mahbubul Alam Hanif, was also present on the occasion.  The new IVAC center will serve as a new platform for promoting tourism, trade and people-to-people exchanges between India and Bangladesh. It reinforces our shared vision of a peaceful and prosperous region where our people can travel, collaborate and exchange ideas with ease and convenience.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has expressed concerns over the continued misuse of the Digital Security Act (DSA) in Bangladesh and urged immediate suspension of its application. "I am concerned that the Digital Security Act is being used across Bangladesh to arrest, harass and intimidate journalists and human rights defenders, and to muzzle critical voices online," he said, according to a UN press release issued in this regard on Friday. “I call again on the authorities to impose an immediate moratorium on its use and to comprehensively reform its provisions to bring them in line with the requirements of international human rights law. My Office has already provided detailed technical comments to assist with such a revision,” Türk said. More than 2,000 cases have been brought under the Act, which came into force on October 1, 2018, according to the release. The release also mentions the recent cases filed against Prothom Alo reporter Samsuzzaman Shams, Editor Matiur Rahman, and a photographer. In February, a young man, Poritosh Sarkar, was sentenced to five years in prison under this law after being accused of hurting religious sentiments in a post on Facebook, stated the release. Türk said his office has consistently raised concerns about the overly broad and ill-defined provisions of the Digital Security Act. He also called out the government for failing to deliver on certain promises with regard to the law's application. “The government has promised there will be safeguards against the arbitrary or excessive application of the law but that is not enough when arrests continue. The law itself needs a proper overhaul,” he said. The High Commissioner called for the creation of an independent judicial panel to review all pending cases brought under the Digital Security Act with a view to those accused being released.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has expressed concerns over the continued misuse of the Digital Security Act (DSA) in Bangladesh and urged immediate suspension of its application. "I am concerned that the Digital Security Act is being used across Bangladesh to arrest, harass and intimidate journalists and human rights defenders, and to muzzle critical voices online," he said, according to a UN press release issued in this regard on Friday. “I call again on the authorities to impose an immediate moratorium on its use and to comprehensively reform its provisions to bring them in line with the requirements of international human rights law. My Office has already provided detailed technical comments to assist with such a revision,” Türk said. More than 2,000 cases have been brought under the Act, which came into force on October 1, 2018, according to the release. The release also mentions the recent cases filed against Prothom Alo reporter Samsuzzaman Shams, Editor Matiur Rahman, and a photographer. In February, a young man, Poritosh Sarkar, was sentenced to five years in prison under this law after being accused of hurting religious sentiments in a post on Facebook, stated the release. Türk said his office has consistently raised concerns about the overly broad and ill-defined provisions of the Digital Security Act. He also called out the government for failing to deliver on certain promises with regard to the law's application. “The government has promised there will be safeguards against the arbitrary or excessive application of the law but that is not enough when arrests continue. The law itself needs a proper overhaul,” he said. The High Commissioner called for the creation of an independent judicial panel to review all pending cases brought under the Digital Security Act with a view to those accused being released.

Foreign Minister Dr. A K Abdul Momen has reiterated Bangladesh’s all out support to encourage innovative and affordable application of renewable technologies. Foreign Minister made this remark during the meeting with Mr. Francesco La Camera, Director General of International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) at its secretariat in Abu Dhabi yesterday (Friday). Appreciating the remarkable works done by IRENA under the leadership of the Director General in advancing renewable energy agenda, Foreign Minister expressed Bangladesh’s full support to IRENA and its works with a view to encouraging innovative and affordable application of renewable technologies.  "Bangladesh has been closely working with IRENA and is fully engaged in the IRENA’s activities," he noted. Foreign Minister said Bangladesh has been elected as one of Vice-Presidents in the twelfth session of the Assembly that held in mid-January 2022 and is also working as facilitator for election/nomination of the Council Members for the next IRENA Council 2023-2024. Bangladesh also served in the Credential Committee for past two consecutive Assemblies, mentioned the Minister. Foreign minister highlighted the achievements of Bangladesh in the area of Renewable Energy as - "At the CoP 26 in Glasgow, being current chair of Climate Vulnerability Forum (CVF) and Vulnerable Twenty Group (V20) Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced her vision to develop up to 40% clean energy by 2041 and to gradual reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions by way of NDCs.  Bangladesh along with other 49 countries made a commitment to developing climate resilient and low-carbon health systems at COP26," said the foreign minister. Foreign minister sought  IRENA’s technical and financial support to Bangladesh in undertaking the feasibility study and mapping of the renewable energy potentials in Bangladesh. He also mentioned that offshore wind resource assessment with detailed feasibility study and Pilot project on Solar-Wind-Storage Hybrid Power System in Bhasan Char Island of Bangladesh where a large number of forcibly displaced Myanmar Nationals (Rohingyas) have been relocated. He also mentioned about the Grid Modernization Strategy and Storage roadmap for Bangladesh to integrate large scale Variable Renewable Energy. Foreign Minister requested the Director General of IRENA for facilitating employment opportunity for Bangladeshi nationals at different capacities in the IRENA secretariat. Both sides expressed  satisfaction at the very constructive meeting. Foreign minister extended an invitation to the Director General to visit Bangladesh in combination with his participation in the next month’s golden jubilee celebration of the independence of Bangladesh. Source: Press release AH

No appointment date is required for submission of visa applications at the Indian Visa Application Centers (IVACs) in Sylhet, Mymensingh and Barishal. As part of the ongoing initiatives by the Indian High Commission to further liberalize, streamline and ease access to the Indian visas for Bangladesh nationals, it has been decided that applicants for tourist visas can walk-in and submit their applications at the IVACs in Sylhet, Mymensingh and Barishal without prior appointment from May 20 onwards, said a press release on Sunday. Reports UNB. Applications will be accepted from 8 am to 12 noon at the respective IVACs. The other existing walk-in schemes of submission of visa applications for non-tourist visas -- medical, business, conference and other types of visas -- will continue as before. Separate counters for walk-in tourist visas for senior citizens and freedom fighters will also continue, the press release added.  This pilot initiatives started at IVACs in Chattogram on July 9, 2017, Rajshahi and Rangpur on September 10, 2017 and Mirpur Road, Dhaka on October 10, 2017 and is being extended to IVACs at Sylhet, Mymensingh and Barishal on a similar trial basis, it said. These measures are aimed at easing access to the Indian visa and strengthening people-to-people contacts between India and Bangladesh, the press release said. AH