Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen has reaffirmed Bangladesh's commitment to achieve all targets of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 - "conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development". "To eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, the government of Bangladesh declared an area totaling about 8.8% of its Exclusive Economic Zone as the Marine Protected Areas and implemented in its National Plan of Action in 2019," he said. The foreign minister made the remarks while delivering the Country’s statement at the plenary session of the 2nd UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon on Thursday. Foreign ministry's Maritime Affairs Unit secretary Rear Admiral (Retd) Md. Khurshed Alam, and Bangladesh Ambassador to Portugal Tarik Ahsan and other officials were the delegation members accompanying the Foreign Minister in the conference. During his statement, Momen said under the dynamic leadership and guidance of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh settled the maritime boundary issues with both the neighbours and is poised to collaboratively utilize the resources. He attached importance to marine science for eradicating poverty, contributing to food security, conserving the world's marine environment and resources, helping to predict and respond to natural and anthropogenic events and promoting the sustainable development of the oceans and seas. Momen said Bangladesh government has amended "Bangladesh Ship Recycle Act 2018" and set a target of compliance of the Hong Kong Convention by 2023. Bangladesh also announced new actions aimed at ensuring safe ship recycling by 2023 and is the first amongst developing countries to take initiative to ban manufacture of single use plastic shopping bags, he added. Stressing the importance of capacity development and even distribution of scientific knowledge, he viewed those disparities in scientific capacity in terms of financial, technological, and human resources between developed and developing countries must be addressed for sustainable management of the ocean. He affirmed that Bangladesh is ready to cooperate in keeping with its capabilities to actively engage with the developed countries willing to transfer marine science and marine technology on fair and reasonable terms and conditions in accordance with the provisions of part XIV of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Later, the foreign minister visited the permanent Shaheed Minar situated at a public park of Lisbon, named at Campo dos M rtires da P tria and paid his tribute to the language martyrs by placing floral wreaths. Momen arrived in Lisbon on Thursday on a two-day visit to Portugal to lead the Bangladesh delegation to the conference 2022. Source: BSS AH

Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Yoshihide Suga have reaffirmed their commitment towards a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. Ahead of the Quad meeting to be hosted by US President Joe Biden, they also reviewed the multi-faceted bilateral relationship and exchanged views on recent global developments. In the Thursday meeting, the two Prime Ministers agreed to enhance bilateral security and defense cooperation. According to a statement issued by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), they also agreed in the area of defense equipment and technologies. Indian PM Modi has given thanked to Suga for his personal commitment and leadership, both as Prime Minister and Chief Cabinet Secretary earlier, in enabling great advances in the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership over the last few years, it said. Prime Minister Modi in a tweet said that Japan is one of India's most valued partners. “I had an excellent meeting with PM @sugawitter on a variety of subjects that would further boost cooperation between our nations. A strong India-Japan friendship augurs well for the entire planet," Modi tweeted. "Furthering friendship with Japan," the MEA said in a tweet after the meeting.  "Prime Ministers @narendramodi and @sugawitter had a fruitful meeting in Washington DC. "Discussed a range of issues: Indo-Pacific, regional developments, supply chain resilience, trade, digital economy & P2P ties," the MEA said in another tweet. It further said that a special strategic and global partnership with Japan - firmly rooted in history and based on common values. The statement said that they welcomed the launch of the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) between India, Japan and Australia earlier this year as a collaborative mechanism to enable resilient, diversified and trustworthy supply chains. Modi highlighted the need to develop bilateral partnerships in manufacturing, MSME and skill development. In a statement, Prime Minister Suga informed Modi that in order to operationalise the Specified Skilled workers (SSW) agreement which was signed earlier this year, the Japanese side would be undertaking skill and language tests in India from early 2022, it said. PM Suga and PM Modi discussed the Covid pandemic and efforts to address it and highlighted the increasing importance of digital technologies. In this regard they positively evaluated the progress in the India-Japan Digital Partnership. They reaffirmed their commitment to advance efforts to facilitate the smooth and timely implementation of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project. Both Prime Minister also welcomed the progress in bilateral developmental projects in India's North Eastern Region under the India-Japan Act East Forum, it said.  Prime Minister Suga expressed if new administration in Japan will come, the strong momentum attained by the India-Japan partnership in the last few years would continue. Indian Prime Minister Modi conveyed that for India-Japan Annual Summit in the near future, he was looking forward to welcoming the next prime minister of Japan to India. Source: The Tribune

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reaffirmed Bangladesh’s firm commitment to remain engaged with the United Nations (UN) in its efforts towards preventing conflict and establishing peace in the world. “Bangladesh always remains ready to contribute troops and police to respond to the call of the UN for strengthening world peace and stability,” she said when visiting UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean Pierre Lacroix paid a courtesy call on the premier at her Jatiya Sangsad office in the capital on Sunday evening. Reports BSS. After the meeting, Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters. Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh also remains prepared to support for enhancing the capability and readiness steps of the UN. “As per the UN’s request, we’re ready with ‘rapid deployment-battalion’ for MONUSCO, Democratic Republic of Congo,” she said. The prime minister underscored the implementation of the nine-point reform agenda for the UN peacekeeping operations presented by the UN Secretary General and assured Dhaka’s support in this regard. While talking about the Rohingya issue, the prime minister said Bangladesh’s policy is to maintain peace with all. In this connection, Sheikh Hasina pointed out Bangladesh’s foreign policy — friendship to all, malice to none — enunciated by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. “Accordingly, we’ve opened a dialogue with Myanmar to solve the Rohingya crisis. Myanmar has agreed to take back their nationals from Bangladesh, but they didn’t act in this regard,” she said. The premier said the presence of nearly 11 lakh Rohingya people is creating a huge burden for Bangladesh and causing sufferings to the local people where they were given shelter. Sheikh Hasina said all — army, navy, air force, police, BGB, administration and volunteers — are working to mitigate the sufferings of the Rohingya people. At the meeting, the UN Under Secretary General highly praised the role of Bangladeshi peacekeepers including the female troops and police in maintaining peace at UN missions in different parts of the world. Lacroix recalled that many Bangladeshi peacekeepers sacrificed their lives while they were on duty in establishing peace at the UN missions. He mentioned that Bangladesh is a key member regarding peacekeeping efforts under the umbrella of the world body. The UN Under Secretary General assured of continuing the UN support for further development of Bangladesh. About Rohingya issue, Lacroix highly praised the Bangladesh government for giving shelter to over one million Rohingyas who were forcibly displaced from their homeland of Rakhaine State of Myanmar following a military crackdown there since August last. Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Lt Gen Mahfuzur Rahman and PMO Secretary Sajjadul Hassan were present on the occasion. Lacroix, who arrived in Dhaka on a three-day visit Sunday, is leading a five-member high-powered UN delegation to thank the troop-contributing country (Bangladesh) for their service and update them on the ongoing reforms in the peace and security area. AH