POBNEWS24 Dhaka,Fab 1, 2022: If there is a problem in Bangladesh or if there is a need for improvement in any field, foreign diplomats have been requested to discuss it in Dhaka as a development partner.
The message was given by the government in a briefing with foreign diplomats working in Dhaka on Sunday morning. The briefing was presided over by Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital. Law Minister Anisul Haque, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives. Tajul Islam, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam and Secretary Masud bin Momen took part.
The briefing was attended by mission heads of about 40 countries and alliances, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Japan, India, the European Union (EU), Qatar and Thailand. However, US Ambassador Earl Miller was not present at the ceremony. At the same time he went to the Secretariat to meet some of the ministers. It was his farewell meeting.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen started the discussion by briefing the diplomats. Referring to the election of a chairman from the hijra community for the first time in the ongoing Union Parishad elections, he said the government is committed to ensuring development and security of the people through empowerment.
According to a source in the briefing, the foreign diplomats have been asked by the government to discuss with Bangladesh if they have any problem or need to improve on any issue as development partners. If they are not satisfied with the discussion in Dhaka, then they should raise the issue with their capital. Basically this is the message they were given.
In the briefing, Law Minister Anisul Haque spoke about the ongoing dialogue between the political parties with the President ahead of the upcoming national elections, the formation of a search committee and the government’s move on the Digital Security Act.
Local government minister. Tajul Islam spoke about the ongoing Union Parishad election situation. Both the ministers, while referring to the fact that candidates were elected ‘without contest’ in the local government elections, raised the issue of being elected unopposed in developed countries. Especially in this election, a large number of independent candidates have won. Among them are Awami League rebel candidates as well as independent, BNP-backed candidates from different parties.
Several sources present at the talks told this correspondent that the diplomats’ briefing held earlier this year had revealed how the government was preparing for the next national elections two years ago. That is to say, the development of the democratic process is a continuous process. Countries that have had democratic processes for hundreds of years are also trying to improve. Bangladesh is trying to make future elections participatory and free and fair.
According to meeting sources, Law Minister Anisul Haque briefed the diplomats on the government’s plan to curb the misapplication of the Digital Security Act. The government is already discussing the issue with the UN Human Rights Council.
After the briefing of the three ministers of Bangladesh, the diplomats were asked to know three things .
Asked about the latest progress in resolving the Rohingya issue, it was informed in the briefing that the date of hearing of the Rohingya genocide case has been fixed on February 21 in ICJ. There will be a virtual court hearing. However, there is no progress in repatriation.
When asked about improving the investment climate in Bangladesh, diplomats are informed that if there is a specific problem, it should be reported. Then steps will be taken to solve that problem quickly. In this context, it was informed in the briefing that in this case, a review table was given to the government by Japan, citing a number of problems. Japan then gave a list of 26 problems or obstacles to Bangladesh. After three months, Bangladesh solved 16 of them.
Asked if Bangladesh was well-prepared for the transition from a least developed country, the meeting said the government was already working on forming seven sub-committees to work together. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working in five committees.
