The World Uyghur Congress has raised the issue of human rights violations by China in Xinjiang at the recently concluded Munich Security Conference (MSC). Dolkon Isa, the President of the World Uyghur Congress participated in the event where several other diplomats, journalists, representatives of major NGOs and dignitaries from around the world took part in the three-day long event. After the end of MSC, Isa in a social media post on 'X' said that "The @MunSecConf has ended. I had the opportunity to attend different discussions attended by world diplomats, NGOs, politicians, and others. Important discussions around security, and global order took place. We also hosted our own Meshrep on the Margins". Similarly, the MSC also acted as the forum to discuss diverse cultures and the World Uyghur Congress took the matter to social media platform 'X' stating, "Yesterday, on the margins of the @MunSecConf, the WUC together with @NEDemocracy Co-hosted a Meshrep event, highlighting the need for preservation of our culture, and the importance of cross-movement solidarity. Thank you to the NGOs, journalists, politicians, and other allies who came and participated. A special thanks to the musicians, artists and the dance group."Dolkon Isa asked a crucial question to a Qatari diplomat on China's double standards, position on global conflicts around the world. "On one side, China is locking up millions of Uyghurs, and on the other, it's appearing to support Palestinians and other Muslims. How honest is their attitude?" he asked. Later, in a statement given to ANI Isa stated, ''Important discussions took place at the Munich Security Conference this year, especially authoritarian trends that are undermining our global security, in light of Navalny's death (Russian Opposition leader).""China was also on the agenda. However, the MSC failed to meaningfully address gross human rights violations, such as the Uyghur genocide that is the direct result of authoritarian trends. Instead, Wang Yi was denying the Uyghur genocide, and the entire room was applauding him over China's economic development over the last decades. China's threat to the international order was not addressed. This is a failed opportunity'," he added. Moreover, Dolkun Isa also met with Lithuanian foreign minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, former Croatian president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic and Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski. They discussed the human rights situation in Xinjiang. He thanked the leaders for their support of democracy, human rights and security.  Source: ANI  

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will chair the two-day event aimed at aiding Afghan society. The prospects of progress remain uncertain as the ruling Taliban have boycotted over fear of criticism of its rule. A two-day UN conference on Afghanistan kicked off in Qatar on Sunday. The event, chaired by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, will address approaches to increasing international engagement with the impoverished and war-torn Muslim country. The prospects of success appear limited from the start, as the country's ruling Taliban has refused to attend after its demand of being "the sole official representative of Afghanistan" at the conference was turned down. Another demand that was not met was a guarantee that no one at the conference would criticize the militant Islamic theocrats and how they have run the country since returning to power in August 2021. Jan Egeland, secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, a humanitarian organization, took to X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday to write, "Disappointing that the Taliban declined to attend the special envoy meeting for Afghanistan in Doha this week." Human rights groups invited to Afghan conference, will it matter? Instead, the meeting will give a forum to women and civic groups concerned with the dire human rights situation in the country. UN Special Coordinator Feridun Sinirlioglu, for instance, recently released a report recommending reintegrating Afghanistan into the international economic and political system. Sinirlioglu made that reintegration contingent upon the Taliban meeting its international obligations but the religious militants — whom Washington dislodged from power in 2001 and then allowed to return when the US withdrew its troops after ending a 20-year war in the country — have utterly rejected calls for the creation of an "inclusive government." The Taliban has also continued, among other things, its brutal oppression of women, whom it does not allow to attend school or work, something the UN has previously described as "gender apartheid." The UN Working Group on Women, Peace and Security called the Doha meeting, "an opportunity for the UN, the Security Council and the international community to reaffirm that the rights of Afghan women are not negotiable." The Taliban's strict Islamist governance has resulted in Western nations refusing to recognize the group as legitimate rulers and caused nations, donors and aid organizations to withdraw from the country, further imperiling Afghanistan's already dire economic situation. A list of international participants scheduled to attend the meeting included the US, China, Pakistan and the European Union but with the Taliban rejecting international calls for change — including its continued rejection of the idea of appointing a special UN envoy — the prospects of the "meaningful and inclusive meetings" envisioned by UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan Richard Bennet seem questionable.

“Bangladesh achieved remarkable growth during the last two decades. Referred to as the South Asian tiger, the country has strong trade relations with the EU,” said Tomáš Zdechovský MEP (EPP, Czechia) in a conference titled “Democracy and Human Rights in Bangladesh”, which took place in the European Parliament on November 7th. “A constructive and balanced partnership based on mutual trust and respect is needed between the two sides now. There is confidence that democracy will prevail in the upcoming elections in Bangladesh, which is seen as a symbol of democracy”, he added. The co-host of the event and Chairperson of Study Circle London Syed Mozammel Ali stated: “According to the 2023 Global State of Democracy Report, almost half of the 173 countries around the world suffered a decline in at least one key indicator of democratic performance in the past five years due to reasons, such as the cost-of-living crisis, climate change and Russia-Ukraine war. Bangladesh is no exception being a populous country with 112 million voters”. “Of course, there should be a balance between human rights and security, and like Western countries, the Bangladeshi government is dealing with security forces misusing their power through judiciary processes. It takes hundreds of years to install genuine human rights and democratic traditions and there is good progress in Bangladesh”, he went on. Referring to the 11 Islamic parties out of 47 political parties being registered by the Election Commission, Ali commented: “If the Western powers are not careful, they will risk pushing the country into the hands of fundamentalists”. Ending on a positive note, “the recent Global Gateway Summit was a vote of confidence in the Bangladeshi government and such assistance would not have been given if the EU didn’t have confidence in the current government”, he affirmed. Dr. Rayhan Rashid from the International Crimes Strategy Forum stressed that “Bangladesh was party to all major international human rights conventions, including the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, while sheltering 1.2. million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. “This demonstrates the commitment of Bangladesh to human rights, but it can also cause governance and resource-related challenges”, he said, adding “human rights should not be weaponised for political gains and used as bargaining chips for trade deals”. “Disinformation is a big challenge for democracies, which shall be countered by factchecking, engaging with all stakeholders and investigating lobbying money and the purpose behind”, continued Dr. Rashid. Next, he underlined the importance of not cherry-picking one set of human rights (i.e. political and civil rights) over another (i.e. social, economic and cultural rights, such as primary education, universal pension and maternity leave scheme, Covid-19 recovery and women empowerment) and taking a holistic approach while evaluating the human rights situation in Bangladesh. Dr. Mizanur Raman, former chairman of Bangladesh Human Rights Commission, explained that Bangladesh proclaimed its independence in 1971, in a bloody independent war where 3 million lives were lost, to ensure equality, social justice and human dignity for the Bangladeshi people. “Being a product of human rights, this country cannot be anything but human rights-friendly”, he argued. Reminding delegates of the killing of the father of the nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (pictured right), in August 1975. He also highlighted that the Bangladeshi law duly imposes content-based restrictions in line with cultural exception clauses in international conventions when it comes to disrespecting the founding father of the nation and the values of the Liberation War. Reiterating that the country upholds human rights, such as social rights, right to education and children rights dearly, which is exemplified by the free distribution of 35 million books on January 1st, he added: “Geopolitical human rights are a neo-colonial approach to pressurise smaller and weaker states such as Bangladesh, which violates the international principle of sovereign equality”. “We have problems in Bangladesh, but they cannot be comprehended in isolation, and we expect support from our friends in Europe to make our democratic infrastructure stronger, richer, and sustainable. They should abstain from killing our democracy by relying on unchecked sources, opportunism, and miscalculation as was the case in the pre-colonial days”, he concluded. “Let’s not forget that historical battles in Bangladesh are ongoing”, commented Dr.Rashid. “One side chose subjugation but the other side chose freedom. One side chose equal rights but the other side chose indignity. One side chose secularism but the other side chose a religious state. This is what the Bangladeshi voters have to choose between in the upcoming elections”. Source :  EU Today 

Speaking to EU Today exclusively after the event, German MEP Maximillian Krah, when asked about his impressions of the European Parliament resolution stated: “I was against it, because in general I’m really sceptical against these resolutions because first of all they come very urgently and presently from the NGO bubble. “They usually care about cases which are not double-checked and then I try at least to double-check them. So, I give the embassies the chance to give their arguments and I google it on all sides and usually I don’t think that these cases are convincing. Maximilian Krah MEP “The same is true about Bangladesh. The case was not convincing because an NGO activist made a wrong statement on police violence and there was a risk that this would cause a real upspring or riot and such misinformation is punishable in Europe as well. So, we blame the Bangladeshis to prosecute the behaviour that we in Europe would prosecute too and that is not at all convincing.”  Fake NGOs, which frequently issue human rights reports, are often commissioned by dubious actors seeking to subvert the legislative process. They are sometimes, as in the recent Qatargate scandal, linked with organised criminal activities, but most often are commissioned by foreign actors seeking to influence the EU’s foreign policy.. This is a phenomenon the EU institutions are currently seeking to address. When asked for his own recommendations on how to deal with the matter, Mr. Krah said “The first thing of course is to act more proactively when it comes to disinformation, but in general you have to focus on the whole structure of this NGO power. “There is a huge human rights industry that is also a powerful tool to promote Western foreign policy interests throughout the world. That means that you have to be aware that human rights issues are emotional issues and that there are wonderful NGOs that are dedicated to it, but you also have to be aware that this is now the most powerful tool of the West to push its foreign policy agenda in the whole world. “To focus on the human rights alone and then demand changes based on the special experiences of the Global South, we risk double standards: We must look into regulating these international and national NGO structures because we will invite foreign influence in our domestic politics if we don’t.” When asked if he thought the European Parliament’s resolution would have a negative impact on trade relations with Bangladesh, – the EU is now Bangladesh’s main trading partner – he said “We are doing everything we can to bring trade relations to the next higher level. In the case of Bangladesh, I consider the case for this so clear that at the very end this resolution, which has no legislative power whatsoever, will not be a threat we cannot overcome.” Also addressing the European Parliament conference was Dr. Rayhan Rashid (DPhil, Oxford University) Legal Consultant at Oxford Matrix. Dr. Rashid was equally dismissive of the resolution, describing it as “largely misinformed.” Dr. Rayhan Rashid He continued, “It was well-meaning. Of course, the parliamentarians meant well after they heard a story about human rights abuses. I can fully understand that they were sensitised, but they were not fully informed about the whole picture”.  When asked how this could happen, Dr. Rashid told us: “This whole case was misrepresented. The reason the case started is because of the Hefazat-e-Islam incident in 2013. “The country was on the verge of a Talibanist militant uprising and Hefazat was their party, meaning that they were moving into important spheres. Therefore, there was a crackdown on this, but it was open, and in the presence of some national and international journalists, including the BBC. The police crackdown wanted to disperse this kind of Islamist militants in the presence of media. “The next day, Odhikar (a a Bangladesh-based human rights organisation) came up with a story that 63 people were prosecuted. Hefazat (a far-right Islamic advocacy group of madrassah teachers and students) even came up with bigger numbers, such as 20,000 people. Based on Hefazat’s version, Odhikar said that 63 people had disappeared because of the crackdown. Personally, I’m a human rights activist. Everyone was concerned and asking questions and after a few days, we saw that actually most of the people claimed to have been disappeared, actually turned up. So, at the beginning at the height of things, I can understand this. Media or human rights organisations have scoops but with all the occurring corrections, they didn’t reject their claims.” We asked Dr. Rashid if Odhikar made any particular demands on the government? “When they came up with this scoop, they asked for an investigation, because in a country, even with an Islamic uprising or attempt of uprising, 63 people disappearing is not acceptable. “That was the situation. Everyone asked for an investigation, including myself. But then it was debunked. The problem with Odhikar was that they didn’t correct their story which they then repeated international media and among other friendly human rights organisations. And those organisations don’t have an office in Bangladesh, they don’t have an active investigative mechanism within Bangladesh, they have to rely on Odhikar’s version. So, that’s how Odhikar’s story got recycled over and over again.”  When asked if there is  any evidence linking Odhikar to the Taliban, Dr. Rashid replied: “No, I wouldn’t say that for Odhikar. I think it was more about Odhikar’s Secretary Adilur Rahman Khan. He was a human rights activist, but he was also an attorney general during the BNP regime. I don’t know what is going on in his mind or within his organisation or whether there was a political motivation.”  We asked Dr. Rashid to elucidate what Hefazat’s goal was back in 2013?  They raised 13 demands, he explained:  Reinstate the phrase “Absolute trust and faith in the Almighty Allah” in the Constitution as one of the fundamental principles of state policy. Pass a law providing for capital punishment for maligning Allah, Islam, and the Prophet Muhammad and for starting smear campaigns against Muslims. Stop all propaganda and “derogatory comments” about the Prophet Muhammad by “atheist leaders” of the Shahbagh movement, atheist bloggers and other anti-Islamists; arrest them and ensure stern punishment to them. Stop attacking, shooting, killing, and persecuting the Prophet-loving Islamic scholars, madrassa students and people united by belief in Allah. Release all the arrested Islamic scholars and madrassa students. Lift restrictions on mosques and remove obstacles for the holding of religious programmes. Declare Qadianis (Ahmadiyyas) non-Muslim and stop their publicity and conspiracies. Stop foreign cultural intrusions, including free-mixing of men and women and candle-light vigils, and put an end to adultery, injustice, and shamelessness, among other things, committed in the name of freedom of expression and the individual. Stop turning Dhaka, the city of mosques, into a city of idols, and stop installing sculptures at road intersections, colleges, and universities. Scrap anti-Islam women policy and education policy and make Islamic education mandatory from primary to higher secondary levels. Stop threatening and intimidating teachers and students of the Qawmi madrassas, Islamic scholars, imams and khatib s. Stop creating hatred among the younger generation against Muslims by misrepresentation of Islamic culture in the media. Stop anti-Islam activities by non-governmental organisations, evil attempts by Qadianis and conversion by Christian missionaries in Chittagong Hill Tracts and elsewhere in the country. So, we asked, “what, if any, is the connection between this NGO and Hefazat?” “In 2013, this Islamist terrorist group had huge support base coming from madrasas (Islamic schools) and they actually took to the streets demanding an Islamic State, a Taliban-style Islamic State. And their demands were exactly like the Taliban’s decrees. About women, about education, about everything. They were just a carbon-copy. “Unfortunately, they had a lot of support from other Islamic clerics, who also took to the streets and basically the country was on the verge of a shutdown. At that time, the government dispersed these groups in the presence of media. But then after the dispersal, suddenly we started hearing about 20,000 people disappearing, but then it was not 20,000 but 63. Odhikar claimed that 63 persons had disappeared. “Odhikar is a human rights organization led by a person who used to be an attorney general of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) regime so maybe there could be a political motivation. But I cannot get into his mind and know what is going on and I actually appreciated when they first they came up with that story. And I thought that if this is real, it should be addressed. But I was also disappointed that this story about the 63 disappearing people was debunked and a lot of them turned up.”  “What do you recommend the European Parliament should do to prevent such disinformation campaigns in the future?” “Just to do their own homework. Each parliamentarian has their aides, a whole team of researchers. I think that they are far-better equipped than anybody else. They are not ordinary people; they can actually crosscheck. It is always better to hear the other side or hear across the board. “Just pick up different people and listen to different stories and then make up your own mind. I thought their position was poorly researched and very misinformed and that’s not helpful for the cause of human rights or not helpful for the relations or anything.” SOURCE: https://eutoday.net/

RTV District Correspondent Conference was held on Saturday, August 26 at Bengal Multimedia Studio. 15 correspondents are honored in various categories.  In that conference, Syed Ashik Rahman, the Chief Executive Officer of RTV said, "If you have interest and willpower, then nothing is impossible in this world. The arrangement is to encourage you with the proper use of technology to keep pace with the world. The program is arrenged to encourage you all to keep pace with the world With proper use of technology."     Authority of RTV urged the correspondents to be more responsible and attentive in delivering the news. However, the representatives demanded to organize such conference every year. RTV General Manager Masudul Amin, RTV Deputy Head of News Mamunur Rahman Khan, Head of Marketing Sudev Chandra Ghosh, Online In-Charge Bipul Hasan, Executive Producer Belayet Hossain, Executive Producer Zahid Rahman, News Editor Aktar Hossain, DSM Chief Kabir Ahmed, Country Desk Editor MD Golam Mostafa, Sub Editor Asif Al Azad were also present at the ceremony.  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged on Sunday to the businessmen to make the country's economy stronger, saying that the government is always beside them.  "Make the country's economy stronger. We are always beside you (businessmen)," PM said.    Prime Minister was addressing the Business Conference on Building Smart Bangladesh in city's Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) as chief guest. Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) arranged the event. She urged the businessmen to explore new markets and products for the export basket using their innovative ideas. The government will always stand beside them, she added. Sheikh Hasina said that Awami League never judge any businessman seeing their political affiliation. "Political affiliation of the businessmen is not important to us. We always think about the welfare of the people of the country," she said. In this regard, she mentioned that irrespective of the political affiliations, the government gives scope to all which is beneficial for the people of the country. Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi and Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman were preset as special guests.  In his welcome address, FBCCI President Md Jashim Uddin highlighted the economical development of Bangladesh under the present government, led by Awami League, and said that leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is needed for continuing the development and progress of Bangladesh.  "Sheikh Hasina has to be the Prime Minister of Bangladesh for businesses, development and progress of the country," he added.   Former FBCCI Presidents Yousuf Abdullah Harun, Abdul Matlub Ahmad, Mir Nasir Hossain and Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, National Association of Small and Cottage Industry President Mirza Nurul Goni Shovon, Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) President Mohammad Abul Basher, BASIS President Russel T Ahmed, Bangladesh Shop Owners' Association President Helal Uddin, former President of Bangladesh Jute Spinners Association Sheikh Nasir Uddin, BCI President Anwar-ul Alam Chowdhury, PRAN-RFL Group Chairman Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, Former MCCI President Nihad Kabir, Chattogram Women Chamber President Monwara Hakim Ali, MCCI President Saiful Islam, BTMA President Mohammad Ali, Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI) Senior Vice President Abdul Muktadir, Meghna Group Chairman Mostafa Kamal, HSBC Bangladesh CEO Md Mahbub-Ur Rahman, FICCI President Naser Izaz Bijoy, Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BWCCI) President Salima Ahmad, JBCCI President MYUNG-HO LEE, Regional Head, Bangladesh, and Pakistan Inditex Javier Carlos Santonja Olcina, BGMEA President Faruk Hassan, BKMEA President AKM Salim Osman,  Bengal Group Chairman Morshed Alam, former FBCCI President AK Azad, Leather goods and Footwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association of Bangladesh President Syed Nasim Manzur, Bangladesh Association of Banks Chairman Nazrul Islam Mazumder, Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, International Chambers of Commerce Bangladesh President Mahbubur Rahman, DCCI President Barrister Md. Sameer Sattar, FBCCI Senior Vice President Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Babu, Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Mahbubul Alam, among others, also spoke.  During their speeches, all the business leaders expressed their trust and confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. They also said that leadership of Sheikh Hasina is needed in the coming days for the economical development and progress of Bangladesh. The business leaders highlighted the development activities especially the mega projects of the present government which has changed the socioeconomic status of Bangladesh unprecedentedly in last 14 and half years.  "There is no alternative to Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh," said the business leaders, uttering their solidarity with the vision and leadership of Sheikh Hasina.  Irrespective of all political thinking, the businessmen want the continuity of the government to uphold the progress and development of Bangladesh. At the outset of the conference, a theme song on FBCCI's 50 years and its contribution to the country's economy and development during this journey was played. An audio-visual on the outcome of Bangladesh Business Summit-2023 was also screened. The prime minister also unveiled the report prepared compiling the outcome of Bangladesh Business Summit-2023.  Mentioning that today's Bangladesh is a changed one, Sheikh Hasina said that this Bangladesh has to be pulled further and "you people (businessmen) has to take this responsibility".  She noted that as education, trade and commerce are expanding, the people's financial condition will be better.  Sheikh Hasina said that the government has already provided all types of facilities to this end and the remaining barriers would be solved soon.   "At least, I can say that I didn't create any "Khawa (eat) Bhaban (building)'like the 'Hawa Bhaban" (of BNP) which will create difficulties for businesses," she said.  The Prime Minister said that her government will always extend cooperation to the businessmen. "We want that businessmen are marching ahead to build Smart Bangladesh by 2041."  Referring to the materialisation of "Digital Bangladesh", she said that they want to build Smart Bangladesh where each people of the country will become smart citizen, economy will be smart economy, government will be smart government and society will be the smart society. "We want to pull Bangladesh ahead in this way".   In this connection, Sheikh Hasina said, "It is not enough to see mere a dream, but also to obtain the ability to realise the dream. And that kind of thinking should be there".  Pointing towards the audience, she said that not only the senior businessmen were here, but also young entrepreneurs were also present here. "We want to encourage the country's youth-folk to be entrepreneurs rather chasing behind the job so that they can provide jobs," she added.  To this end, the premier referred to the government's "startup" campaign alongside providing special fund so that the youth can turn them into entrepreneurs. She also mentioned about the changing of company law so that any individual move forward and can open firm. "We (AL government) don't do business.. ."  Sheikh Hasina said that her government has put maximum emphasis on improving the business environment for both FDI and local private investment. Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) is working to support the private sector and Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority is working towards the establishment of 100 special economic zones by 2030, she added.  The Prime Minister said that the government has taken several measures to facilitate and automate business.  In the case of renewal of import-export license used in foreign trade, a five-year renewal facility has been introduced instead of the existing one year, she said, adding that a similar initiative has been taken in the case of the issue of trade licenses and clearances from the Department of Environment.  Referring to the country's journey as "developing nation" from 2026, she said that many countries have already stepped back even after making announcement of implementation of developing nation but "we didn't step back, Bangladesh will never step back rather we will implement it".   She said that under the leadership of Prime Minister's Principal Secretary 7 sub-committees have been formed to take time-bound action plans based on the thematic concept of tackling the challenge of LDC graduation, and the work of implementing these action plans is ongoing.  "I am hopeful that business community will play a leading role in fulfilling their responsibilities in meeting this challenge," she added. Sheikh Hasina said that the industrial sector is always evolving and at present fourth industrial revolution is coming ahead where skilled manpower will be needed.  "To build up skilled manpower, we are providing computer training and setting up incubation center. From school level, we are providing computer lab to provide training to the school students," she said. In this connection, she said that for the nano technology the government is formulating a law. "It has been given approval from the cabinet and will be given approval from the Parliament," she added. source: BSS

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), the apex trade organization of the country, is set to organize a conference titled 'Business Conference on Building Smart Bangladesh' on Saturday, July 15 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC).  PM Sheikh Hasina will join the conference as the Chief guest.  FBCCI hold a press conference on Friday, July 14. FBCCI President Md. Jashim Uddin said that the conference will be focusing on the private sector's role in building Smart Bangladesh. Foreign investors, top corporates, sector-based associations, and top business leaders, General Body (GB) members from chambers and associations of FBCCI will join the conference, he added.  The business community will have the opportunity to directly express their thoughts and expectations from the govt. in building smart Bangladesh. The private sector will get the guidelines for working together with the government through the conference, he opined.  The top business leaders of the country will get an opportunity to directly talk with PM Sheikh Hasina and express their needs, FBCCI President added.  Md. Jashim Uddin said, 'We hosted the Bangladesh Business Summit 2023 to showcase Bangladesh's trade and investment potential to the world. Top Business leaders and experts from home and abroad joined the summit and expressed their thoughts on building Smart Bangladesh. FBCCI is publishing a book capturing the suggestions, recommendations, and policies discussed during the summit. We will hand over the book to HPM tomorrow (Saturday).' FBCCI will also distribute the book to the relevant ministries of the government later, he added. Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi and Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman will attend the program as special guests, he mentioned.  Former FBCCI president AK Azad, FBCCI senior vice president Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Babu, Vice President MA Momen, Salahuddin Alamgir, Md. Habib Ullah Dawn, Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Bangladesh Md. Mahbub ur Rahman, FBCCI directors, and other business leaders were present at the press conference. 

Hailing the arrival of the historic G20 Summit in Kashmir Valley as a welcome step towards peace and development, the voluntary organization “Voice for Peace & Justice (VPJ) held an enthusiastic Y-20 Youth Conference at World famous health resort Manasbal here in district Ganderbal. The purpose of the conference was to develop and nurture world-class leadership skills among the young generation to encourage them face and deliberate upon the global challenges of environment, economy, peace, health and employment generation. Prof Fayyaz Ahmad Nika, Dean Academics Central University of Kashmir (CUK) attended the conference as Chief Guest where students from various educational institutions, local youth educationist and social activists participated in the debate and discussion. Dr. Saba Bhat, Founder Guide the Professionals; Advocate Wasim, President Kashmir Advocates Association, PhD scholar Mir Muskan, Social Activist Bilal Bhat, BDC Chairperson Sherpathri Ali Mohammad Dar, BDC Chairperson Ganderbal, Tasleema Majeed, DDC Safapora Abdul Rashid, BDC Gowhar Ali, Sheikh M Shafi were among the special guests present on the occasion. Pertinent to mention that the Youth Conference was organised in context with the ongoing process of #G20 summit and the old age, middle-aged as well as younger generations of Kashmir have extended their cordial welcome to the historic G-20 summit being hosted here and have expressed hopes of boosting tourism, economic development of Jammu and Kashmir and other world-class opportunities to the local youth through this global meet with an expectation of getting the help and encouragement of G-20 members who would become the advocates and Ambassadors of peace and prelosperity on behalf of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. India under the able global leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, should lead the G-20 presidency to declare Jammu and Kashmir as the model place of peace, prosperity and universal brotherhood at the global level to open new avenues of bright and prosperous future for the youth of J&K. Voice for Peace and justice President, Farooq Ganderbali said “Kashmir youth want to contribute and partner in peace & development. Kashmir has a lot of energetic and enthusiastic youth, who have the potential to excel in life and contribute in nation building while serving in the field of Sports, technology, management and all other fields.” Hundreds of students, scholars, doctors, young engineers, civil society members, PRI’s participated in this conference . Speakers highlighted the scope of international tourism in Kashmir and deliberated upon the need of putting up Kashmir as a world favourite destination for Hollywood and Bollywood movies, besides setting up an international market of Kashmir Handicraft, Art and culture. The event was also graced by traditional fork song band headed by popular singer Mohammad Aslam Saednari. Source: theopinion.co.in

Resource persons assembled at an international conference on “Arabic Language and Literature: Learning, Teaching and Translation” at the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) on Friday and emphasised on the significance of intercultural communication in transforming the world into a “global village”. “The world has become a global village owing to fast communication. This communication has led to language and cultural exchanges that have resulted in mutual understanding, tolerance, peace, brotherhood and integration,” stated Dr Eassa Ali Mohammed Ali of the department of Translation, College of Languages, Sana’a University, Yemen, while addressing the inaugural session of the international conference at USTM. Underlining intercultural communication as a means to avoid conflict caused by diversity at different levels,” Dr Ali said, “Intercultural communication is essential in the current era as it makes us, as individuals and groups, understand the importance of peaceful coexistence and appreciate other people’s cultures, practices, habits, beliefs and so on. In this multilingual and multicultural universe, we have easily formed, fostered and improved relationships with each other.” The conference, organised by USTM in collaboration with Assam University, Silchar, was chaired by Mohammed Basheer K, head of the Department of Arabic, Assam University, Silchar. The guests of honour in the inaugural session were Fatma Rashed Salem Al Maamari, head of the Cultural Relations, Sultan Qaboos Higher Centre for Culture and Science, Oman and Eassa Ali Mohammed Ali. Four presentations on learning, teaching and translation of language and literature were made by the resource persons in the subsequent sessions of the conference. To start with, Fatma Rashed Salem Al Maamari made an interesting presentation on the “Importance of Language and Culture in a Global Perspective”, which was followed by another insightful presentation by Eassa Ali Mohammed Ali on “Integrity and Brotherhood through Language and Cultural Exchange”. On the other hand, Abbas KP, assistant professor, Farook College, Kerala, gave a presentation on the topic “Unique Attributes of Arabic Language”, while Ubaidur Rahman, a research scholar at Aliah University, Kolkata, made a presentation on “Language as a Bridge for Literary Enrichment”. Earlier, the conference began with the felicitation of guests and resource persons followed by a welcome address by USTM vice-chancellor G.D Sharma.  The conference culminated with an engaging interactive session between the resource persons, students and faculty members of USTM, was also held after the presentations.

The conference aimed to celebrate the ties between the people and religions within the region. More than 600 representatives from various parts of India gathered in the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh to hold a dialogue about Nalanda Buddhism, The Bhutan Live reported. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu attended the event, which was titled "Nalanda Buddhism - Retracing the Source in Footsteps of Acharyas: From Nalanda to the Himalayas and Beyond." Nalanda Buddhism has its origins in the Nalanda monastic university in India and has spread across regions like northern India, Bhutan, and regions with Tibetan influence. The conference aimed to celebrate the ties between the people and religions within the region, as per The Bhutan Live report. Pema Khandu said that Arunachal Pradesh is a diverse state with various religions. He called it essential for all faiths to coexist peacefully. He stressed on the importance of the conference's location and further said that Zemithang is the last Indian border through which the 14th Dalai Lama entered India in 1959. Khandu lauded the principle of reasoning and analysis that forms the core of Nalanda Buddhism. He emphasised that Nalanda Buddhism permits followers to subject even Lord Buddha's teachings to scrutiny, as per the news report. In his address, Pema Khandu praised the people of Arunachal Pradesh for preserving their culture and traditions with religious zeal, according to The Bhutan Live report. He urged attendees, especially the youth, to be mindful of the challenges Buddhism is anticipated to face in the 21st century. The conference was organised by the Indian Himalayan Council of Nalanda Buddhist Tradition (IHCNBT), a body based in New Delhi, as per the news report. The conference included prayers, speeches from religious and political leaders, teachings about the journeys and ideas of Nalanda masters, discussions on contemporary challenges faced by Nalanda Buddhism, and cultural performances. Last week, the Global Buddhist Summit was held in New Delhi. The theme of the event Global Buddhist Summit was 'Responses to Contemporary Challenges: Philosophy to Praxis.' The two-day Summit was hosted by the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with International Buddhist Confederation on April 20-21. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the inaugural session of the Global Buddhist Summit on April 20 in Delhi. Speaking at Global Buddhist Summit, Modi said that India has followed Buddha's teachings including the path of Theory, Practice and Realisation. India has progressed rapidly on all these three points. "India is moving ahead in the 'Amrit Kaal' towards becoming a developed country. India has resolved for the welfare of not only India but also for the whole wide world," PM Modi said. "We can embrace happiness only if we renunciate realisations of Victory, Defeats, Fights, Wars. Lord Buddha has taught the path to overcome these. Enmity cannot vanish with enmity but with Love. Actual happiness lies in peace, in living together with peace," he said.