India will host 'The Voice of Global South' Summit on January 12-13, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said on Friday. As many as 120 countries will participate in the summit next week. Ten to 20 countries will be part of one session and two lead sessions will be hosted by Prime Minister, the foreign secretary said. "We will be hosting a special virtual summit on 12th and 13th January 2023, that is next week. This summit will be called the Voice of Global South Summit under the theme Unity of Voice and Unity of purpose," Kwatra said during a special briefing. "It essentially envisages bringing together countries of the global south and sharing their perspective and priorities on a common platform across a whole range of issues," he added. This initiative is inspired by PM Narendra Modi's vision of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas'. It is also underpinned by India's philosophy of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,' Kwatra said.  

A couple of days ago, Shakib Al Hasan commented on the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). Shakib Said, "He could have made the tournament more perfect if he was the CEO of BPL. Even to arrange the tournament, he will take only 1 to 2 months. After his statement, BPL Governing Council Chairman Sheikh Sohail has welcomed Shakib al Hasan to be the CEO of the next season of BPL." Sohail said in the press conference on Friday, if Shakib wants, he will be given the responsibility of CEO in the next session. As Sohail was saying, "We welcome him on behalf of the Governing Council. If he wants to fulfill the duties of the CEO from next year."

Bangladesh has invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Dhaka in person on March 26 to join the nation’s celebration of the 50 years of the independence. “We’ve invited him (Narendra Modi) and they accepted the invitation in principle,” Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen told newsmen after his maiden meeting with newly appointed Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Doraiswami at State Guest house Padma in the capital on Sunday. The foreign minister said the Indian premier was scheduled to visit this year to join birth centenary celebration of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman but the trip was cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic. He said Bangladesh and India will celebrate Bangladesh’s 50 years of independence together next year and expected that the Indian premier will join the opening of the celebration. “Our victory is India’s victory. We should celebrate together,” Momen said. There will be a virtual meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in December. “The date is yet to be fixed … it will be likely to be held either on December 16 or 17,” he said. About the first meeting with the newly appointed Indian envoy, the foreign minister said they had a very good discussion as the new Indian High Commissioner understands the sensitivity of Bangladesh. “He (envoy) knows the issues we (Bangladesh-India) have,” Momen said. The foreign minister said he put emphasis on smooth implementation of the projects under the Indian Line of Credit (LoC) while Doraiswami assured that he will work on that. The two sides also discussed issues relating to border killing. “He (envoy) told me that there are sincere efforts (from Indian side) to stop border killing,” Momen said. He termed the existing Bangladesh-India relation very good while the two countries have already set an instance in the world by resolving bilateral issues peacefully through dialogue and discussions. Referring to fixing land and maritime boundaries with India and Myanmar, Momen said Bangladesh is coming up with a global example by resolving disputes peacefully with its neighbors. “This shows the maturity of leadership,” he added. The foreign minister said he urged India to open its land boundaries for Bangladeshi nationals as like as restoring air connectivity under the ‘air bubble’, scheduled to be started from October 28. Momen also proposed India to make the two-kilometer long ‘Independence Road’ along the Bangladesh-India frontier at Mujibnagar in Meherpur district free for movement. The foreign minister said that Indian tourists can easily visit the historic Mujibnagar, where the exiled Bangladesh government took oath during the country’s Great War of Liberation in 1971, if the Independence Road is made free for movement. Both the sides also discussed the follow up issues of the 6th Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) meeting that was held virtually between the foreign ministers of Bangladesh and India last month. Source: BSS AH

Jatiya Oikyafront convener Dr. Kamal Hossain on Sunday appreciated the Prime Minister’s decision to hold fresh talks with political parties, saying it is a positive step. Talking to UNB, he also said they will take a positive decision about joining the dialogue with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after discussions with their alliance partners.  “I called upon the government for holding talks with political parties to find an effective way for holding a fresh credible election. Now the Prime Minister herself has decided to hold talks. I hail the decision, and it’s surely a positive initiative,” Dr. Kamal said. Once they get the invitation to join the talks, he said their alliance leaders will sit together and fix what they may discuss with the Prime Minister during the dialogue. Dr Kamal also expects a positive outcome in favor of the country’s people if the dialogue is held with the Prime Minister. Contacted, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir declined to make any comment over the matter. “I’m not aware of any such development. So, I’m not willing to say anything about it right now.” Earlier in the day, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hold fresh dialogues with the political parties that joined talks at Gonobhaban before the December-30 election. He said the Prime Minister will send letters to Oikyafront, Juktafront, 14-party, Jatiya Party and other political parties inviting them to engage in talks at Gonobhaban to discuss various issues. At a discussion on Thursday last, Dr Kamal Hossain called upon the government for holding a national dialogue to find ways for arranging a fresh national election as per the constitution. However, Obaidul Quader on Friday turned down the call for talks and terming it an absurd demand of Oikyafront. Two days later, the Awami League general secretary said the Prime Minister at a joint meeting of their advisory council and the central working committee on Saturday said she will again invite those who joined the talks earlier. Before the announcement of 11th parliamentary elections, Jatiya Oikyafront leaders, led by Dr Kamal Hossain, sat twice with the Prime Minister on November 1 and November 7 last at Gonobhaban. Source: UNB AH

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been invited by her Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau to join a session of the 44th G7 Summit. The Group of Seven (G7) summit will be held on June 8 and 9, 2018, in La Malbaie, Quebec in Canada. Reports BSS. Trudeau on Friday announced that Canada will welcome the Bangladesh premier and 15 other world leaders and heads of international organizations to a special outreach session of the G7 Summit on June 9. The session will focus on healthy oceans and resilient coastal communities, according to a release of Canada PM’s official website. The world leaders and heads of international organisaions invited to the special outreach session of the G7 Summit on June 9 are: Mauricio Macri, president of Argentina and Chair of the G20; Sheikh Hasina, prime minister of Bangladesh; Jovenel Moise, president of Haiti and chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM); Andrew Holness, prime minister of Jamaica; Uhuru Kenyatta, president of Kenya; Hilda Heine, president of the Marshall Islands; Erna Solberg, prime minister of Norway; Paul Kagame, president of Rwanda and chair of the African Union; Macky Sall, president of Senegal; Danny Faure, president of Seychelles; Cyril Ramaphosa, president of South Africa; Nguyen Xuan Phuc, prime minister of Vietnam; Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund; Jose Angel Gurria, secretary-general of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development; Antonio Guterres, secretary-general of the United Nations; and Kristalina Georgieva, chief executive officer of the World Bank. “These leaders and heads of international organizations will meet with G7 leaders to discuss how to build resilient coasts and communities, share ocean knowledge and science, and support sustainable oceans and fisheries,” the news release said. They will also explore how to best address pressing challenges, including “plastics in our oceans and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing,” it added. “Our oceans and coasts are under considerable threat – from increases in plastic pollution, more frequent and severe weather events, and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Resilient coastal communities and healthy oceans are vital to growing economies that work for everyone and that is why we are committed to working with others to protect the world’s oceans,” the release said, quoting Trudeau. It said Canada is committed to working with others in the G7 and beyond to strengthen resilience, fight climate change, and protect our oceans for generations to come. “As with all work under Canada’s G7 presidency, these discussions will include a focus on gender equality and women’s empowerment,” the release said. The Group of Seven or G7 is a group consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. Having the seven largest advanced economies in the world, these countries represent 62% of global net wealth (280 trillion dollars), 46% of global nominal GDP evaluated at market exchange rates, and 32% of global purchasing-power parity GDP. The attendees of the 44th G7 Summit will include the leaders of the seven G7 member states as well as representatives of the European Union. The President of the European Commission has been a permanently welcome participant in all meetings and decision-making since 1981. AH

Meghan Markle's reclusive father may be planning on walking his daughter down the aisle, but some members of her extended family weren't invited to her upcoming royal wedding. Both of Markle's parents, who are divorced, received invitations to her May 19 nuptials, and her father, Thomas Markle Sr., will accompany his daughter down the aisle -- "even if he has to battle his demons to get there." "He’s not exactly thrilled at facing the world’s glare," a source told the US based magazine Page Six. "He lives a reclusive life in Mexico, but nothing will stop him from having Meghan on his arm for the big day." The former "Suits" actress' mother, Doria Ragland, is also invited, but the rest of her extended family -- who Meghan has a strained relationship with -- did not receive invitations. Half siblings Thomas Jr. and Samantha, who have been outspoken about Meghan's new life as a future princess, were reportedly not invited to her wedding, and neither were two other relatives who appeared "Good Morning Britain" on Monday morning to discuss the alleged snub. Tracey Dooley, who used to be married to Thomas Jr., and her son, Tyler, said they didn't expect to get invitations to her wedding. "I don’t think we are getting invitations, but that is fine, we are so proud of her," Tracey said. After Tracey revealed that she hadn't seen Meghan in nearly two decades (and Tyler hadn't seen her in about three years), host Richard Madeley didn't hold back. "Well then it doesn't seem unreasonable for you not to be invited, does it?" he said bluntly. "I mean, if it's 20 years, you're pretty much on the fringes, aren't you, of the family, to be honest?" Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's wedding invitations were sent out last week. Source: Yahoo Entertainment. AH