Uzbekistan has invited India's Election Commission to witness a 'historic' referendum it is holding on April 30 on a series of amendments to the country's Constitution. Uzbekistan's ambassador to India, Dilshod Akhatov, said on Tuesday that the constitutions of 190 countries, including India, were studied to bring holistic and comprehensive changes to the constitution of the country. In an address at a seminar on constitutional reforms, Akhatov said his country has witnessed significant reforms in the last few years under President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and the changes to the Constitution have been part of the overall initiative. "The country has been going through historic transformations in the last few years. The draught constitution has been prepared after examining the various modern global laws, norms, and constitutions of 190 countries, including India," he said. "Our Constitution will be a holistic and comprehensive one that will take Uzbekistan on a new path of growth, development, and prosperity," Akhatov said. The ambassador said the referendum seeks to change about two-thirds of the existing constitution of Uzbekistan. Another official said India's Election Commission has been invited to witness the 'historic' referendum on the constitutional reforms on April 30. The ties between India and Uzbekistan have been on an upswing in the last few years. Both sides have shown keen interest in further expanding the ties in a number of areas, including trade and investment, energy, and people-to-people exchanges. President Mirziyoyev had talked about the need for constitutional reform in November 2021 in his inaugural speech, specifying that the proposal has come from the people of the country. The envoy said more than 2,22,000 proposals from the general public were received during discussions on the constitutional reform. Beruniy Alimov, an assistant professor at the New Media Education Centre at the Uzbekistan State World Language University, said that some of the new provisions in the Constitution were focused on protecting the human rights of the citizens, enhancing their dignity, and ensuring their freedom. 'The Constitution provides that the state will assume a number of new obligations to reduce poverty, provide employment, and address social issues effectively. It shows that Uzbekistan is becoming a social state,' he said at the seminar. "The highest duty of the state is to ensure human rights and freedom. According to the new norms, the ambiguities arising in the legislation will be interpreted in favour of the citizens," he said. Alimov said the Constitution will strengthen guarantees of personal rights and freedoms of citizens in accordance with the most advanced international standards.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today stressed the need for developing direct connectivity with Uzbekistan for mutual benefits. She said Bangladesh is keen to set up fertiliser factory in Uzbekistan under a joint venture while Uzbekistan hoped to establish its embassy in Bangladesh. The discussion was held when Deputy Prime Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations and Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan Jamshid Abdurakhimovich Khodjaev paid a courtesy call on the premier at her official Ganabhaban residence in the capital. PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed newsmen after the call on. Sheikh Hasina said both Bangladesh and Uzbekistan should work together to explore many areas for the mutual benefits of the two countries. She said Bangladesh is setting up 100 economic zones across the country to capitalise its young and vibrant manpower. The premier said Bangladesh attaches priority the relationship with Uzbekistan. Recalling the visit of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur to Tashkent, Uzbekistan in 1973, she said the tour had helped laid foundation of the bilateral relations between the two countries and it had been strengthened over the years. She said Bangladesh is emphasizing on the development of ago-processing industries to meet the growing demand of local market and export those to international markets. About the Russia-Ukraine war, the PM said the war is creating problems for all the countries and the people are suffering for it. Bangladesh, she said, has started taking precautionary measures amid the global crisis. The Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister put emphasis on strengthening further long-term friendship and cooperation. "Bangladesh is a potential partner of Uzbekistan and we want to transform it to a strategic partnership," he was quoted as saying. He said his country is keen to enhance economic cooperation with Bangladesh. Jamshid Abdurakhimovich Khodjaev said Uzbekistan is a good hub of CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) countries as there are huge potentialities for developing business here. He sought Bangladesh's cooperation on the pharmaceuticals and ICT sectors. The visiting Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister highly appreciated Bangladesh's economic advancement, growing per capita income and development of agriculture sector. He said they were hoping to set up Uzbekistan embassy in Dhaka. The Bangladesh premier assured of providing necessary supports and cooperation to this end. Jamshid Abdurakhimovich Khodjaev conveyed the greetings of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Sheikh Hasina. Sheikh Hasina also conveyed her regards to Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and invited him to visit Bangladesh at his convenience. During the meeting, both the sides have agreed to work for avoidance of double taxation. Uzbek Deputy Minister for Investment and Foreign Affairs Laziz Kudratov and Uzbek Deputy Minister for Civil Aviation Jasurbek Choriev, Bangladesh PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim and Bangladesh Ambassador to Uzbekistan Jahangir Alam were present. Source: BSS AH

  Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday met with his counterparts from Iran, Armenia and Uzbekistan and exchanged views on the recent developments in Afghanistan, confronting regional challenges and the ways to boost bilateral ties. Jaishankar, who is in the Tajik capital to attend a key meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on the situation in Afghanistan after its takeover by the Taliban last month, in a tweet said he was glad to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian on the sidelines of the SCO meet in Dushanbe. “Discussed strengthening our bilateral relations and working together on regional challenges, he said. In his meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, Jaishankar said the two leaders positively reviewed the bilateral cooperation and agreed to work together to expand it further. Good to meet FM Abdulaziz Kamilov of Uzbekistan. Our conversation focused on the Afghanistan situation. As countries combating terrorism and fundamentalism, our close cooperation is in mutual interest, he tweeted after his meeting with the foreign minister of Uzbekistan. The SCO, seen as a counterweight to NATO, is an eight-member economic and security bloc and has emerged as one of the largest transregional international organisations. India and Pakistan became its permanent members in 2017. The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India has shown keen interest in deepening its security-related cooperation with the SCO and its Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS), which specifically deals with issues relating to security and defence. India was made an observer at the SCO in 2005 and has generally participated in the ministerial-level meetings of the grouping which focus mainly on security and economic cooperation in the Eurasian region. Source: The Print

Foreign Minister Dr. A. K. Abdul Momen had a meeting with Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in the frame of International Conference on “Central and South Asia: Regional connectivity: Challenges and opportunities” on 16 July 2021 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.  Dr. Momen conveyed greetings and best wishes to the President of Uzbekistan on behalf of President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. An exchange of views took place on topical issues of the international and regional agenda, prospects for expanding multifaceted cooperation between Uzbekistan and Bangladesh, issues of further expansion of practical interaction and promotion of new cooperation projects of the two countries, further deepening economic cooperation between Central Asia and South Asia, which has historically and closely linked to our region in economic, social, cultural and civilizational dimensions. Foreign Minister shared with the President of Uzbekistan youth activities of Bangladesh. Dr. Momen informed that Youth Activities are improving much in Bangladesh and they are directed to Increase Youth resilience to violent extremism and Antidemocratic activities. Accordingly, now young people are playing vital role in economic and political growth of Bangladesh. Dr. Momen handed over invitation letter to the Uzbekistan President from President Md Abdul Hamid to pay an official visit to Dhaka preferably in December this year. Uzbekistan President happily accepted the invitation and expressed thanks and gratitude to Bangladesh President and told that he would check his agenda for December 2021 and try to visit as soon possible. Foreign Minister noted the importance of opening Uzbekistan Embassy in Dhaka, resumption of Direct Passenger Flights between Dhaka and Tashkent to bring bilateral and interregional relations to a new height. Mr. Mirziyoyev assured that Uzbekistan Government would examine the resumption of direct flights. Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan who was present during the meeting requested his colleague to start necessary steps for opening Uzbekistan Embassy in Dhaka. At the end of the meeting, Dr. Momen appreciated the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to strengthen regional connectivity. The President thanked him for participating in the international conference and told that his appreciation and inspiration would help go forward. AH