Porimol Palma

Dhaka would seek smooth supply of vaccine under the tripartite agreement on buying Covishield from Serum Institute of India when Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen visits Delhi from January 28-30.

China’s role in Rohingya repatriation is turning out to be a decisive factor in resolving the crisis as the country embarked on the role of a mediator between Bangladesh and Myanmar and is likely to continue it until a solution is found, analysts have said.

Rohingyas will feel safe if they see the international community’s presence in areas of Myanmar’s Rakhine state where they are to be repatriated, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen said yesterday.

Expatriate workers, including Bangladeshis, in Malaysia are facing concerns over their jobs and income after the country declared a nationwide state of emergency until August 1 to combat the rising Covid-19 cases with the daily case number recently crossing the 3,000-mark.

The European Union is moving from a development partner of Bangladesh to trade partner as Bangladesh is graduating to a developing country by 2024.

Bangladesh will have to meet the European Union’s new criteria on human rights to retain its duty-free market access to the bloc as the EU looks to increase accountability and fight impunity, said a top diplomat.

As Italy has enlisted Bangladesh as one of the 30 countries eligible to send seasonal and non-seasonal workers after an eight-year long suspension, Italian authorities have urged aspirants to use legal pathways.

The Bangladesh-India prime minister-level summit on Thursday was a remarkable step forward in advancing not only bilateral relations but also regional connectivity and economic integration, analysts have said.

India promised to promptly and effectively deliver to Bangladesh the Covid-19 vaccines it is producing and developing as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi held a virtual summit yesterday.

Water sharing and management of trans-boundary rivers will dominate today’s Bangladesh-India summit to be led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, said officials.

The virtual summit between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi scheduled for December 17 will highlight the celebration of Bangladesh’s 50th anniversary of independence next year.

The government move to relocate 1,642 Rohingya refugees to Bhasan Char has invited some negative international scrutiny, but local NGOs and experts have said international aid agencies might change their minds if they visited the island.

Officials hinted at a new stimulus package yesterday amid fears of a possible second wave of Covid-19 and the subsequent setback for the economy which has only slightly recovered from the impacts of shutdown.

Bangladesh seeks Dutch investments in agriculture, water and light engineering -- the areas where The Netherlands has superior technologies that Bangladesh needs for boosting productivity and exportability in eco-friendly way.

The government yesterday began transferring Rohingyas to Bhasan Char from the congested camps in Ukhia and Teknaf where about a million of them have been living.

While the United Nations and other development partners still wait for an independent assessment of the Bhasan Char housing project, the government prepares for relocating some 2,500 Rohingyas to the isolated island within a couple of days.

US engagement with Bangladesh on trade, economic and defence fronts has increased in recent months. In September, the countries signed an open sky deal and held comprehensive economic partnership dialogues.

The US is optimistic about deepening ties with Bangladesh as the country’s exports to American markets have maintained a robust growth while investors are looking to widen their footprint in the South Asian nation, US Ambassador Earl R Miller said.

Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh ITO Naoki believes Bangladesh should begin intense negotiations with his country so that the duo could sign a comprehensive economic partnership agreement.

Japan is directly communicating with Myanmar, emphasising the importance of Rohingya repatriation and accountability as it considers a long-term solution to the crisis and regional stability essential conditions for a free and open Indo-Pacific.