Through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the United States brought together leaders from youth organizations across the country and the private sector to establish new partnerships for youth employment and greater prosperity.   USAID Assistant Administrator for Asia Michael Schiffer, visiting from Washington, D.C., joined USAID Mission Director Reed Aeschliman and Shikho CEO Shahir Chowdhury to sign a memorandum of understanding to collaborate in building the job skills of Bangladeshi youth and unlock employment opportunities. USAID convened its first-ever youth-private sector marketplace event to connect businesses like Visa and Shikho with youth organizations like Jaago and the Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center to identify and strengthen skills needed to modernize the country’s workforce, while enabling youth to contribute more fully to Bangladesh’s economic growth. “Providing youth with more marketable job skills will make Bangladesh more competitive and help position the country to be the next ‘Asian Tiger’ – a royal Bengal tiger – and deliver on the promise of providing more equitable opportunities for prosperity to all citizens,” said USAID Assistant Administrator Schiffer.  USAID’s education and youth programs are increasingly seeking private sector partners to invest in building the skills of youth in classrooms, communities, and in the workplace.   The United States has partnered with Bangladesh for more than 50 years and provided more than $8 billion to improve health, education, agriculture, food security, and humanitarian assistance, and strengthen resilience to climate change and natural disasters.  

LGRD Minister Tazul Islam today (Feb 18) announced that Tk 20 crore has been allocated for each of the MPs to fulfill their commitment to development  in their constituencies. The minister said this in the parliament session on Sunday (February 18). Tazul Islam said, "It is normal for the MPs to make many commitments to the people for the development of their respective areas." Naturally, the MPs are eager to fulfill those promises, and the Prime Minister has understood the matter very sincerely. Therefore, a project has already been formulated to provide Tk 20 crore for each MP's constituency for a period of five years.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina instructed all the ministries to take only important and acceptable development schemes today (13 February). She also directed to complete ongoing projects quickly.   "We must choose only important and acceptable development projects for the sake of our socio-economic development," She added. Satyajit Karmakar, Senior Secretary of Planning Department, highlighted various instructions given by the Prime Minister at the end of the meeting. Prime Minister said that priority should be given in project selection. Projects that will get quick returns should be taken up.

Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) organized a 7 days Capacity Development Training Program under the project “Mid-term Review and Updating of Revised Strategic Transport Plan for DTCA Area” at the BIAM foundation, Eskaton, Dhaka.  The closing and certificate awarding program was presided over by Ms. Neelima Akhter, Executive Director, DTCA which was held on 3rd February 2024. The honorable Secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division, Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, A B M Amin Ullah Nuri was the Chief guest of the opening program. The city is already facing chronic traffic congestion and if we do not take the necessary action now, the situation will further deteriorate. To address the rapid population growth and increasing traffic demand in the DTCA jurisdiction area, a transport master plan was developed in 2005 by the then DTCB known as the Strategic Transport Plan, STP. Later, it was revised in 2016 by DTCA with JICA’s assistance which is known as the Revised Strategic Transport Plan, RSTP.  Several projects were proposed in RSTP to resolve the traffic issues. To update the Revised Strategic Transport Plan, DTCA has taken the project for review and update the strategic transport plan for the DTCA area. The project is being implemented by DTCA with the assistance of ADB using the Technical Assistance Special Fund and Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia & the Pacific. The updated Strategic Transport plan will dictate the future of the Transport system in Dhaka City. This assignment has been awarded to the consortium of OCG- SMEC- BCL-ACE-MSL-PRIMEX. Under the project, for capacity development of DTCA and other relevant organizations, the Transportation Planning training program was arranged. This was a unique 7 days training program and very few of its kind which include hands-on training on:  •    Trip Production/Attraction Model •    Analysis of Household Interview Survey Data •    OD Visualization and Trip Distribution Model •    Highway Assignment using TransCAD software •    Public Transport Assignment using TransCAD software •    Economic Evaluation and Analysis •    OD matrices update methodology using Building Floor Area Data •    Basic Traffic Impact Assessment using TransCAD software In the training, Microsoft Access and Excel were used for data analysis and visualization, whereas Kepler.gl, qGIS and TransCAD were used for mapping, OD matrix preparation, travel demand modeling, and visualization of the demand models. The training program was conducted by the TA Consultants, especially Team Leader Tomokazu WACHI, Takatoshi MORIWAKI, Keisuke AKIHO, Pallab Debnath, and other members were involved in arranging fruitful training on transport planning and modeling. In the training program, 17 participants were from DTCA. Apart from DTCA, delegates from other 13 organizations such as Capital Development Authority (RAJUK), Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Roads and Highways Department (RHD), Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA), Bangladesh Railway (BR), and other organizations have participated in the training.   

No one can stop or slow down the development of Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the VTB Investment Forum "Russia Calling!"   "I have no doubt that no one can stop us or slow down our development," he said.   According to Putin, Russia should create educational, scientific and investment platforms within the BRICS framework, collaborating primarily in the field of education. "We should not think about these restrictions, we must look forward, and go forward, and act on a broad front, first of all, in the field of education, which becomes an essential factor in economic growth itself. We must do this with those who want it work in a modern and civilized manner," he said.   Putin added that Russia will continue, among other things, cooperation in this area with China, with which it has developed "very good, trusting relations."   Source: BSS

The EU says development aid for the Palestinian territories was not misappropriated.The bloc will continue supporting humanitarian efforts in the region. The European Union announced a review of its development aid to the West Bank and Gaza Strip immediately after Hamasterrorists attacked Israel on October 7. After a European Commission meeting in Strasbourg, a decision has now been reached to continue providing development aid. There are no  indications that Hamas — deemed a terrorist organization by the EU, the US and others — misappropriated EU funds. European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi said that the audit of this year's payments had not revealed a misuse of funds and that the EU could continue cooperating with various agencies and authorities in the Palestinian territories. After the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel, Varhelyi had initially wanted to stop all payments. This, however, had angered the EU's chief diplomat Josep Borrell. Consequently, an agreement was reached to audit previous payments. Since then, 119 development aid contracts worth €330 million ($358 million) have been reviewed.  Non-governmental organizations have been requested to answers additional question with regard to 51 of these contracts. The European Commission has said that seven contracts regarding infrastructure in the Gaza Strip have been suspended due to the ongoing conflict. The EU had earmarked a total of €1.2 billion ($1.3 billion) in development aid for the Palestinian territories for the period 2020 to 2024. Germany to keep providing aid The German government had also said that it would review its development aid to the Palestinian territories. On the sidelines of a meeting of foreign affairs and development ministers in Brussels, Germany's state secretary in the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development Jochen Flasbarth said that the government had so far audited development projects in Gaza and Jordan. He added that Germany would continue its cooperation with the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). "The review of other areas is still ongoing, but should be completed soon," Flasbarth said in reference to the West Bank, which is occupied by Israel and governed by the Palestinian Authority. It was right to carefully vet all funding programs in light of the serious situation, Flasbarth added. "We have found nothing unusual and have heard from other states that have chosen a similar path that they have also carried out checks and found everything to be above board." Stricter funding checks proposed Varhelyi wants to make future development aid conditional on tougher checks. Going forward, there will be checks to see whether aid organizations have made "inflammatory" or antisemitic remarks. There are also plans to check whether families seeking EU welfare payouts for example have engaged in hate speech. So far, this rule only applied to the head of the families in need. But not everyone agrees with these stricter rules. Some European commissioners at the meeting in Strasbourg said they considered the restrictions exaggerated and unjustified. Some of the EU funds go towards paying the salaries of Palestinian Authority officials in the West Bank. They also indirectly provide social aid to Gazan families via aid organizations. The EU severed all direct contact with Hamas in 2007. Al-Haq, a Palestinian human rights organization, with which the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Protestant aid agency Brot für die Welt (Bread for the World) used to cooperate, will no longer receive funds. A spokesperson for the ministry recently said that organizations that supported armed resistance to Israel were not appropriate partners.  Direct humanitarian aid remains unaffected Direct humanitarian aid provided to the Palestinians in the form of food, shelter and medical care, which is distinct from development projects, remains unaffected and the EU is planning to extend this. After the start of Israel's offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the bloc would quadruple aid to €100 million ($108 million). EU member states have granted a further €260 million in urgently needed humanitarian assistance, of which €160 million will be paid for by Germany, according to German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. The bloc will also continue to provide funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) , which has been operating in the region for decades and supporting people in the Palestinian territories, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. Two thirds of Gazan were already dependent on UNRWA assistance even before the current war between the Israeli army and Hamas erupted. The UN agency has 13,000 employees in Gaza. Last year, UNRWA's largest donors were the US, which supplied $343 million (€315 million), followed by Germany with $202 million (€185 million) and the EU with $114 million (€105 million). The UNRWA budget totaled $1.17 billion (€1 billion) in 2022. Meanwhile, Belgian Minister of Development Cooperation Caroline Gennez has called for fighting to stop in Gaza, saying that short pauses as proposed by the EU in October are not adequate. "I think it is very clear that the violence should end now," she said. "There have been too many innocent victims in Gaza and still too many Israeli hostages taken. It is important that the violence stops and humanitarian aid is secured and that one day we start negotiations for a durable tenable two-state-solution." France, too, has called for an end to the hostilities.  

The return of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has rekindled some hopes in Pakistan amidst unprecedented political and economic crises that are perceived to be the fallouts of the misgovernance and civil government-military clashes during the Imran Khan regime. “His return and narrative-building would be a key element of the present and future political landscape of Pakistan,” said Aasiya Riaz, a former joint director at the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency. Sharif returned to Pakistan on a flight that was named “Umeed-e-Pakistan,” a phrase translated as Hope of Pakistan. He then held a massive rally at the Minar-e-Pakistan on his home turf Lahore, which was attended by around 150,000 people. An 18-year-old Razi Ullah said “I’m here to welcome my leader. The inflation is very high and poor people are desperate. God has given him a chance to come back and turn things around. He’s done it before,” he said. Those who attended the rally said Sharif was the only one who could tackle the existential crises Pakistan faced. Pakistani citizen Zahra Bilal said “Nawaz Sharif did what he did before and will continue to do it. People were not brought to the historic rally of Pakistan, but they came with the hope that Nawaz Sharif will fix everything, Nawaz Sharif will heal their wounds and bring them peace.” A snap poll conducted by Gallup Pakistan showed 50 percent of Pakistani people called Sharif’s return good for Pakistan while those who said it bad were just 14 percent. As 51 percent claimed Sharif will win the upcoming elections, 70 percent expressed confidence that he will work together with all politicians including his bête noire Imran Khan for the betterment of Pakistan.   Khan had become a prime minister riding on the wave of populism. However, his popularity diminished subsequently. “During Imran Khan’s tenure in office the economy was tanking slowly, and much of that has to do with the fact that he had alienated all the political parties to such an extent that no one would help him deliver on his economic programme,” said Dr Farzana Shaikh, an associate fellow at London-based The Royal Institute of International Affairs. Saad Kaisar, who is a digital media consultant, said he preferred Sharif to Khan. “One kept talking about chaos, the other one talked about peace. Imran Khan believed in chaos and destruction, as he kept giving examples of “default” in Sri Lanka, we saw what he did on 9th May. While Nawaz Sharif gave us hope and believes in “peace”,” He said, Sharif touched upon the pressing issues of inflation, poverty, and unemployment when he gave a nine-point agenda to pull Pakistan from the crises in his latest speech. About 80 percent of Pakistani people who heard Sharif’s speech liked it and the majority of people said he could bring the country out of the economic crisis. Sharif has been convicted in corruption charges but the majority in Pakistan prefers him owing to “a lot of work” he did earlier. Cancer patient Sajida Gillani was among the Pakistanis who felt Sharif can fill the political leadership vacuum. “I have to take painkillers all the time because of the cancer. But today I don’t feel pain, I’m that happy that Nawaz Sharif is coming back. I have not missed a rally, even during treatment,” Gillani said.   Imran Khan’s tenure saw the development of an unprecedented economic crisis in Pakistan even as the political instability grew significantly due to the clashes with the military and heightened activities of the radical Islamists. In one incident, the capital city of Islamabad was put under siege, rendering the Khan government helpless.    Pakistani people are seeing Sharif’s return as a contributing element to political stability.“Nawaz Sharif’s return to Pakistan has the potential to reshape the country’s political landscape. Whether you support him or not, his presence is undeniably a significant factor in the nation’s journey towards stability and prosperity,” said a Pakistani named Shaher Bano. Pakistan’s powerful military too seems inclined toward Nawaz Sharif, felt political experts and analysts. Lahore-based political analyst Hassan Askari said “Since Khan stands knocked out because of his confrontation with the establishment, Sharif has the advantage.” he said.Political commentator Zaigham Khan said the army finds Nawaz Sharif important after its fallout with Imran Khan. “The military desires his leadership to fill the vacuum left by Imran Khan’s detention and to counterbalance Khan’s ongoing appeal,” he said. Source: Islamkhabar.com

China will work with all parties involved to usher Belt and Road cooperation into a new stage of high-quality development, and make relentless efforts to achieve modernization for all countries, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Wednesday. Global modernization should be pursued to enhance peaceful development and mutually beneficial cooperation and bring prosperity to all, Xi said. Xi noted that China is endeavoring to build itself into a stronger country and rejuvenate the Chinese nation on all fronts by pursuing Chinese modernization. "The modernization we are pursuing is not for China alone, but for all developing countries through our joint efforts," he added. Source: CCTV

Bangladesh, a country nestled in South Asia, has been making significant strides in the realm of women’s empowerment and gender equality, largely due to the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Her relentless efforts and strategic policies have played a pivotal role in uplifting the status of women, promoting their active participation in various sectors, and fostering an environment of gender inclusivity. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has implemented a series of policies and initiatives aimed at breaking down barriers that hindered women’s progress. One such groundbreaking policy is the National Women Development Policy, which underscores the government’s commitment to gender mainstreaming and creating an enabling environment for women to thrive in all aspects of society. Recognizing education as the cornerstone of empowerment, Prime Minister Hasina has focused on enhancing educational opportunities for girls. The ‘Girl’s Stipend Program’ and ‘Kishoree Kontha’ initiative have incentivized female education, ensuring girls can access quality education and build a strong foundation for their future. Furthermore, initiatives like ‘Skills for Employment Investment Program’ and ‘Women in IT’ programs have been instrumental in imparting skill development, enabling women to participate actively in the workforce and entrepreneurial ventures. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government has taken significant strides to enhance women’s participation in politics, ensuring their voices are heard at all levels of governance. The reserved seats for women in the parliament and local government bodies have boosted their representation, thus amplifying their role in shaping the nation’s policies and strategies. Bangladesh has seen a substantial increase in women’s participation in the workforce across various sectors. The government’s efforts to promote women entrepreneurs through easier access to loans, training, and market linkages have empowered countless women to establish their businesses and contribute to the nation’s economy. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has also prioritized addressing violence against women and ensuring their safety. The establishment of Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunals and the National Helpline for Violence against Women and Children showcase the government’s commitment to creating a safe environment for women. In essence, Bangladesh, under the steadfast leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has witnessed a paradigm shift in promoting gender equality and empowering women. The strides made in education, political representation, economic participation, and safety initiatives have set a positive trajectory, demonstrating the power of visionary leadership and commitment to fostering an egalitarian society. With continued dedication and focused efforts, Bangladesh is poised to elevate its position on the global stage as a beacon of gender equality and empowerment. Source: Ifras.org

Chinese business community and Bangladesh-China Alumni called for Overseas Bangladeshi students to return home and contribute to their homeland’s development at the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Initiative in Bangladesh Exhibition 2023 which took place on Friday morning at Bangabandhu Bangladesh–China Friendship Exhibition Centre in Purbachal, Dhaka. HighlightingChinese companies’unwavering confidence in Bangladesh market, Mr. KeChangliang, the President of CEAB, unveiled a robust localization strategy being adopted by Chinese business communityin a move to tap into global expertise to drive localized solution that cater to unique business environment of Bangladesh.  “Most Chinese companies are going through reforms in Bangladesh in the direction for setting up regional HQ and deepening localization. During this BRI in Bangladesh Exhibition, there will be a job fair for Bangladeshi returnee students from China.I hope through this job fair, both Bangladeshi returnee students can get good offers and Chinese companies can source the right people. We will set up a long-term platform for such talent matching activities, ”He said in his opening speech. Mr. Munshi Faiz Ahmad, Chairman of Association of Bangladesh-China Alumni (ABCA) and former Ambassador of Bangladesh to China, welcomed Chinese business community’s localization trend and underscored the valuable skills and experiences that Bangladeshi returnee students could bring to their homeland as assets that align seamlessly with Bangladesh’s vision for growth and innovation. Executive Chairman of BIDA of Prime Minister’s OfficeMr. Lokman Hossain Miah, Minister Counsellor, Charge d’affaires of Chinese Embassy in BangladeshH.E. Mr. Yan Hualong,Vice Chairman of EPBMr. A.H.M Ahsan,Additonal Secretary and Wing Chief of ERD,Ministry of FinanceMr. Md. Anwar Hossain, and President of BCCCIMr. Gazi Golam Murtoza also addressed at the Seminar. The Belt and Road Initiative in Bangladesh Exhibition 2023, hosted by Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh in association with Chinese Enterprises Association in Bangladesh (CEAB)and  Bangladesh China Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCCI), brought together a total of 400 government officials, diplomats and business professionals to network and explore strategies for facilitating cooperation between Bangladeshi and Chinese business communities.  The Exhibition took place from 8-10 September 2023, aiming to review the fruitful results of the proposed Belt and Road Initiative in Bangladesh during its 10 years track and propose approaches to strengthen bilateral cooperation so as to  drive ever-lasting socio-economic growth of Bangladesh.