The '2024 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers' published on March 29 identified barriers to government procurement, intellectual property protection, digital trade, investment and labour rights in Bangladesh. According to the NTE report published by United States Trade Representative Catherine Tai, the United States faces several obstacles in doing business with Bangladesh. Bangladesh faces obstacles in the export of goods and services, foreign direct investment and e-commerce. NTE reports have been published regularly since 1985. This year's NTE report highlights significant foreign trade barriers in 59 markets. According to the report, corruption is a widespread and chronic problem in Bangladesh. And the implementation of anti-corruption laws is not enough. It also said that bribery and extortion are common in commercial transactions despite bribery transactions and gifts being illegal. US companies have also complained that they are forced to pay bribes to get licenses.  The report also mentions that the government has tried to weaken the anti-corruption rules in procurement. According to the report, US companies have complained that it takes a long time to get licenses and tenders approved because government officials in Bangladesh demand bribes.    

High Commissioner Pranay Verma and Principal Staff Officer of Bangladesh Armed Forces Division, Lt. Gen. Shameem addressed the Seminar on Indian Defence Equipment - SIDE 2024 - hosted by the High Commission of India in Dhaka on 20 February 2024.  High Commissioner highlighted the advances made by the Indian defence industry over the last decade driven by Prime Minister Modi’s vision of “Make in India” and “Make for the World”, which has spurred unprecedented investments into the Indian defence manufacturing sector and has led to rising Indian defence exports. He described SIDE 2024 as a reflection of Indian defence industry’s interest in partnering with Bangladesh and to taking India-Bangladesh defence cooperation forward to the next level, including by utilizing the Defence Line of Credit of US$500 million extended by Government of India to Government of Bangladesh. He also noted that India is willing to share with Bangladesh wide-spectrum capabilities in defence manufacturing, including the most sophisticated technologies. He also proposed graduating the bilateral defence cooperation to the next level by building joint ventures in defence manufacturing.   A number of premier defence manufacturing companies of India, from both public and private sectors, participated in the event and made presentations showcasing a range of ‘Made in India’  defence equipment, technology and platforms. The seminar  was attended by representatives from Bangladesh Armed Forces as well as paramilitary and police forces.

The Japanese long-breathing exercise is being touted for its weight loss benefits. However, is this claim valid? We investigate. On your weight loss journey, you may have come across a lot of quick-fix hacks to lose those extra calories. One such technique that has come into the foray is the Japanese long-breathing exercise, which is being touted for its weight loss benefits. However, is this claim valid? We investigate. Championed by Japanese actor Miki Ryosuke, this technique, initially aimed at alleviating back pain, unexpectedly led to a weight loss of 13 kgs in a matter of weeks for Ryosuke. The underlying principle revolves around the belief that fat, composed of oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen, disintegrates as oxygen reaches the fat cells during deep breathing, effectively aiding weight loss.

The Foreign Minister Dr A. K. Abdul Momen called upon the Bangladeshi Diaspora to play active role for their country, countering misinformation and propaganda with facts and figures. He also praised their role in connecting Bangladesh with the world and urged them to highlight the nation's achievements while speaking at a event, titled "Branding Bangladesh through UN Peacekeeping & NRBs," organised by the Centre for Non-Resident Bangladeshi held at Queens in New York on Sunday (24 September, 2023). Dr Momen emphasized the strong relationship between Bangladesh and the USA, both in trade and shared values. He encouraged the Diaspora to stay connected with Bangladesh and contribute to the socio-economic progress of both countries. Foreign Minister highlighted Bangladesh's resilience, evident during the Great War of Liberation in 1971 when the nation stood firm against oppression, injustice, and discrimination, ultimately securing its independence through the sacrifices of three million people. This struggle exemplified the courage and sacrifice of the Bengali nation. He acknowledged the challenges that followed independence, including famine and climate disasters, which led Western leaders to label Bangladesh as a "bottomless basket." However, over the years, Bangladesh has evolved into a vibrant economy, witnessing remarkable growth in exports and GDP. It now stands as the 35th largest economy globally, having significantly reduced poverty and improved various social indicators. The Foreign Minister stated that during 1975-1990 our GDP growth rate was 3.2%, now average growth rate 6.8%. The military, quasi-military and technocratic government actively promoted divisive and polarizing policies that contributed to political instability and violence in Bangladesh. He said, during 2001-2006, Bangladesh was branded as a land of radicalism, Jihadis, and cocoon of terrorism. Good news is those days are over now. After the heinous assassination, the martial law regime enacted the infamous Indemnity Act, providing unprecedented legal immunity from any legal action against all the killers involved in the assassination. The killers were awarded with prestigious jobs and positions. He praised the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for rebranding Bangladesh as a role model of development. Under her guidance, Bangladesh has made significant progress in socio-economic indicators, climate diplomacy, and humanitarian efforts. Momen emphasized Bangladesh's commitment to peace and security, highlighting its role as a top contributor to UN Peacekeeping Operations. He recognized the invaluable contributions of the 12 million Bangladeshi expatriates, who support their homeland through remittances and contributions to various sectors. Dr. Mashiur Rahman, Economic Advisor to Hon’ble Prime Minister, M S Shekil Chowdhury, Chairperson, Centre for NRB, Ambassador Dr. Sima Karetnaya, US Ambassador of Peace, UN & Expert WHO, Mr. Nazmul Huda, Consul General of Bangladesh Consulate in New York, were present among others.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, "Government will take steps to establish Bangladesh's culture in the international arena. Alongside this, we will take strong initiatives to merge the development of Bangladesh's culture in the mindset of the new generation so that the new generation does not forget the uniqueness of our culture. During the establishment of six development projects Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, "As we are progressing in socio-economic development, we also need to advance culturally.  We will take necessary measures so that our culture can hold a strong position in the global arena." On Tuesday, july 04, PM Hasina participated in an event organized by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs at the Bangladesh National Museum at Shahbag, Dhaka, through video conference from her official residence, Ganabhaban. She stated that her government is working relentlessly to incorporate technology for further development of the culture of Bangladesh.

The Dictionary of Buddhist Terms has been published by the Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) in Pune, India, as a significant contribution to the academic community, reported The Bhutan Live. This innovative multilingual dictionary uses Pali as the basis for its entries and offers translations into English, Sanskrit, and Tibetan. For academics interested in comparative Buddhist studies, each phrase is represented in Roman script and further supported by textual references. The media revealed intentions for this ambitious dictionary to eventually build a vast 50-part collection with the introduction of the third portion on March 9. This lexicographic masterpiece’s first two parts were published last year, according to The Bhutan Live. The Bhutan Live covers Bhutan news, politics, Bhutan culture, Bhutanese Buddhism and more, for a unique understanding of the Himalayan region. Plans for the future also call for Chinese translations, paving the way for this lexicon to be acclaimed as the only bilingual dictionary in its field. Mahesh Deokar, the eminent professor who oversees the Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies, revealed upcoming plans to include the Chinese language. Deokar stated, “We are currently looking for a competent scholar to join our endeavour,” and made further allusions to the dictionary perhaps being made available in Tibetan and Devanagari scripts. The team behind this monumental project includes Prof Deokar, Lata Deokar, Snehal Kondhalkar, and Prof Maheshwar Singh Negi. They initiated this venture two years ago with the intention to eventually cover the full spectrum of the Pali alphabet in their dictionary, as per The Bhutan Live. The dictionary currently has 100 words in each section, totalling 300 words that begin with the letter “A” in the first three sections. There will be at least 300 more words in the following section, according to the commitment. As stated by SPPU, the aim of this book is to track the changing semantics of Buddhist terminology over space and time, illuminating both the common and unique vocabulary between Pali and Sanskrit Buddhist traditions. In essence, the Dictionary of Buddhist Terms is intended to serve as a reference tool for academics conducting comparative analyses of various Buddhist practises, primarily employing Tibetan, Pali, and Sanskrit. The vice-chancellor of SPPU, Prof Nitin Karmalkar, who has worked extensively in Ladakh and has interacted with Buddhist monks, thinks the dictionary can reveal Tibetan literary masterpieces that are currently hidden away in a number of Ladakh monasteries, according to The Bhutan Live. Sanskrit expert and Vice-Chancellor of Deccan College Prof Prasad Joshi lauded the study for its significant contribution to lexicography. He has also spent years working on a Sanskrit dictionary. He emphasised the need for new lexicographers to be trained in order to save the craft from dying out and revealed a digital edition that would be available to academics all over the world. The Khyentse Foundation and Deshana, an Institute of Buddhist and Allied Studies, oversaw the launch of this multilingual dictionary project in June 2020. The Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies, earlier known as the Department of Pali, was found in July 2006. Before that, the Department of Sanskrit and Prakrit Languages offered courses in Pali and Buddhist studies. Currently, the Department is the only facility under SPPU’s control where students can pursue various levels of study of Buddhist literature in Pali, Sanskrit, and Tibetan, The Bhutan Live reported. 

The unique art exhibition with written Sufi verses attracted visitors, especially those who love art in Kashmir. Titled "Textural and Textual Confluences by Javed Iqbal," it was organized by Gayoor Art Foundation, in collaboration with the Department of Archives Archaeology and Museums (J&K) and the Institute of Music and Fine Arts University of Kashmir. Javed Iqbal, a creative artist, told media, "This project was pending for the past two years and now it's finally completed. My main aim was that our poetry has so much potential and it has the same essence as it had 300 years ago. So I thought all the work of the famous poets are available in many references, let's bring that work into visual forms." "The main purpose to make it into visual form was to make it in a duo, so that is why it is titled "Textural and Textual Conference," a combination of painting and poetry, to be presented visually so that our future generations could remember that our poets had so much potential. Because if we forget our roots then we can't grow," he added. In the past, Kashmir valley produced a number of legendary Sufi poets and artists which resulted in this valley of paradise, which is also known as the valley of Sufis and saints. But unfortunately, due to the western cultural influence, the present generation is not fully aware of the rich past including art and culture. Naushad Gayoor, Organizer of the event told ANI, " Javed sir was working on this series for the past two years and this type of work hasn't been performed in the past. We took the couplets from legendary poets from the past and created a combination of both art forms because literature and painting both are a part of fine arts. So we mixed visuals and texts to produce something unique." Mir Andleep, said, "Such festivals are very important, because we feel that apart from our art, Sufism should also be promoted. There are very few people who are aware of our art, so it's a good platform for all artists to showcase their talent, and for the audience to gather more knowledge about art and Sufism. During this painting exhibition, more than thirty paintings were displayed with Sufi poetry that attracted visitors especially young art lovers both boys and girls. Source: ANI

The Jammu and Kashmir government organized an exhibition in Sheri Kashmir international conference centre (SKICC) Srinagar to uplift the artisan community and promote the handicraft. It was organized by the department of handicrafts and handlooms, where artisans from around Jammu and Kashmir installed their stalls to showcase the unique and distinct art and craft of the valley. The Director of Handicrafts in Kashmir, Tariq Ahmad said, "This mega art exhibition was organized by the department of handicrafts and handlooms to showcase handicraft art as well as to provide a platform for sellers and buyers." He further said that an e-commerce platform is being developed at this moment to connect the buyers directly with the local artisans. The Arts emporium of Kashmir is creating a platform for online exchange and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed with Flipkart to help the local artisans to sell their products. Such exhibitions are important for the artisan community as it not only showcases the rich art of Kashmir but also give the artisans the opportunity to earn their bread and butter. The artists have to pay the price of the turmoil that exists in the valley. They are forced to face an economical crunch since their business is mostly reliant on tourists. "Such exhibitions should also be hosted at block levels to further improve the conditions of the local vendors.", said Irshad Ahmed a staller at the exhibition selling Kashmir willow bats. Hence, such exhibitions are important to attract tourists on which the livelihood of these artisans depends. During this exhibition, artisans have put up stalls that display carpets, shawls, walnut products, crewel, chain stitches, willow wicker, paper mache, Kashmir willow bats, and woolen crafted by artisans of the valley.   Presently the tourist influx is increasing gradually after Covid and these types of exhibitions can attract them on a large scale which is good for the artisan community. With the help of unique art and craft, this year Kashmir valley makes an entry into the list of heritage sites of UNESCO and hence such types of exhibitions hold importance.   Source: ANI

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met Nguyen Van Nen, a member of the politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam and party secretary of Ho Chi Minh City. Nguyen is on a five-day visit to India from June 19-23, accompanied by high-ranking officials. The visit is part of the activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and India. It aims to further promote cooperation activities between the two countries, strengthen the Vietnam-India strategic partnership, and learn about India’s policies and potential to seek cooperation opportunities, reported Saigon Online. Earlier today, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President JP Nadda met with the senior leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Van Nen at the BJP Head Office in the national capital on Monday. This New Delhi meeting is the continuation of the BJP’s outreach programme “Know BJP” through which the BJP President is interacting with foreign dignitaries. The “Know BJP” campaign was started on the party’s 42nd Foundation Day on April 6, 2022. Its second phase was held on May 16, 2022, while the third meeting took place on June 4, 2022. “Know BJP” campaign is the BJP’s initiative to introduce the party’s vision, mission and work culture to different countries of the world. Under this program, Nadda has so far interacted with Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Minister for Foreign Relations of Singapore Vivian Balakrishnan and also envoys of 47 countries. Jaishankar held bilateral talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son on June 17 and discussed a wide range of bilateral issues and regional and international developments of mutual interest. The two sides also exchanged an agreement in the cyber security domain. Last month, India and Vietnam held the 12th round of Political Consultations and the ninth round of Strategic Dialogue between the foreign ministries of the two countries and explored new opportunities for partnership to support each other’s economic development and national security. India is one of the three strategic partnerships with Vietnam since 2016. Since Vietnam and India established diplomatic ties in 1972, bilateral relations have been deepened. Despite the difficulties and impacts caused by the COVID-19 epidemic, the two countries held phone talks, and virtual meetings and carried out bilateral cooperation mechanisms. India is one of Vietnam’s ten largest trading partners. Two-way trade between Vietnam and India in 2021 surpassed USD 13.21 billion. Vietnam spent USD 6.95 billion on imports from India and exported products worth USD 5.26 billion to this country, up 36.6 per cent over 2020. As of December 2021, India ranked 25th out of 140 countries and territories investing in Vietnam with 313 projects, total registered capital of USD 910.4 million, reported Saigon Online. Source: ANI  

Amid a rise in authoritarian governments such as Russia cracking down on access to digital information, the United States on Thursday will join with more than 50 countries in launching an initiative to protect an open, safe internet. Labeled the Declaration for the Future of the Internet (DFI), the White House said the aim is to reclaim "the immense promise" of the internet, pushing back against "rising digital authoritarianism" to ensure it reinforces democracy, protects privacy and promotes a free global economy. That goal is threatened by more cases of governments repressing free speech and access to news, spreading misinformation or throttling the internet altogether, the declaration says. Pointing to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a senior administration official said in recent months Moscow "has aggressively promoted disinformation at home and abroad, censored internet news sources, blocked or shut down legitimate sites" and attacked internet access in Ukraine. "Russia, however, is hardly alone," the official said, citing China as well. More than 55 countries have joined the effort, including advanced nations like Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Germany and Japan, along with others like Argentina, Cyprus, Kenya, Montenegro and Slovenia, as well as Ukraine. While not legally binding, the declaration establishes "fundamental principles" and "commits governments to promoting an open, free, global, interoperable, reliable, and secure internet for the world," another senior administration official said. The effort aims to combat the splintering of the internet, but will "respect regulatory autonomy" of each country, the official said. The declaration also points to the need ensure affordable access for underserved groups. Source: AFP/BSS AH