The Himalayan Buddhist Cultural Association on Wednesday organised a rally in Siliguri’s Salugara area to express solidarity with the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama following the controversy over his viral video for which he has apologised. The Association claimed the video was a conspiracy to defame Dalai Lama. After the Dalai Lama’s video of purportedly kissing a boy went viral, a group of Tibetan leaders and activists from across the globe, expressed their solidarity and support for him, reported Global Alliance for Tibet and Persecuted Minorities in a statement. The statement came in the wake of the media coverage around a video clip of Dalai Lama’s interaction with a child at an event in February. The statement said, “Language, culture, and context define how people view any given situation. For Tibetans who see the video clip of the Dalai Lama’s interaction with a child at a public event in February, it is clear he is displaying his affection, warmth, and humour. It is through a lifetime of familiarity with the Dalai Lama that we understand his words and actions.” “For some people who don’t know the Tibetan context, and especially because so many children suffer serious abuse at the hands of powerful people and religious institutions, the belief and assumption is that the act was malign and the child was harmed. We can say with absolute certainty that this is not what happened,” the statement added, as per Global Alliance for Tibet and Persecuted Minorities. The Global Tibetan leaders and activists said, “It is instructive to hear what the child and his family have said about their time with the Dalai Lama. The mother (seen sitting onstage next to the Dalai Lama) and the child both gave media interviews immediately after the event. While we know this won’t satisfy everyone with concerns, we hope their own words will help add some context and clarity to the question of how they feel about what happened.” “What has been most painful for Tibetans and our allies is witnessing the rush to condemn the Dalai Lama. Any attempt to understand Tibetan culture, the full context of the exchange, and this nearly 90-year-old icon of global peace has been shockingly absent from most media coverage and online discourse,” the statement said. The Dalai Lama recently issued an apology expressing his regret after a purported video of him kissing a boy and asking him to “suck his tongue” triggered a social media uproar. An official statement released by the office of the Dalai Lama stated that the Tibetan spiritual leader “wishes to apologize to the boy and his family, as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt his words may have caused.” 

UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday appealed for global solidarity to overcome the COVID-19, and repeated his call for a global ceasefire during the pandemic, by the end of the year -a very ambitious target. Addressing the largely empty General Assembly Hall in New York, Guterres characterized the pandemic from the podium as “not only a wake-up call” but “a dress rehearsal” for challenges to come.  “In an interconnected world, it is high time to recognize a simple truth: solidarity is self-interest. If we fail to grasp that fact, everyone loses,” he said, delivering his annual report on the work of the Organization, according to UN News.  In his centerpiece address to the historic and unprecedented 75th session of the UN General Assembly, the Secretary-General underscored the need for solidarity at this moment, particularly as countries least capable to address COVID-19 have received far too little assistance. He urged the UN’s 193 Member States to move forward in humility and unity in the face of the disease.  “And we must be guided by science and tethered to reality,” he added. “Populism and nationalism have failed. Those approaches to contain the virus have often made things manifestly worse.”    A world turned upside-down  Due to COVID-19, most world leaders will not attend the annual gathering at UN Headquarters, known as the General Debate.   Instead, many have pre-recorded their speeches on video, although they have the right to deliver them in person - from their seat in the Hall, not from the podium.   “In a world turned upside down, this General Assembly Hall is among the strangest sights of all,” Guterres remarked at the outset. “The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our annual meeting beyond recognition.  But it has made it more important than ever.”    He said the pandemic has exposed fragilities and inequalities across the globe.  It has generated “an epochal health crisis”, the biggest economic and job losses since the Great Depression, and dangerous new threats to human rights, among other challenges.    As of Tuesday, there were more than 31 million cases of the coronavirus disease worldwide, with over 962,000 deaths.  Clock ticking on global ceasefire  Guterres also used the occasion to repeat his call for a global ceasefire during the pandemic. The Secretary-General had initially issued the appeal back in March, when he urged warring parties to “end the sickness of war and fight the disease that is ravaging our world”.   Some 180 Member States have endorsed the appeal, as have religious leaders, regional partners and civil society networks.  Several armed movements also responded, some of whom announced ceasefires, though they were not sustained.   Guterres saw several reasons to be hopeful now, with the peace agreement in Sudan, and peace talks in Afghanistan, as just two examples.  However, he feared terrorist and violent extremist groups will exploit the pandemic.  “Now is the time for a collective new push for peace and reconciliation”, he charged. “I appeal for a stepped-up international effort - led by the Security Council - to achieve a global ceasefire by the end of this year. We have 100 days.  The clock is ticking.”  Threats to peace, gender equality  The ceasefire is not only critical to stop “hot” conflicts, he stressed, pointing to the need to avert a new Cold War.  “We are moving in a very dangerous direction.  Our world cannot afford a future where the two largest economies split the globe in a Great Fracture — each with its own trade and financial rules and internet and artificial intelligence capacities”, the Secretary-General warned.  “A technological and economic divide risks inevitably turning into a geo-strategic and military divide.  We must avoid this at all costs.”  COVID-19 could also see progress on gender equality pushed back by decades, he continued, as women and girls are overwhelmingly affected by the social and economic fallout, including in areas such as employment and education.  “We must also stamp out the horrifying increase in violence against women and girls during the pandemic, from domestic violence to sexual abuse, online harassment and femicide”, said Guterres.  “This is a hidden war on women. Preventing and ending it requires the same commitment and resources that we devote to other forms of warfare.”  New Social Contract  For the Secretary-General, recovering from COVID-19 must lead to a better future for all, anchored by inclusive, sustainable and resilient societies.     He emphasized the need for what he labeled a New Social Contract, at the national level, and a New Global Deal, applicable internationally.  Guterres explained that the New Social Contract has several components, such as ending exclusion, discrimination and racism, and establishing Universal Health Coverage and even a possible Universal Basic Income.   It also entails having fairer tax systems, providing education for all, harnessing digital technology, and ensuring human rights as well as opportunities for women and girls. Take climate action, address historical injustice  Speaking in French, Guterres said a sustainable New Social Contract means transitioning towards renewable energy to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, highlighting a longstanding message of his tenure.  As part of their COVID-19 recovery, the Secretary-General encouraged countries to consider six climate-positive actions, ranging from green jobs and ending fossil fuel subsidies, to aligning any industry bailouts with international goals to limit global warming.  The New Global Deal seeks to make sure power, wealth and opportunities are fairly shared.  He said it must be rooted in fair globalization, while sustainable development principles should be integrated into all decision-making.  The pact also must address historical injustices in global power structures.  21st century multilateralism  The Secretary-General believes that after more than seven decades, multilateral institutions need an upgrade to more equitably represent all the world’s people, rather than giving disproportionate power to some, and limiting the voice of others.  He laid out a blueprint for this “21st century multilateralism”, saying it must be “networked” -- that is, linking global institutions, such as development banks, regional organizations and trade alliances, across sectors and geographies.  Additionally, it, too, must be inclusive, and should draw on the capacities of civil society, academia, businesses and others.  No going back  Guterres made the case for more international cooperation in the face of COVID-19, stressing that there is no “going back to what was or withdrawing into national shells.”  While the crisis has upended the world, it has also created the space for something new, he said.    For this anniversary year, the General Assembly has asked the Secretary-General to report on a common agenda for the future, which he will do next year.   “The pandemic has taught us our choices matter”, said Mr. Guterres.  “As we look to the future, let us make sure we choose wisely.”   UN response to COVID-19  Earlier in his speech, the Secretary-General spoke of the UN’s comprehensive response throughout the pandemic.    The UN system, led by the World Health Organization (WHO), has assisted governments, particularly in the developing world, including through providing personal protective equipment and other medical supplies to more than 130 countries.   The Organization also launched the ‘Verified’ campaign to fight the “toxic virus” of misinformation surrounding COVID-19. It is also supporting efforts to develop a fair and equitable vaccine against the actual coronavirus, as well as treatments and therapies.  ‘Vaccinationalism’   However, Guterres warned against what he called “vaccinationalism”, as countries are reportedly making “side deals” for their own populations.  He underlined that “None of us is safe, until all of us are safe.”  The UN has also pushed for a “massive” rescue package, equivalent to roughly 10 per cent of global economic output, to get economies back up and running.  Developed countries can afford it, he said.  “But we need to ensure that the developing world does not fall into financial ruin, escalating poverty and debt crises,” he stated. “We need a collective commitment to avoid a downward spiral.”  To this end, the Secretary-General will convene world leaders for a meeting next Tuesday to find solutions to finance development in the COVID-19 era and beyond.  Source: UNB AH

As many as 307 retired senior government officials expressed solidarity with the Awami League (AL) and pledged to work for the victory of pro-liberation forces in the upcoming national election. The retired officers expressed their solidarity with the AL when they called on Prime Minister and AL President Sheikh Hasina at Gonobhaban in the capital on Friday evening. Reports BSS. Of them, 142 are former principal secretary, senior secretaries, secretaries, chairman and members of different commissions, former ambassadors, additional secretaries and joint secretaries. They include former chairman of Anti-Corruption Commission Md Badiuzzaman, ex-chairman of the Energy Regulatory Commission AR Khan, former chairman of the Privatization Commission Molla Wahiduzzaman, former Principal Secretary Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, ex-auditor and comptroller generals Masud Ahmed and Md Abul Kashem, former senior secretaries Mezbah Uddin, Md Mezbah ul Alam and Yunusur Rahman and ex-principal information officer AKM Shamim Chowdhury. Former secretaries Abu Taher, Hemayet Uddin Talukdar, Mahbub-ul-Alam Khan, Shailendra Nath Mazumdar, Abdul Malek Mia, Dewan Zakir Hossain, Sunil Kanti Bose, Syed Ali Kabir, Sheikh Khurshid Alam, Atahrul Islam, Samar Chandra Paul, Nurul Haque, Abdul Mannan Hawlader, ATKM Ismail, Shafiqul Azam, Qamrunnesa Khanam, Md Mizanur Rahman, Khandakar Asaduzzaman, Md Kazi Akhtar Hossain, Arastu Khan, MA Qader Sarkar, Dr Chowdhury Md Babul Hasan, AHM Masud Siddiqui, Md Azizur Rahman, Shafik Alam Mehedi, Kazi Akhtar Uddin Ahmed, ALM Abdur Rahman, Humayun Khalid, Anwar Faruk, Shaheen Khan, Mansur Ali Shikdar, Zahurul Alam, Writi Ibrahim, Nazrul Islam Khan, Dr Khondakar Shawkat Hossain, Michail Shipar, Khorshed Alam Chowdhury, MA Hannan, AKM Amir Hossain, Nurunnabi Talukdar, Fakhrul Islam, Golam Rabbani, Sirajul Islam, Shyamal Kanti Ghosh, AM badruddoza, Shirin Akhtar, Khandakar Iftekhar Haidar, Kaikobad Hossain, Abu Mohammad Mostafa Kamal, Nazmul Islam, Mamtaz Ala Shakur Ahmed, Nazim Uddin, Ashok Madhab Roy and Dr Prashanta Kumar Roy and Shamsul Haque, ex-ADB official Parvez Imdad, former Public Service Commission members Kazi Nasirul Islam, Md Wazed Ali Khan and Zahurul Alam expressed solidarity. Ex-ambassadors ATM Nazrul Islam, Mizanur Rahman, Md Azizul Haque, Golam Mohammad, Md Abdul Hannan, Atikur Rahman, Iktiar Chowdhury, Wahidur Rahman and Abdus Sattar also expressed solidarity with the AL at the function. Former additional IGPs Abdul Mannan, Md Shamsuddoha Khandakar, Amulya Bhushan Barua and Abdul Mannan, ex-DIGs of police Mostak Hossain, AHM Feroz Kabir, Golam Mostafa, Shah Alam Shikdar, Mohammad Anwar Hossain, Abdul Jalil Mandal and Shafikur Rahman expressed solidarity. Besides, 165 retired officers from health, education, engineering, forests, posts, police, tax, information, telecom, customs and excise, audit and accounts, railway, food and agriculture cadres expressed solidarity. At the outset of the function, they greeted the prime minister by presenting bouquets. PM’s Political Affairs Adviser HT Imam was present at the function while former principal secretary Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury moderated it. AH

Bangladesh on Friday conveyed that its people and government under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina strongly condemn and fully reject the Israeli atrocities. Bangladesh also deplored the US relocation of the Embassy, and expressed full support, sympathy and solidarity with the Palestinian brothers and sisters in their legitimate cause of an independent, viable and contiguous state of Palestine under a two-state solution. Reports UNB. Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, who is leading a seven-member Bangladesh delegation, conveyed Bangladesh’s position at the 7th Extraordinary Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul. The Summit focused on the massacre of the peaceful Palestinian civilian protesters by the Israeli forces as well as on the official opening of the US Embassy in Jerusalem on May14. President of Turkey Tayyip Erdogan convened the Summit in his capacity as Chair of the OIC Summit.  Mahmood Ali participated in it as the Chair of the 45th Council of Foreign Minister, said the Foreign Ministry in Dhaka. Bangladesh delegation includes Security Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Maj Gen (rtd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, Bangladesh PR to OIC Ambassador Golam Moshi, Bangladesh Ambassador to Turkey M Allama Siddiki, and other senior officials of the Ministry and Bangladesh Missions. Bangladesh Foreign Minister began his busy day by attending the Council of Foreign Ministers preparatory to the Summit as chair of the current CFM in the podium, while the Adviser for Defense and Security to the Prime Minister led Bangladesh delegation in the Council meeting.   The Council was preceded by the Senior Official Meeting (SOM) on Thursday that prepared the draft Final Communique and the Bangladesh delegation to the SOM was led by AFM Gousal Azam Sarker, DG of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Council has reached consensus on the Final Communique for adoption by the Summit on Friday. AH