The Ministry of Finance has recently appointed Md. Khurshid Alam and Dr Habibur Rahman as deputy governors of the of the central bank of Bangladesh. They have been appointed on a contract basis against two vacant posts. The Financial Institutions Division issued two notification  in this regard on Wednesday (Feb 28). Md Khurshid Alam is currently working as the executive director (Grade-1) of Bangladesh Bank. On the the other hand Dr Habibur Rahman is the chief economist of Bangladesh Bank.  Now both of them have to take retirement from regular service and join the contractual post of deputy governor.

The government suspended additional deputy commissioner (ADC) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Harun-or-Rashid on Monday, September 11. Senior secretary of the public security division of the home ministry Md Mostafizur Rahman signed a notification in this regard. The notification said the ADC has to be refrained from all government activities for public interest. According to the home ministry sources, the ADC was first transferred to the public order management (POM) department on Sunday from the Ramna division following an allegation of torturing few central leaders of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL).  The Police Headquarters also transferred him to the Armed Police Battalions with attachment order. 

US Deputy Assistant Secretary Mira Resnick arrived in Dhaka on Monday, September 4, 2023. Ahead of Bangladesh and the United States ninth annual bilateral security dialogue in Dhaka, she arrived today. Representatives from both sides will discuss Indo-Pacific regional issues, security and human rights, military cooperation, peacekeeping, security assistance, and counterterrorism, among other topics, said the US Embassy in Dhaka in a media note on Sunday. The United States and Bangladesh have a strong security partnership and share many interests in the Indo-Pacific region, said the embassy. Both countries share a vision to ensure the Indo-Pacific region is free, open, peaceful, and secure.  At the 8th Security Dialogue held between the two countries at US Department of State in April last year, the two sides had “constructive discussions” on defence agreements like GSOMIA and ACSA as the US is keen to enhance security cooperation with Bangladesh. 

G-20, under India's presidency, can make concrete progress on three critical areas: debt relief, regulations of crypto currency and climate finance, International Monetary Fund's First Deputy Managing Director Gita Gopinath said. Gopinath, who is in India to participate in deliberations held as part of G-20, explained the three areas in a video posted on Twitter. “We have a large number of low-income countries that are in debt distress. While we have the G-20 common framework to help with debt resolution, we absolutely need to improve the strength of the mechanism and to get much more timely resolution,” she said. Throwing light on the recent crypto meltdown, she said it was clear that internationally agreed standards of regulations had become necessary. “Progress on that front being able to accomplish that in 2023 would be a concrete outcome,” she said. On climate finance, Gopinath said, “To have developing countries adapt to climate change, to contribute to climate mitigation, they will need much higher financing. And that's a third area where concrete progress can be made. Source:business-standard

Jatiya Sangsad (JS) deputy leader and Awami League (AL) presidium member Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury passed away at a city hospital last night at the age of 87.   Sajeda Chowdhury breathed her last at Combined Military Hospital here at 11:40 pm on Sunday, family sources said.   She is survived by three sons, one daughter, a host of relatives and admirers. Her husband Golam Akbar Chowdhury died in November 2015.   Sajeda Chowdhury was a valiant freedom fighter and one of the organizers of the Liberation War. She was elected parliament member several times from Faridpur-2 constituency.   She was sick for several years. She was admitted to the Combined Military Hospital last week.   Her body will be taken to her constituency Nagarkanda in Faridpur from Dhaka this afternoon. After namaj-e- janaza there, the body will be brought back to Dhaka. Her namaj-janaza will also be held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad.   She will be laid to eternal rest at Banani graveyard.   Sajeda Chowdhury was born in 1935. The veteran politician joined the politics of AL in the fifties. After the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members on August 15, 1975, she played an important role in keeping the AL organized at a critical moment.   In 1976, Sajeda Chowdhury became the AL’s acting general secretary. Later she was the party’s full general secretary from 1986 to 1992. Before that, she was the general secretary of Mahila Awami League from 1969 to 1975. Source: BSS AH

President M Abdul Hamid today administered the oath of office to Deputy Speaker Shamsul Huq Tuku at the President's chamber at Sangsad Bhaban in the capital.   Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Leader of the House and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chief Whip Noor-E-Alam Chowdhury, among others, were present on the occasion. Jatiya Sangsad Secretary KM Abdus Salam conducted the oath taking ceremony. Tuku was elected as the deputy speaker in voice votes at the outset of the nineteenth session of the JS with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair. Earlier, Parliament's Chief Whip Nur-E Alam Chowdhury proposed his name as the Deputy Speaker. Then, the treasury bench member Advocate Quamrul Islam of Dhaka-2 seconded it. Earlier, the Speaker told the House that he was elected unanimously and unopposed in a voice vote as only one nomination was received for the post of Deputy Speaker.   The post of Deputy Speaker became vacant following the death of Fazle Rabbi Mia, MP, of Gaibandha-5 Constituency on July 22, 2022. A former student of Rajshahi University and also leader of Pabna District Awami League, Shamsul Haque Tuku was elected lawmaker three times in a row from Pabna-1constituency in 2009, 2014 and 2018 elections with the boat symbol. Later, he was made State Minister for Home Affairs from 2009-2014 Source: BSS AH

Deputy Speaker of Jatiya Sangsad (JS) and valiant Freedom Fighter Advocate Fazle Rabbi Miah has passed away at the age of 76. He breathed his last at 2 am on Saturday (BD time) at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, USA while undergoing treatment there, JS public relations department sources said. His elder daughter Fahima Rabbi Rita and private secretary Toufiqul Islam were present at the hospital, they said. Rabbi, also Parliament Member of Gaibandha-5 constituency, was suffering from incurable cancer. He was under treatment in New York for 9 months. He is survived by three daughters, grandchildren and a host of relatives and admirers. President M Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister and Bangladesh Awami League President Sheikh Hasina expressed profound shock and sorrow at his death. They prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family. Rabbi served as the State Minister of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Whip of the National Parliament, Chairman of the Standing Committee on the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. Currently, he was serving as the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament for the second term. Rabbi was born on April 15, 1946 at Gatia village of Saghata upazila in Gaibandha district. His father's name was Faizar Rahman and mother's name was Hamidun Necha. During the liberation war, he fought in Sector-11. He also worked to raise global public opinion in favor of Bangladesh's independence. Source: BSS AH

Former deputy speaker and valiant freedom fighter Col (retd) Shawkat Ali died at a hospital in the city on Monday. He was 84. Shawkat Ali breathed his last around 9:30 am while undergoing treatment at the Combined Military Hospital, Dhaka with various old age complications, said Tarique Mahmud, director (media) of Jatiya Sangsad. Shawkat Ali was the number 26 accused in the historic  'Agartala Conspiracy Case' which was filed against Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1969 by the then Pakistani rulers. He had to live with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in jail due to the case. Shawkat was elected MP from Shariatpur-2 constituency six times. He was the founding chairman of Muktijoddha Sanghati Parishad and chief advisor of 71 Foundation. The namaz-e-janaza of Shawakat Ali will be held at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque after Maghrib prayer. Later, his body will be taken to Naria in Shariatpur district by a helicopter around 10 am on Tuesday where he will be buried at his family graveyard following a namaz-e-janaza. President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock at the demise Shawkat Ali. They also prayed for eternal salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family. Besides, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid, Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and deputy speaker Fazle Rabbi Miah expressed profound shock at the demise of Shawkat Ali. Source: UNB AH

US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen E. Biegun arrived in the capital on Wednesday to discuss Bangladesh-US cooperation on Covid-19 response, recovery efforts and sustainable economic development. Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen received the US Deputy Secretary of State upon his arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport from New Delhi, India after wrapping up his three-day visit there. US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Miller was also present, an official said. Biegun is scheduled to hold a meeting with State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam at a city hotel on Wednesday evening. The State Minister will also host a dinner in honor of the US Deputy Secretary of State. Biegun will meet Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Thursday morning and discuss issues of mutual interest and issues related to Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS), a senior official told UNB. He is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Gonobhaban at 12pm on Thursday. During discussion with the Bangladesh side, Biegun will reaffirm the Bangladesh-US partnership. The Deputy Secretary’s engagements in Bangladesh will focus on "advancing the common vision of a free, open, inclusive, peaceful, and secure Indo-Pacific region" with shared prosperity for all, according to the Office of the Spokesperson at the US Department of State. The Deputy Secretary Biegun met Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Monday. Bangladesh's Priority Bangladesh will raise the Rohingya issue during a US high official’s Dhaka visit and seek stronger global support, especially from the United States, for the quick repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar. "It's a global responsibility. Rohingyas must go back to Myanmar, " said Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen. He said Rohingya is not a lone responsibility of Bangladesh but a global responsibility and Bangladesh will raise it. Dr Momen said Bangladesh is not interested in humanitarian assistance. "It's one part but not the main part. Rohingyas must go back to Myanmar. That's the main part for us." Repatriation attempts were failed twice in November 2018 and August 2019 amid Rohingyas' "lack of trust" on the Myanmar government. Bangladesh and Myanmar signed the repatriation deal on November 23, 2017. On January 16, 2018, Bangladesh and Myanmar signed a document on “Physical Arrangement”, which was supposed to facilitate the return of Rohingyas to their homeland. IPS & Bangladesh On Monday, Dr Momen said the US side will talk about Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) and Bangladesh does not have any problem. Bangladesh will also seek investment in infrastructure development and visa issues during the visit, he said. Bangladeshi students are not getting the US visa whereas India is giving. "This is discriminatory," Dr Momen said. "We’ll tell them that they should come forward with investment in infrastructure development if they want the effectiveness of the initiative," said the Foreign Minister adding that only talks will not work. If they really want to help Bangladesh, Dr Momen said, they can help Bangladesh RMG sector by withdrawing tariffs for three years. On defence aspects of the IPS, the Foreign Minister said they want to sell equipment but Bangladesh will be very reluctant about that end as Bangladesh is a friendly country. Deputy Secretary Biegun’s will leave Bangladesh on October 16. Source: UNB AH

US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen E. Biegun will visit Bangladesh from October 14-16 to meet with senior government officials and reaffirm the Bangladesh-United States partnership.   The Deputy Secretary’s engagements in Bangladesh will focus on advancing common vision of a free, open, inclusive, peaceful, and secure Indo-Pacific region with shared prosperity for all, according to the Office of the Spokesperson at the US Department of State.  Both sides will also discuss Bangladesh-US cooperation on COVID-19 response and recovery efforts; and sustainable economic development. From October 12-14, the Deputy Secretary will visit New Delhi, India where he will meet with senior government officials and deliver keynote remarks at the India-U.S. Forum.   Building on Secretary Pompeo’s October 6 meeting with Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar and ahead of the U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue later this year, Deputy Secretary Biegun’s engagements in India will focus on advancing the United States-India Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and how the United States and India can work together to advance peace, prosperity, and security in the Indo-Pacific and around the globe. The US Deputy Secretary of State is likely to meet Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen apart from his other engagements during the visit.  Prime Minister's Adviser for Private Industry and Investment Salman F. Rahman and US Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Keith Krach co-chaired a virtual meeting recently.  Rahman underscored that Bangladesh would continue to pursue economic diplomacy pro-actively with neighbouring, regional and global players. He welcomed the US interest and involvement in the existing and new initiatives.  Adviser Rahman made the remarks at the first ever high-level economic partnership consultation between Bangladesh and the United States held at a virtual platform with a view to developing a vision for advancing the existing US-Bangladesh Economic Partnership.  Bangladesh and the United States have discussed ways to develop an inclusive blue economy by working together and sharing knowledge, data and ideas, building greater capacity, and enhancing professional collaboration.  The Bangladesh side expressed hope that the US government would provide the government of Bangladesh with fish detecting technology, either through satellite or SONAR, and transferring technology for fish/seafood processing, according to US Department of State.  The US side congratulated the government of Bangladesh for joining the international community as a Party to the Agreement on Port State Measures that would aid the United States, Bangladesh, and the other parties in deterring and eliminating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. The US side praised the government of Bangladesh for hosting the third Indian Ocean Rim Association Blue Economy Ministerial Conference in 2019.  Both sides noted the importance of sound science, innovative management, effective enforcement, meaningful partnerships, and robust public participation, all being important elements of the blue economy and each contributing to the future prospects of the ocean.  Energy Cooperation  The meeting participants noted that the United States and Bangladesh have a strong history of cooperation in the energy sector and recognized the importance of energy security to promote regional connectivity, and power stability to further advance Bangladesh’s economic growth.  The Bangladesh side welcomed the support from US Departments of State, Energy, Commerce, as well as USAID and USTDA in this sector under the whole-of-government Asia EDGE (Enhancing Development and Growth through Energy) initiative.  The participants encouraged the relevant stakeholders of the two countries to collaborate and explore the possibility of further expanding the LNG footprint, as an efficient and clean primary fuel for Bangladesh’s power generation. The meeting was appreciative of the participation of US companies like Excelerate Energy and Cheniere Energy at the early stages of Bangladesh’s journey to the world of LNG.  The US energy participants hoped that the cooperation in this regard between the two countries would continue to grow in future.  The  participants noted that the first cargoes of US produced LNG have already been exported to Bangladesh.  They also noted the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between GE and Bangladesh Power Development Board in 2018 for a 3600 MW Combined Cycle power plant in the southern part of Bangladesh – Moheshkhali Island – and expressed hope that the two sides would remain engaged in this regard. The meeting discussed exploring the possibility of establishment of an energy sector dialogue to facilitate commercial engagement with US energy companies, increase the possible use of U.S. products and services that support smarter, more efficient, and more resilient energy systems, and improve access to reliable, affordable energy to Bangladesh.  They discussed this potential platform being led by the US Department of Commerce while on the Bangladesh side by the Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources.  Additionally, the US Department of Commerce announced the creation of the U.S.-Bangladesh Energy Industry Working Group as part of the Asia EDGE Energy Industry Working Group Network, which creates a “one stop shop” for the US private sector to actively participate in Asia EDGE interagency programs and connect to regional market opportunities. Source: UNB AH