DHAKA, 14 June 2022, (TON): The World Bank recently released and catalogued an item named “Unpacking the Silent Economic Revolution in Bangladesh” under the International Comparison Programme publications program on their website. 

Bangladesh has become one of the fastest-growing countries in the world. In particular, Bangladesh’s achievements in poverty alleviation are worth mentioning.

Poverty alleviation is the main task of the World Bank. So, it is also happy with this achievement of Bangladesh.

Hartwig Schaefer, the outgoing Vice-President of the World Bank’s South Asian region, praised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for Bangladesh’s economic development.

At the same time, he promised that the World Bank would stand by the overall development of Bangladesh.

TON Bangladesh

Lately, the global human rights protectors heavily condemned the Bangladesh government’s move to deregister top NGO Odhikar. As the Odhikar human rights group had registered alleged rights abuses by Bangladesh's notorious Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

The Bangladesh government has canceled the operating license of one of its top human rights Odhikar groups in a move intended to send a “frightening message” to the rights defenders in the country. Bangladesh refused to renew the licence of Odhikar human rights group, and accused the group of “tarnishing the image of the Bangladesh state to the world”.

The Odhikar had been raising human rights issues in the South Asian country since its foundation in 1994. It worked closely with the United Nations in recording thousands of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances purportedly committed by the Bangladeshi security forces.

The group had registered alleged rights abuses by Bangladesh’s notorious Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), an elite police unit sanctioned by the United States in December last year. The RAB is accused of participation in hundreds of disappearances and closely 600 extrajudicial killings since 2018.

Since the US sanctions, Dhaka on numerous occasions queried Washington to reassess its decision. In April this year, Bangladesh’s foreign minister even said he had required New Delhi’s help to get the sanction on RAB and some of its officials withdrew.

This move by Dhaka sends an alarming message that the government doesn’t care about mending its rights record and that it wants to control the story about rights issues in Bangladesh a narrative that always comes across as more reliable when it’s articulated by an NGO like Odhikar as opposed to the government.

Such steps of Bangladesh against Odhikar is inviting further US sanctions. It’s certainly making Washington more suspicious regarding the worse genuinely committed human record Bangladesh. .

In April this year, Odhikar said in a statement the government was retaliating against the NGOs that accused the RAB of rights abuses. Among the measures taken by the government was the watching of foreign funding received by the rights groups?

The circular stated that “foreign aids of some NGOs including Human Rights Watch, Odhikar, Ain o Salish Kendra and BLAST could be checked sternly”. The fact-based information about various extrajudicial killings, including alleged disappearances and murders, has been published on the organization’s own website, creating various issues for Bangladesh.

There is no opportunity to consider the application for renewal of the registration submitted by Odhikar as the activities of the organization are not satisfactory due to inconsistencies in the application for renewal of registration and the organization has been operating in “a regulatory limbo” since it sought to renew its 10-year license in 2014.

The Adhikari's went to the court to challenge that inaction interestingly, we had a hearing scheduled hearing. The Bangladeshi authorities cancelled the license of human rights origination even though the issue is under trial which is unethical and unacceptable. The act of the Bangladesh government seems resolute to show that all concerns over its human rights record are justified.

When the US has issued sanctions against the Rapid Action Battalion and several of its serving and former officers, the Bangladeshi government blamed human rights groups, not the security personnel and other officials that are blamed to over hundreds of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

Above all, the authorities blamed Odhikar, a human rights group that has previously been beleaguered repeatedly, their funds held up, offices raided, and surveillance.

The authorities in Bangladesh “must immediately cancel the decision to capriciously ban” Odhikar and allow the rights group “to work without fear of punishments”. Odhikar’s documentation of human right violations has been critical in holding perpetrators to account in Bangladesh.

It is ridiculous that the authorities withheld the registration of the rights group for eight years and then annulled it because of the global rage they faced for a poor human rights record. The annulment of the rights group’s registration is “additional blow to the already awful human rights record of Bangladesh. It has sent a bad message to the outside world that civil society groups and human rights defenders who speak up on human rights issues will be frightened and hushed.

The government of Bangladesh should must reverse this appalling decision which has tarnished the its image international due to such acts and instead take steps to create a friendly and conducive environment for civil society to carry on their work without retaliations. However, Hunan Right organization must also think thousands times before involving any government institution on weak evidences. 

By Farzana Tamannur (TON Bangladesh)

On the eve of its 50th birthday, Bangladesh rejoices with glory and pride. The country has crossed numerous milestones along the way and is set to achieve many more in the coming years. In 2015, Bangladesh became a lower middle-income country from a low-income country as stated by the World Bank's categorization of countries. The country made a stunning performance in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2000 to 2015. Now Bangladesh hopes to become a developed country by 2041. And by 2024, Bangladesh is expected to come out of the LDC grouping. Since 2015, Bangladesh has been working toward fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

On December 10, 2020, another feather in the cap was added. The dream of having a bridge over the great Padma River is going to be fulfilled lastly. The last span of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge was installed. This will connect both sides of the Padma River. Started in December 2015, the bridge is anticipated to be finished by 2021. This long-awaited bridge carries importance for Bangladesh on numerous accounts.

Economic and social transformation will be enormous

The Padma Bridge is estimated to enhance the GDP of the country by more than one percent. It will benefit about three crore people across 21 south-western districts of Bangladesh. These districts will be linked with the growth centers through better connectivity. They could be used as economic corridor. This will create opportunity for employment and income. The transportation system would be improved as movement of people will be improved. Supply chains within the country will be linked better. Goods and services would move smoothly from one place to another. People from the south-western parts of the country are moreover expected to have better access to healthcare, education, and other services.

Not only will people move to the urban area easily, opportunity will also come to the rural areas. This will change the rural economy which is already undergoing transformation. The share of the agriculture division to the GDP of the country has declined considerably with the coming out of non-farm activities in the rural areas. This was facilitated by numerous factors including better communication and connectivity. 

Bangladesh's confidence goes up

This bridge is a testament on how a country with inadequate resources can achieve its objective if there is determination. Under the leadership of Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Padma Bridge is the result of dedicated work of the Bangladeshi people including government officials, planners, engineers, workers and several other concerned persons.

Unquestionably, the construction of this 6.15 kilometer long double-deck bridge has improved the confidence of the country. This will permit policymakers to plan for bigger infrastructure. This will also encourage foreign investors to invest in infrastructure and in other sectors in Bangladesh.

Reaping the benefits is dependent on many factors

Infrastructure generates economic advantage to the extent they generate services for people. In other words, benefits from infrastructure are not automatic and it cannot work in isolation. The return from investitures depends on allowing policy framework and supporting measures.

One of the conditions is the development of all areas including the rural areas and creating opportunities for people everywhere.

Decentralization of services and opportunities is vital for reaping benefits from such infrastructure. For instance, setting up of industries in the newly linked districts will help stop migration from the rural regions to the big cities for work. Better access to finance for small and medium businesses for example agro-processing, handicrafts and food industries would also help create jobs. Besides, improvement of facilities for example uninterrupted electricity, education, internet, and healthcare in the villages would restrain people from crowding the cities.

Cost of the infrastructure is an significant factor for realizing the benefits. Back in 2007, the cost of the Padma Bridge was projected to be Tk 10,161 crores. However, after numerous revisions, the cost has been modified upward to Tk 30,193 crores. Delay in project execution has escalated costs as usual. Some extra features have been added to this bridge which was not originally planned.

Also, deflation of the taka against the US dollar has pushed the cost upwards. But how competently resources have been used and how wastage of resources has been managed should also be taken into consideration. This will be the education for future infrastructure development. High cost of the bridge could augment the toll for crossing the bridge. Higher transport cost will raise commodity prices. Cost escalation of the bridge might also delay the recovery of the project cost.

Therefore, once the bridge is completely functional, monitoring and assessment of the infrastructure will be vital to get the expected return. The construction of the bridge has been a milestone achievement of the government. But without its proficient management and governance, the rate of return from this mega project will be low.

Lastly, as Bangladesh is working towards reviving the economy from the fallouts of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Padma Bridge could help the country fulfill this effort to a great extent. It can also contribute toward achieving sustainable development.

AL-MUKALLA, 13 June 2022, (TON): The UN thanked Saudi Arabia for donating $10 million to efforts to maintain the decaying Safer oil tanker in Yemen, as the country’s officials and analysts called for more aggressive pressure on the Iran-backed Houthis to facilitate the arrival of UN teams to the vessel.

The UN plan aims to defuse a potential major environmental catastrophe in the Red Sea if the tanker explodes or leaks.

Russell Geekie, communication officer for David Gressly, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, told media “the Saudi donation reduces the funding gap, but that further funds are needed from donors to help the UN implement its plan.”

Geekie said “we thank all donors that have pledged or contributed and very much welcome the announcements by the Kingdom today and the US last week. This reduces the funding gap, but a gap remains.”

WASHINGTON, 13 June 2022, (TON): More than 450 protests were held across the United States to persuade American lawmakers to play their role in ending gun violence.

The largest rally was held in the US capital where thousands of protesters gather near the Washington Monument, calling for tighter firearms laws.

The protests followed two recent mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas and Buffalo, New York. Nineteen elementary school students and two teachers were killed in the May 24 shooting in Uvalde while 10 were killed in the May 14 supermarket shooting in Buffalo.

Speakers at the Washington rally informed protesters that at least 11 shootings have been reported from across the US since Uvalde, killing eight people and injuring 45.

TEHRAN, 13 June 2022, (TON): Iran and Venezuela signed a 20-year deal on cooperation between the two allies subject to US sanctions during a visit to the Islamic republic by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said “the inking of the agreement shows the determination of the high-level officials of the two countries for development of relations in different fields.”

Maduro, speaking at a joint news conference in Tehran, said “the coope­ration covered the energy and financial sectors as well as plan to work together on defence projects.”

Alongside the likes of Russia, China, Cuba and Turkey, Iran is one of Venezuela’s main allies. And like Venezuela it is subject to tough US sanctions.

Iranian president says “Resistance will work and will force the enemy to retreat.”

SYDNEY, 13 June 2022, (TON): Australia unveiled a substantial compensation deal with French submarine maker Naval Group, ending a contract dispute that soured relations between Canberra and Paris for almost a year.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the French firm had agreed to a fair and an equitable settlement of 555 million euros ($584 million) for Australia ending a decade-old multi-billion-dollar submarine contract.

The agreement drew a line under a spat that caused leader-level recriminations and threatened to torpedo talks on an EU-Australia trade agreement.

French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said “it permits us to turn a page in our bilateral relations with Australia and look to the future.”

WASHINGTON, 13 June 2022, (TON): US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin blasted China’s “provocative, destabilising” military activity near Taiwan, as well as Beijing’s growing aggression across the wider Asia-Pacific region.

Tensions between Washington and Beijing are soaring over democratic, self-ruled Taiwan, which China views as its territory and has vowed to seize one day, by force if necessary.

Beijing has conducted dozens of incursions into Taiwan’s air defence zone this year, and Defence Minister Wei Fenghe warned Austin that China was prepared to go to war if the island declares independence.

In an address to the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, Austin took aim at Beijing’s growing coercion towards Taiwan, a day after holding his first face-to-face talks with Wei.

SEOUL, 13 June 2022, (TON): North Korea has appointed veteran diplomat Choe Son-hui as its first female foreign minister, state media reported, as Pyongyang pushes ahead with a blitz of sanctions-busting weapons tests and ignores US calls for talks.

The state media reported “choe, who formerly served as the North’s vice foreign minister, was tapped to lead the foreign ministry at a ruling party meeting overseen by leader Kim Jong Un.”

She replaces Ri Son Gwon, a hardline former military official who previously led talks with the South.

A career diplomat who speaks fluent English, Choe served as a close aide to Kim during nuclear talks with the United States and accompanied the North Korean leader to summits with then US president Donald Trump.

She held a rare question and answer session with reporters on the night the two leaders’ summit in Hanoi collapsed without a deal in February 2019, blaming Washington for the failed talks.

BEIJING, 13 June 2022, (TON): Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe said “it was up to the United States to improve the bilateral relationship, as ties were at a critical juncture.”

Repeating several times at an Asian security meeting that China only sought peace and stability, and was not an aggressor, he called on the United States to strengthen solidarity and oppose confrontation and division.

He said “China firmly rejected “US smearing, accusations and even threats in Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin's speech.”

Wei, dressed in the uniform of a general in the People's Liberation Army, told media “we request the US side to stop smearing and containing China. Stop interfering in China's internal affairs. The bilateral relationship cannot improve unless the US side can do that.”

He added “the United States would stand by its allies, including Taiwan.”