Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today expressed profound shock and sorrow at the death of her Press Secretary and former Managing Director and Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Ihsanul Karim. In a message of condolence, she said, "Karim had performed his duty with utmost sincerity and devotion as my Press Secretary". The premier continued: "With his sad demise, the mass media people have lost their colleague and I have lost my trusted officer".  She prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family. Ihsanul Karim breathed his last at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital at 8.00 pm today, PM's Deputy Press Secretary MM Emrul Kayas told BSS. During his long checkered carrier, he also served as Press secretary of the President of Bangladesh, she said.

Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud paid a call on Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia  Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud at the OIC Secretariat in Jeddah today (March 6, 2024). He is leading the Bangladesh delegation to attend the 19th Extraordinary CFM of the OIC on Israel's aggression on the Palestinian People in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. During the meeting, Bangladesh Foreign Minister expressed satisfaction on the level of bilateral engagement between the two brotherly countries and hoped that such cooperation would deepen in the coming days.  He hoped that the proposed visit of the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Bangladesh will take place soon at a convenient time. The Saudi Foreign Minister assured of further discussing this upcoming visit mentioning that Saudi Arabia considers their engagement with Bangladesh on the basis of sophisticated economic cooperation which has taken place during the last three years.  He looked forward to further augment sectoral cooperation between the two countries and increased trade and investment opportunities. Foreign Minister Mahmud sought cooperation in crude oil purchase which his Saudi counterpart assured to consider including investment in refinery and petrochemical industries. Bangladesh Foreign Minister reiterated his country’s firm support for the cause of Palestine. Expressing concern on the escalation of violence leading to genocide, he hoped that the strong statement delivered at the Extraordinary CFM would help in ending the conflict soon thus responding to the demand of the Muslim Ummah. Saudi Foreign Minister congratulated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on forming government for the 4th consecutive time and praised her leadership for hosting forcibly displaced Rohingya people in Bangladesh on humanitarian ground while assuring full cooperation of Saudi Arabia on the Rohingya issue. He also praised her leadership for taking Bangladesh to new heights of economic development. Earlier Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud paid a call on the OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha at his office at the OIC Secretariat in Jeddah.  During the meeting, the Hon’ble Foreign Minister reiterated Bangladesh’s firm support for the cause of Palestine underscoring the need of Muslim countries to unite under the leadership of the OIC. He mentioned the strong statement delivered by Bangladesh at the ICJ in February  on the Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and hoped that peace will be established soon in the region which is the desire of the Muslim Ummah. Foreign Minister appreciated the relentless support and cooperation of the OIC for Rohingya crisis, particularly OIC’s efforts to mobilize fund for the Rohingya case filed by The Gambia in the ICJ and hoped for its continuation. He invited the Secretary General to visit Bangladesh again to see the current situation of the Rohingyas particularly in Bhasan Char.  The OIC Secretary General praised the exemplary leadership of Sheikh Hasina for hosting forcibly displaced Rohingya people in Bangladesh on humanitarian ground, and reaffirmed OIC’s unwavering resolve to support Rohingya people. Foreign Minister called on greater trade and investment among the OIC Member States to counter the dire economic situation created worldwide due to the Russia- Ukraine war and proposed setting up of a Cell at the OIC Secretariat to disseminate trade related information to the members. 

 Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland has congratulated Sheikh Hasina on her re-election as Prime Minister of Bangladesh.    In a congratulatory letter sent to the Bangladesh prime minister, she wrote, "The (Commonwealth) Secretariat stands ready to support you as Prime Minister of Bangladesh, in continuing your important work." "It gives me pleasure to write to you after your re-election as Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh," she said, adding, "Please accept my warm congratulations and my best wishes as you begin your new term in office." Mentioning that Bangladesh is a treasured member of the Commonwealth family, Patricia Scotland said, "Our diverse nations are bound by the shared values that are reflected in our Charter, including those of peace, democracy, and sustainable development."   She noted that Bangladesh's active engagement and leadership in the Commonwealth is greatly appreciated by its members, including on issues of oceans stewardship and climate change, digital innovation, trade and investment, youth, gender equality, and mental health.   "We look forward to continuing and building on this collaboration, to support Bangladesh in achieving its full range of priorities during your fifth term in office," she added. The Commonwealth secretary general said that she is conscious of the historical journey of Bangladesh for freedom, democracy and development.  She went on saying, "I was encouraged by the vision you outlined after assuming office, which emphasised the principles of transparency and accountability."  In this connection, she also recalled the exhortation of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, of "friendship to all, malice towards none".   "These values are mirrored in our Commonwealth Charter, which call for tolerance, respect and understanding and delivering the many facets of sustainable development," she added. The secretary general said that she was pleased to have deployed a Commonwealth Expert Team of independent observers for the recent elections, led by the former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Bruce Golding.  She continued, "I look forward to receiving the Team's report with its findings and recommendations, and to an opportunity to discuss these with you." Patricia Scotland said that, "I also look forward to welcoming you back to Marlborough House in London, and looking ahead, to meeting you at the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which will take place in Samoa in the week of 21 October 2024." She ended: "I wish you every success."   Source: BSS

The Biden administration said that defense chief Lloyd Austin still has the US president's confidence after Austin failed to report a temporary absence for a medical procedure. US President Joe Biden does not plan to fire Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin after the defense chief failed to disclose a hospital stay to the White House for several days.  "The president has complete confidence, continues to have confidence in Secretary Austin," Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters traveling with Biden aboard Air Force One. "The number one thing is we want to see him get well and back at the Pentagon," she said. "There is no plan or anything other than for Secretary Austin to stay in the job and continuing the leadership that has been exhibited," Kirby said. The White House said it plans to examine its processes and procedures to see if any need to be modified, "so that we can learn from this."  Austin remains in the hospital but has returned to his regular duties. The Pentagon said Austin was put into intensive care on January 1 after experiencing complications following an "elective medical procedure" in late December.    What was the controversy about? The Pentagon waited until Friday evening to announce that Austin, 70, had been hospitalized at the Walter Reed military hospital in the Washington suburbs four days prior. Biden and the White House were reportedly unaware of the hospitalization. Typically, high-ranking cabinet officials report planned medical absences ahead of time.  The apparent breach of protocol comes at a time when the US is embroiled in a crisis in the Middle East. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is currently in Israel, aiming to prevent the conflict in Gaza from spilling over to the rest of the region.  Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder, the chief Pentagon spokesperson, later said that some of Austin's authorities were transferred to his deputy, Kathleen Hicks. Hicks, who was in Puerto Rico at the time, was not told the reason for the transfer of authorities until January 4. As a result, Republicans called for Austin to resign or be sacked. Donald Trump — former US President and likely Biden's Republican challenger in the 2024 election — said Austin should be fired for his "improper professional conduct and dereliction of duty." "He has been missing for one week, and nobody, including his boss ... had a clue as to where he was," Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social.   What has Austin said? The US defense chief took responsibility for the delays in notification, in a statement on Saturday evening. "I recognize I could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed. I commit to doing better," he said. "But this is important to say: this was my medical procedure, and I take full responsibility for my decisions about disclosure." The Pentagon has said that Austin was carrying on with business from his stay at the hospital. On Monday, he had calls with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, General Erik Kurilla, who heads US troops in the Middle East, and other senior national security leaders. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the US President respected Austin for "taking ownership."  Kirby added that there are no plans of action on the matter, other than for Austin "to stay in the job and continue the leadership that has been exhibited."  

Naheed Ezaher Khan, MP and Foreign Secretary Ambassador Mr. Masud Bin Momen received Queen Mother Dorji Wanmgmo Wangchuckand and her Royal Delegation of Bhutan during their transit at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka this evening (22 December, 2023). The Queen Mother conveyed her best regards, appreciation and deep respect to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on behalf of her Royal Family. She also deeply appreciated the Government of Bangladesh for making all the arrangements during the transit at Dhaka.

Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See to Bangladesh Archbishop Kevin S. Randall paid maiden call on Foreign Secretary (Senior Secretary) Ambassador Masud Bin Momen on Thursday, December 21, at his office in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  The Foreign Secretary congratulated Archbishop Kevin S. Randall on his assumption of responsibilities as the Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See to Bangladesh and assured him full support in discharging his responsibilities.  The Foreign Secretary highlighted Bangladesh’s glorious history of religious harmony and age-old tradition of peaceful coexistence of the people of different religions. He commended the significant role played by the Christian community in Bangladesh through their noticeable involvement in promoting education and social services.  The Apostolic Nuncio appreciated religious harmony in Bangladesh and expressed satisfaction at the constitutional guarantee to freedom of religion. The Foreign Secretary commended the Holy See’s constructive role in promoting global peace and harmony and hoped that the Holy See would apply its high moral standing to impress people across the globe to respect the sacred values and religious symbols of all religions. The Foreign Secretary deeply appreciated Pope Francis’ personal commitment to the cause of over 1.2 million forcibly displaced Rohingyas, who fled atrocities in their homeland in Myanmar, and briefed the Apostolic Nuncio about the Rohingyas in Bangladesh and the need for their safe, voluntary and dignified return to their homeland Myanmar at an early date.  He urged the Holy See to encourage Myanmar authorities to create conducive environment for the sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas.

Henry Kissinger, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former US secretary of state, has died. The controversial politician wasn't only the United States' most famous top diplomat, he was also the only one born in Germany. Henry Kissinger — or Heinz Alfred Kissinger as he was originally named — was born on May 27, 1923, the son of Louis, a Jewish high school teacher, and Paula Kissinger, in the Bavarian city of Fürth. In 1938, when Kissinger was 15, he emigrated to the United States with his parents to escape the persecution of Jews by the Nazis. What followed was a singular career. "It fills me with pride," he said upon being named an honorary citizen of the city of Fürth in 1998, "to stand here as the former secretary of state of perhaps the only country in the world that would allow an adopted citizen to take on the responsibilities that I was able to practice." Kissinger attended school in New York, and served in the US army during the last two years of World War II, among other things, in counterespionage. He completed his studies at Harvard University with a dissertation on the balance of power between the great nations prior to World War I. Today, that final dissertation belongs to the canon of modern historiography. A dynamic political career Kissinger quickly became the director of the university's Center for Government and International Studies in the 1950s. He made a name for himself in political circles with his analyses of the East-West conflict. After the construction of the Berlin Wall, Kissinger advised then-President John F. Kennedy against military retaliation. In 1968, President Richard Nixon named him national security adviser. Four years later, in 1973, Kissinger became secretary of state. Kissinger remained in that office after Nixon resigned in the wake of the Watergate scandal. "If you analyze Watergate, the entire scandal seems to be a series of small blunders that are not exactly flattering to Nixon," he later admitted. "But in my opinion he was too harshly punished." In 1973, Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, an honor that was, in light of the US role in the Vietnam War, highly controversial. His critics have long highlighted his backing for anti-communist regimes, particularly in Latin America, and his policies in Southeast Asia, such as the US covert bombing of Cambodia. Kissinger backed a strong Europe Kissinger's unique skill was his great ability to think in geostrategic categories. Thus, he not only recognized China's rise to becoming a great power early on and consequently helped engineer a new US relationship with the People's Republic, he also identified the potential for peace that arose after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Furthermore, he played a supporting role as an adviser on German reunification. Kissinger remained a highly sought-after speaker and adviser, even in his advanced age. Following the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, and US wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Kissinger warned of a rupture in the trans-Atlantic partnership. He did so without giving up the standpoint of his chosen home, the US.  "This is not about unilateralism versus multilateralism, but rather about the ability to recognize a common cause," he said. "If that exists, multilateralism never arises. A strong Europe is certainly in our best interest." Kissinger has repeatedly made the case for a strong Europe. In 2012, during the eurozone crisis, he warned of the threat of Europe falling back into the old nation-state system. In an interview with the Financial Times in the summer of 2018, Kissinger was asked whether then-US President Donald Trump could be shocking the rest of the West to stand on its own feet. "It would be ironic if that emerged out of the Trump era," Kissinger replied. "But it is not impossible." In his opinion, "Trump may be one of those figures in history who appears from time to time to mark the end of an era and to force it to give up its old pretenses." He warned that "we are in a very, very grave period for the world."    Kissinger was active until the very end, continuing to publish his thoughts on foreign policy debates and the future of artificial intelligence. Appearing virtually at this year's World Economic Forum in Davos, he backed Ukraine's bid to join NATO, a turn away from his earlier position that the country should remain neutral. In one of his final public interviews, shortly after the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, he told Welt TV that Germany had let in too many immigrants, warning that the conflict could spark a regional conflagration. Henry Kissinger died on November 29, 2023 in Kent, Connecticut.

Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen briefed the Heads of the Missions based in New Delhi (around 90 Missions) on Friday, 24 November evening, who are concurrently accredited to Bangladesh. A large number of Ambassadors and diplomats attended the briefing session. Foreign Secretary is visiting New Delhi in connection with the Foreign Office Consultations between Bangladesh and India, which was held in the Hyderabad House in the afternoon of 24 November. In the evening he briefed the Concurrently accredited Ambassadors to Bangladesh in a program organized by the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi at the Bangabandhu Hall.  Foreign Secretary Masud highlighted the Foreign Policy priorities and dynamics of Bangladesh under the leadership of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He also briefed the Ambassadors about Bangladesh’s position on various geopolitical contemporary issues. During the briefing, he highlighted the recent socio-economic developments of Bangladesh for last 15 years under the dynamic and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Foreign Secretary further briefed them about the recent political scenario and preparations of next general elections in Bangladesh. Mentioning that election is a festival in Bangladesh as we see it in many democratic countries, he told the Ambassadors that People of Bangladesh have been eagerly waiting to rejoice this festival and take part in the democratic process to vote and elect the representatives of their choice. The Election Commission is committed to holding a free and fair election with participation of the voters in a festive atmosphere.  Ambassador Masud solicited their support to resolve the Rohingya crisis through ensuring their safe and sustainable repatriation for peace and stability of the region and beyond. During the briefing session, the Ambassadors were requested for the support of their respective government for Bangladesh’s candidature for the membership of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council under category ‘C’ for the term 2024-2025, elections to be held in London on 01 December this year. Given Bangladesh’s recent socio-economic developments, continued stability and growing importance in the regional and global platforms and engagement with the issues of global concern, Foreign Secretary Masud urged the Ambassadors to request their respective government to consider opening diplomatic Missions in Dhaka. He assured them of Bangladesh Government’s cooperation and assistance in facilitating the process.  Foreign Secretary responded to various questions/queries raised by the Concurrently accredited Ambassadors.  Foreign Secretary will return to Dhaka on 25 November afternoon.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stopped in the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Sunday evening, in an unannounced visit as part of his ongoing Middle East tour. Blinken held talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani, during his first visit to Iraq as a top diplomat. The Secretary of State said his country was working hard to ensure the conflict in Gaza does not spill over in the region. He added that the aid delivered to the besieged strip since the start of the conflict is "grossly insufficient." Blinken added that the US was intensely focused on the release of the hostages held by Hamas. Ahead of the visit on Saturday, Iran-backed group Kataib Hezbollah, which is based in Iraq, warned that Blinken's trip would be met with an "unprecedented escalation."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that Israel has no intention of agreeing to a cease-fire  "I made it clear that we will continue with all the force. We refuse any cease-fire that does not include the liberation of our hostages," Netanyahu said after meeting Blinken. Israeli officials have estimated some 249 people were kidnapped in the October 7 attacks and are being held captive in Gaza. The UN considers a humanitarian pause to be a "temporary cessation of hostilities" agreed upon by both parties to allow humanitarian aid to be distributed in a specific area for a specific time. A cease-fire, on the other hand, is a suspension of fighting intended to be longer term and "typically as part of a political process," according to the UN.