Author: Arif ArifArman

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in his address at the General Debate during the 146th Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union in Bahrain’s Manama said that the United Nations Security Council needs “urgent reforms”. UNSC reforms cannot be stopped forever and the reforms are on India’s global agenda, he added. Birla was sharing his thoughts on the subject “Promoting peaceful co-existence and inclusive societies: Fight against intolerance” at the General Debate during the 146th Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union where he was addressing the presidents of the parliaments of 140 countries on the topic of promoting peaceful coexistence and inclusive society…

SPORTS DESK: Mehidy Hasan Miraz came up with a stellar allround show as Bangladesh scripted a memorable series victory over mighty England, securing a four-wicket win in the second T20 match at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today. Bangladesh won the three-match series opener by six wickets and now the hard-fought victory in the second game gave them an unassailable 2-0 lead. Miraz claimed his career-best 4-12 in this format and then played a 16 ball-20 with willow to play a major role in winning the game. As crucial as it was the innings of Najmul Hossain Shanto who steered Bangladesh…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: An influenza outbreak in China picked up intensity over the past week as a major city prepared to enforce pandemic-style lockdowns to curb the surge in infections. The positivity rate for flu jumped to 41.6% in the week beginning March 5 from 25.1% the previous week, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said in its weekly COVID-19 surveillance report on Saturday. The COVID-19 positivity rate was down to 3.8% from 5.1%. The northwestern city of Xi’an said earlier this week it would employ measures similar to those used to curb COVID-19 as part of its plan…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: India and Australia are looking to include critical minerals under the expanded free trade agreement (FTA), even as commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday made clear the government’s reservations on reducing import duties on farm and dairy products. “India is short of critical minerals. Australia has a large reserve of critical minerals that go into (electric vehicle) batteries, which are not fully processed or manufactured currently,” Goyal said after meeting Australia’s trade minister Don Farrell. Critical minerals, along with space technology and opportunities in the digital sector, will be key areas of the planned deal, said…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: India and Australia are deepening their security and economic ties, with both countries seeking to diversify their export markets, shore up supply chains and upgrade their militaries as tensions with China rise, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on his first visit to India since 2017, said that later in 2023, India would for the first time, participate in a major Australian and U.S. military exercise. He said that Australia and India will work together on clean energy, including manufacturing solar panels. Albanese during his visit to India attended a cricket match and…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today urged all the political parties in the country to join the next general election saying that it would be held in a free, fair, transparent and credible manner. “We believe the upcoming election will be held in a free, fair, transparent and credible manner …we invite all the opposition political parties to join the elections as they will have a level field,” he said. The Foreign Minister said this while responding to a volley of questions from CNN Anchor and business editor at large Richard Quest at a session titled “Bangladesh…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Sri Lanka has used over USD 10 million from India’s assistance of USD 1 billion to print nearly half of the textbooks for its four million young students, the Indian High Commission in Colmbo said on Saturday. India announced a USD 1 billion line of credit to Sri Lanka last year as part of its financial assistance to help the country deal with its economic crisis. After an agreement to extend the line of credit was inked, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said India has always stood with the people of Sri Lanka and…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Assam will soon get a cancer research institute which is believed to be the largest in South Asia, officials said on Saturday. The cancer facility has been planned to be built at Amingaon on the outskirts of Guwahati. According to Assam health department officials, once the centre comes up, Assam would represent the northeastern states on the world map of research hubs as a result of the state-of-the-art facility here. In a workshop held here on Friday under the aegis of the Assam government’s Medical Education and Research Department, experts discussed the project’s operational design and road map.…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today called upon the global businessmen and investors to invest in Bangladesh to join hands in making smooth journey of transforming Bangladesh into a developed, prosperous and Smart Bangladesh by 2041. “You people (world business community) come. Bangladesh is always ready to welcome you here—invest in Bangladesh thinking it as your country,” she said while inaugurating a three-day “Bangladesh Business Summit 2023”. The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) organised the summit at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the capital city to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the country’s…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Prime Minister of Japan Kishida Fumio will pay an official visit to India on March 20-21. During the visit, he will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Both sides will discuss bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest. They will also discuss their priorities for their respective Presidencies of the G7 and G20. India is currently the chair of the Group of 20 economies for 2023. Japanese foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi could not attend the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting due to an ongoing session of the Japanese Parliament. The Japanese foreign minister participated in the 8th Raisina…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today inaugurated the “Bangladesh Business Summit 2023” to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the country’s apex business body FBCCI. She opened the three-day summit as the chief guest at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the capital organised by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Commerce Ministry and the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) are partnering with the FBCCI for the summit. Ministers from seven countries including the United Kingdom (UK), the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), China, Bhutan, the United Arab Emirates,…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: India and Australia expressed their deep concern at the deteriorating situation in Myanmar, and Ukraine and called for an immediate cessation of violence, according to the joint statement released by both countries. Looking at the deteriorating situation in Myanmar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese also called for the release of all those arbitrarily detained, access to humanitarian assistance, resolution of issues through dialogue and transition towards an inclusive federal democratic system in Myanmar. Both leaders also reaffirmed their support for ASEAN-led efforts in addressing the crisis in Myanmar and called for the full…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: India and Australia called for the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea to be effective, substantive and fully consistent with international law, according to the joint statement released by both countries. In the joint statement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese reiterated the importance of adherence to international law, particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to meet challenges to the maritime rules-based order, including in the South China Sea. These remarks came after Albanese paid an official visit to India where he met PM Modi, President Droupadi…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday said that India sent medicines to 150 countries during covid crisis without increasing the price and compromising on the quality of the medicines. Minister was speaking at the inauguration of the International Symposium on Health Technology Assessment in Delhi on Friday. “During the Covid crisis, India sent medicines to 150 countries without increasing price and compromising on the quality,” Union Health Minister said. India offered support to more than 150 affected countries in the form of vaccines, medical equipment and medicines during the pandemic, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Harivansh said…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: United Nations lauded India’s G20 Presidency for highlighting a number of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation. Addressing the joint valedictory session of the 57th Capacity Building Programme of the Civil Servants of Bangladesh and Arunachal Pradesh, the UN Resident Coordinator Shombi Sharp said, “In fact, India’s G-20 Presidency has become SDG-20 Presidency as India is raising strong voice to close financial gaps.” Sharp pointed out that four emerging economies — Indonesia, India, Brazil and South Africa — will be holding the G20…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: The UK’s Indo-Pacific Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan arrived in Dhaka today to discuss security, democracy, human rights, trade and the Rohingya crisis. “As Bangladesh continues its development trajectory, the visit aims to celebrate the success and solidify the close links between the two countries for the years ahead, including through Bangladesh’s crucial election year,” said the British High Commission here in a press release. Trevelyan will meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen as well as hold talks with civil society organisations, humanitarian actors, climate experts and business groups. The British minister will also…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Saudi commerce minister Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al Qasabi arrived here this afternoon. Foreign Minister Dr. A K Abdul Momen welcomed Qasabi at Bangabandhu Bangladesh Airforce Base at around 05:15 pm, a Foreign Ministry press release said. The Saudi commerce minister is visiting Bangladesh to attend ‘Bangladesh Business Summit-2023’ to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina tomorrow. (BSS)

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The Arunachal Pradesh assembly on Thursday passed a bill to strengthen traditional village councils and fast-track the justice delivery mechanism. The Assam Frontier (Administration of Justice) Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was passed by voice vote by the assembly. The bill, which was tabled in the House on Tuesday by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, is aimed at making provisions for framing guidelines by the government for the election, selection and appointments of gaon buras and gaon buris (village head), among others. “Amendments were made in the pre-Independence law, and through this bill, we are trying to protect indigenous customary…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said amid BNP’s continuous hue and cry that there is no democracy in the country and the people have no freedom of speech, Bangladesh moved one notch up in democracy index as per a new report of Washington based research institute Freedom House. “It means practice of democracy continues in Bangladesh. Under the leadership of Jananetri Sheikh Hasina, progress has been achieved in all sectors, including freedom of speech,” he said while exchanging views with reporters on Bangladesh’s progress in democracy index at his Minto Road residence here. Hasan, also…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The Himanta-Biswa Government is going all out to tell the stories of Assam’s glorious and vibrant past to the world. “Telling Assam’s glorious and vibrant stories before the world-that’s the latest task that Dispur has taken up seriously,” claimed Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on March 9, when the state government received the certificate from Guinness Book of World Records for having the “largest online photo album of handwritten notes.” A compilation of over 42 lakh essays on valiant Ahom general Lachit Borphukan, uploaded in a portal in October-November last year as part of 400th birth anniversary…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: With sincere and relentless efforts by the Awami League government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Mymensingh has changed because of the implementation of massive development projects. Huge development is visible in all sectors, including agriculture, education, health and infrastructure, in the district in the last 14 years under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visionary leadership. Common people of Mymensingh are now enjoying the benefits of these developments. City Awami League General Secretary Mohit ur Rahman Shanto said there was no such development during the tenure of any government in the past. Because of the tremendous development, people of…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid today said Bangladesh-India Friendship Pipeline will contribute effectively to energy security. “It will be a milestone in providing fuel to the northern region of the country quickly, uninterruptedly and in a cost-effective manner,” he said while inspecting the progress of the pipeline project at Parbatipur here. Nasrul Hamid said one of the main conditions for development is uninterrupted power and energy supply in the country which is being ensured successfully by the Awami League government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The foundation-stone of Bangladesh-India Friendship Pipeline was…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Shedding light on the bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra on Friday said that PM Albanese’s visit to India underlines his enthusiasm and commitment to India-Australia ties. He further said that both leaders were satisfied with the “all-round progress” in various areas of the partnership between the two nations across fields including trade. Both the prime ministers met for the first India-Australia Annual Summit talks at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. “Both leaders (PM Modi-PM Albanese) assessed very clearly & noted with great satisfaction the strong all-round…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today called upon the Member States for greatering commitments so that the BIMSTEC Free Trade Agreement (FTA) could be implemented as early as possible. He made the urge while addressing the Nineteenth BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting (MM) held in Bangkok today in virtual mode. Delegations from all the Member States of BIMSTEC joined the meeting. In his deliberations, Dr. Momen reiterated Bangladesh’s commitment to the BIMSTEC process and emphasized that BIMSTEC Member States need to work together to realize the huge untapped potentials of the region. As the Lead Country for cooperation in…