DHAKA, 28 May 2022, (TON): Permanent representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations Rabab Fatima has said “Bangladesh is concerned that the situation in Myanmar continues to remain unsafe for civilians, especially for the ethnic and religious minorities such as Rohingyas.”

While referring to the precarious security situation in Myanmar which is causing a delay in the repatriation of the Rohingyas, she also expressed concern about the denial of access to the UN and other humanitarian agencies in the country.

Ambassador Fatima was speaking at the UN Security Council Open Debate.

She said “the protection of civilians was an important national priority for Bangladesh, and the country remained committed to all efforts to strengthen it.”

Convened by the United States delegation as the current president of the Council, the debate focused on the protection of civilians in armed conflicts.

KABUL, 28 May 2022, (TON): The Islamic Emirate said it has formed a committee of eight members to facilitate the reopening of girls’ schools.

The committee will be chaired by the Supreme Judge, Abdul Hakim Haqqani, according to Inamullah Samangani, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate.

He said “this committee has eight members. It includes clerics and scholars. The committee has done some work to reopen the girls’ high schools. We hope it can be solved in the near future.”

The female students above grade six have been banned from going to school for more than 250 days. Meanwhile, girls said that they are fed up with the long delay in the reopening of girls’ school.

Hadisa, a student said “these are just excuses they are making, moving the responsibility from one department to another. We want the schools to be reopened.”

DHAKA, 28 May 2022, (TON): Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen left Dhaka for Guwahati via Kolkata to attend the third edition of the Asian Confluence flagship dialogue NADI Conclave to be held on May 28-29.

The two-day conclave will be inaugurated by foreign minister Momen, his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and the foreign minister of Thailand, along with Himanta Biswa Sarma, chief minister of Assam in the presence of diplomats of several countries, top experts and scientists and other dignitaries.

Indian finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman will deliver the valedictory address of the conclave on May 29.

A galaxy of leaders and experts will be there in Guwahati to attend the event organised by think tank Asian Confluence, headquartered in Shillong, in collaboration with ministry of external affairs, government of India.

The organisers said “the goal will be to articulate and activate a collective vision of sub-regional cooperation in the Bay of Bengal region and with South-East Asia, keeping North East India and Assam at the epicentre of activity.”

DHAKA, 28 May 2022, (TON): Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said “the Asian countries must combine their forces to help address their common challenges for the betterment of future generations.”

She said in a video statement to the 27th International Nikkei Conference "the Asian countries have common development challenges and should face them collectively.”

Hasina said “Bangladesh would always work with its friends and partners to ensure a peaceful, sustainable and prosperous Asia.”

She put forward five proposals, where the Asian countries can best cooperate for the benefit of the future generations.

These include cooperation on best use of ICT, safeguard fairness and justice, sustainable and balanced development and establishing win-win international relations.

By TON Sri Lanka

On Thursday, May 26, the Sri Lankan President vowed to support Indo-Pacific maritime security in his address to the 27th International Conference on ‘Future of Asia’ arranged by the Japanese publication Nikkei. Assuming Japan’s deep worry about maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region to stop the fast increasing role and influence of China. The “Maritime security” in Asia is a prickly issue that needs serious policy attention in order to avoid any mishap between the countries of the Asian region particularly the South Asian.

It also relates to traditional security concerning the show of naval power, and many non-traditional issues including human trading, drug smuggling, and illegal and unfettered fishing which continue to pose severe conflicts in this region.

Sri Lanka, has established a sound relationship with leading regional players including Japan. As a South Asian nation country Sri Lanka bears the responsibility to safeguard sea routes, and maritime resources and combat maritime crime over a significant region of the Indian Ocean and requires to look forward to partnering with the Asian community to expand its capacities in these areas in future.

In a surprising reference to youth power which is the most vocal in Sri Lanka in the form of the “Go Home” movement, the Lankan President said at a conference on ‘Future of Asia’ that a progressive feature of recent events in Sri Lanka has been the amplified commitment of our youth in the nation’s politics. As there is similar activism in other countries too, where the loss of confidence in prevailing systems has led to strong shows of opposition against governments.

It is important to ensure that these organisms go through the reforms that are vital to their improvement so that future generations may benefit from better opportunities in education and employment and lead to an increase in their efficiency.

Referring to the awful economic situation in Sri Lanka, the President required international help, especially bridge financing which requires the assistance of the international community to ensure that the immediate needs in terms of the ingress of indispensable medicines, nourishment supplies, fuel, etc.

As Sri Lanka is in an urgent need to help finance in a bid to reinstate confidence in the external sector and stabilize the economy of Sri Lanka till the debt restructuring process is completed and to begin the IMF program.

The President urged Japan to give a helping hand to Sri Lanka because Japan remains one of Sri Lanka’s key development partners, and the negotiations should now be underway regarding getting funds from Japan to support Sri Lanka to stabilize its economy and nation.

He said that it is a matter of great pride that Japan has always been and continues to be one of Sri Lanka’s key development cooperation partners, providing major aid and financial assistance for Sri Lanka's nation’s socioeconomic development over time.

The Lankan President also thanked India for rushing help to beleaguered Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is grateful for the support provided by India, as our close friend and neighbor, which replied with kindness in the time of our need. The President also said the support extended by our other neighbors and development partners, as well as regional and global institutions, is also profoundly valued.

He tried to pursue the world to the widespread problem concerning food security in Sri Lanka. The shortages of food items and sharp increases in food prices likely to occur in the months ahead will place considerably in Sri Lanka. It is therefore essential to pay attention to this crucial problem and prioritize agricultural production locally and improve our resilience in the face of this coming issue. He emphasized increasing the cooperation amongst nations which will also be necessary to ensure overcome this issue.

To achieve an enduring regional concern and remove civil unrest, conflicts, and communal violence there is a need of regional cooperation and a non-interference policy in the neighboring countries' affairs for getting their interests. Sri Lanka has been flawed by sectarian tensions throughout its history and its policymakers must come together to devise combined regional apparatuses on such issues.

Therefore to build up a capacity in the fields of peacebuilding and reconciliation is essential and also empowering the deprived as this is one of the root causes of unrest.

Currently, there are fissures that created a deadlock concerning the functioning of regional associations like SAARC to the core objectives and functioning and are affected by conflicts of member countries on matters relating to economic, political, or strategic interests. There is also a need that member countries of regional bodies should overcome impasses and work together in the true spirit of Asia to fulfill the south region’s development and progress on a priority basis.

WASHINGTON, 27 May 2022, (TON): The U.S. Department of State is offering rewards of up to $1 million each for information leading to the arrests and/or convictions of two fugitive Kenyan nationals, Abdi Hussein Ahmed and Badru Abdul Aziz Saleh, for participating in, or conspiring to participate in, transnational organized crime.

Ahmed has been charged in the United States with wildlife trafficking in violation of the Lacey Act and with conspiracy to commit wildlife trafficking in violation of the Endangered Species Act and Lacey Act.

Additionally, Ahmed is charged in Uganda and Kenya with violations of the Uganda Wildlife Act, the Kenya Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, and the Kenya East Africa Customs Act.

This reward is offered under the Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program.

The TOCRP and Narcotics Rewards Program have helped bring more than 75 transnational criminals and major narcotics traffickers to justice since the inception of the NRP in 1986.

WASHINGTON DC, 27 May 2022, (TON): Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III held a secure call with Japan Minister of Defense Kishi Nobuo to share assessments on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s recent ballistic missile launches.

Secretary Austin confirmed the unshakeable U.S. commitment to the defense of Ja-pan, and both the Minister and Secretary reaffirmed that the U.S.-Japan Alliance is prepared to respond to any Democratic People’s Republic of Korea aggression.

The two leaders underscored “the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s ballistic missile launches are a threat to regional and global security.”

BERLIN, 27 May 2022, (TON): Ministers from the world’s wealthiest democracies will wrangle over how to keep climate change goals on track as they meet in Berlin for talks overshadowed by spiralling energy costs and fuel supply worries sparked by the war in Ukraine.

Energy, climate and environment ministers from the Group of Seven countries want to reaffirm a commitment to cap global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius and protect biodiversity at the May 25-27 meeting.

The group will also consider committing to a phase-out of coal power generation by 2030, according to a draft communique, though sources suggested that opposition from the United States and Japan could derail such a pledge.

The draft, which could change considerably by the time talks conclude, would also commit G7 countries to have a net zero electricity sector by 2035 and to start reporting publicly next year on how they are delivering on a past G7 commitment to end inefficient fossil fuel subsidies by 2025.

NEW YORK, 27 May 2022, (TON): With the current UN Security Council’s exceptional authorization for humanitarian aid delivery through the last remaining border crossing into northwest Syria set to expire on July 10.

The UN Syria Commission of Inquiry warned “it would be a failure of the highest order if the council failed to extend the life-saving operation.”

A commission statement as the country faces its worst economic and humanitarian crisis since the start of the conflict, the international community must safeguard existing, life-saving cross-border assistance and increase their funding pledges to support this aid.

When deliveries of international aid to Syria began in 2014, the Security Council approved four border crossings. In January 2020, permanent member Russia used its power of veto to force the closure of all but one, Bab-al-Hawa.

NEW YORK, 27 May 2022, (TON): The US warned “denial of access for humanitarian efforts during armed conflicts is reinforcing a vicious cycle of killings and forced displacements.”

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the permanent US representative to the UN said “the result of this can be seen in Syria where, after 11 years of the “Assad regime’s brutal war,” 14 million people rely on humanitarian aid to survive and 6.6 million are displaced within their own country.”

She called for the renewal and expansion of existing crossing points and addition of new crossings to make it easier to deliver aid to the Syrian people.

She said “every month, Syrian civilians are attacked and killed by the Assad regime and others.”

“And hospitals often don’t have the medicine or supplies to help the injured because humanitarian convoys aren’t able to reach them.”