NEW YORK, 02 November 2022, (TON): UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said “unity of the Arab world is the raison detre of the Arab League and the organization has never been more essential than in this time of ever-widening geopolitical divides.”

He said “division opens the door to foreign interference, terrorism, manipulation and sectarian strife.”

“But united, your leadership can shape a region that makes the most of its enormous potential. A region centered on solving differences through dialogue, rooted in respect and mutual interest.”

DHAKA, 02 November 2022, (TON): Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud attached importance on the role of media for further strengthening Bangladesh-India ties as media can promote friendship, people to people exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation.

He said "our respective media can contribute to forging the partnership further between our two countries by enhancing appreciation and understanding of each other's standpoints and core interests.”

The minister made the remarks while making a statement at a function styled "Media Interaction with Dr Hasan Mahmud" at the Press Club of India.

Press Club Secretary General Vinoy Kumar and its President Umakant Lakhera also spoke on the occasion while former president of PCI Gautam Lahiri moderated the session.

DHAKA, 02 November 2022, (TON): A bill titled Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (amendment) Bill 2022 was passed in Parliament.

The Bill, which was moved by Science and Technology Minister Yeafesh Osman, landed in the Parliament aiming to change names of two posts in the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission.

According to the Bill “there are two posts in the Commission named Finance Advisor and Secretary where the Public Administration Ministry posted deputy secretary ranked employees.”

As per a Cabinet Division directive on October 23, 2019 if there is any post called assistant secretary, deputy secretary, additional secretary and secretary in any office under any ministry or division, the name of the post has to be changed.

RIYADH, 02 November 2022, (TON): The Royal Saudi Air Force will participate in Falcon Eye 3, a joint training exercise with Greece, scheduled to commence next week at the Souda Air Force Base, Greece.

The deputy commander of the RSAF, Maj. Gen. Talal Al-Ghamdi, said that the Falcon Eye 3 are among the most promising bilateral air exercises for the RSAF and its Greek counterpart, with past versions achieving success on strategic, operational and tactical levels.

Col. Khalifa Al-Enezi, commander of the RSAF group participating in the exercise, said “the Saudi Air Force is participating with a number of F-15 fighter aircraft with all its air, technical and support crews.”

DHAKA, 02 November 2022, (TON): The United Nations and Asian Development Bank will provide all necessary assistance to Bangladesh to combat climate change, including the implementation of Bangladesh's National Adaptation Plan.

United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Gwyn Lewis and Asian Development Bank Country Representative Edimon Ginting said this in two separate meetings with Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin at the secretariat.

The minister said “Bangladesh needs 230 billion US dollars until 2030 to implement the National Adaptation Plan.”

THE HAGUE, 02 November 2022, (TON): Twelve women and 28 children will be repatriated to the Netherlands from detention camps in northern Syria, the Dutch government announced, making the country’s largest group yet to be brought back.

They will face charges on their return for joining Daesh.

The move comes after a Dutch court in May recommended that the women be returned immediately to the Netherlands, or that a commitment to return then be made within four months.

Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra and Justice Minister Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius said “the women will be arrested after arrival in the Netherlands and will be tried.”

DHAKA, 02 November 2022, (TON): Saudi Arabia has assured its assistance in the commercial supply of Liquefied Natural Gas to Bangladesh on an emergency basis.

A press release said “the Saudi assurance came during the 14th meeting of the Joint Economic Commission of the two countries held from Sunday to Monday in its capital Riyadh.”

The Saudi delegation in the meeting also assured its assistance after Bangladesh requested investment in the Eastern Refinery Unit 2 project.

Two Memorandum of Understandings were signed between the two countries during the meeting on mutual cooperation in recruitment, training of naval professionals and increasing trade.

DHAKA, 02 November 2022, (TON): Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki assured better cooperation to enhance airport ground handling and customer service.

He also expressed hope to launch direct air transportation between Dhaka and Tokyo.

The ambassador came up with the announcement while meeting Biman Bangladesh Airline's Managing Director and CEO Zahid Hossain at Biman's head office in Balaka, Kurmitola. 

Their formal meeting included detailed discussions based on full cooperation between the two countries.

By F.F Mushfika

Interestingly, Sri Lanka and Pakistan have shared a mutual and an understanding relationship ever since its ancient days. It has overcome the challenges of overlooking its differences, to the religion that majority are enjoying, and does more focus on the betterment of the country. They have a bilateral bond amidst any chaotic situation throughout history. These countries which belong to the South Asia ensure that it continuously attempts to develop, hence stand as developing nations. Starting from the year 1948 to date of the present time, the bond of these countries has been overwhelmingly great. What makes the relationship interesting as I have mentioned before is the differences they have as a country. These characteristics extend to a longer version, such as the predominant language of the nation, the cultures they share and many other historical facts. For instance, Pakistan is a Muslim majority while the Sri Lankans have been a Buddhist majority nation, respectively. Their religious and cultural differences are contrastingly huge. This includes their social habits, beliefs, and dress codes.

However, they have a pleasing and a pleasant friendship for years long. Their strong built relationship is enormously represented through their actions, most specifically when President Asif Ali Zadari signed a credit line for US $200 million as one of the Memorandum of Understanding with President Mahindha Rajapaksa- in 2012. This signifies the mutual confidence of the respective countries to move forward with no legal binding but with a mutual agreement. This strengthens the goals of a country to build a peaceful and an understanding country adjoining with another state. In fact, much of the troubles and disputes can be prevented through such measures. Although MoU has its own criticism and drawbacks, Sri Lanka and Pakistan have had an intense and dignified manner of dealing with the affairs so far. Moreover, in during the recent past, Sri Lanka has had a profound agreement in signing a MoU at Temple Trees when Prime Minister Imran Khan officially visited Sri Lanka on 23^rd of February 2021. These Memoranda of Understanding serves as an economically significant contract between the parties.

As mentioned before, Sri Lanka’s relationship with Pakistan government remains solid and prosperous. In fact, the visit of Imran Khan and his signing of the MoU in 2021 recalls his motive when he openly confessed to the press. He stated that “my visit aims to strengthen bilateral relationship, especially trade and economic ties through enhanced connectivity.”

In addition, Pakistan has displayed appreciation with respect and protection to the heritages of the Buddhism in their country. It even hoisted the 2500^th anniversary of Lord Buddha in 1956. The Gandhara grand exhibition is a wonderful example of Pakistanis valuing Buddhism with its ancient history. Parallelly, Sri Lanka too has proven their due respect by several other activities like labelling a public ground as “Jinnah Maidan” at Colombo in 1976. Hence, their respect towards the two countries were mutual and reciprocal.

More so, at times of dire security loss and threat the two countries has shown utmost commitment to help each other to overcome the dangers. It is essential to recall the obliging nature of the Pakistan government during the civil war of Sri Lanka. Pakistan has been marvelous in projecting their willful helping hand by supplying fighter jets and military training to defeat the terrorists of LTTE – commonly called as Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Sri Lanka was never forsaken by the Pakistan regime ever since it has built its foreign relationship. Simultaneously, Sri Lanka too extended its support and shouldered the Pakistan during its critical fall to terrorist strikes nationwide from 2007 to 2014. Thus, the two countries were fortunately driven into a more positive defense relation.

Notably, Sri Lanka and Pakistan has mutually teamed up in building the higher education. As a result, the Pakistan government has declared hundreds and thousands of scholarship programs for students of Sri Lanka. This includes partial and fully funded programs as well. This significant opportunity gives Sri Lankan students to pursue their education in their respective field with full tuition fee, accommodation allowances, study allowances and one time return ticket. Many students are selected for Allama Iqbal scholarships to continue their higher education with minimum cost and expenditure. This further motivates Sri Lankans for similar programs to expect in near future, with its best possibilities of building the bridge with the Pakistani government.

Thus, as an overall analysis of the relationship between Pakistan and Sri Lanka - is unbelievable strong and dominant in character. The bilateral and mutual foreign relation demonstrate strong ties of understanding and respect for each other.

Like the most popular quote of J.K Rowling, “we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided”.

With that being said, let us believe and hope that the relationship of the two countries -Pakistan and Sri Lanka, remain unbreakable.

By Ali Hassan

The term “literacy” means far more today than in the past, incorporating not only the ability to read physical texts, but to also be able to comprehend and break down internet sources and articles as well. Bangladesh has been striving to make the country’s educational system develop these skills through the implementation of newer programs and the infusion of technology into schools colleges and universities. The government’s goal of creating an accomplished, educated population through digital education has helped to increase literacy in Bangladesh.

Literacy rate in Bangladesh is now 74.66 percent, according to the preliminary report of "Population and Housing Census-2022". It was 51.77 percent in the previous census conducted in 2011.The highest literacy rate is in Dhaka division which is 78.09 and lowest in Mymensingh which is 67.09 percent. According to Aminul Islam Khan, outgoing senior secretary to the primary and mass education ministry, The Government Primary School Teacher Welfare Trust Bill, 2022 was placed in Parliament on
31 October, 2022 aiming at bearing the expense of education of minor child of teacher if they die during service. Primary and Mass Education State Minister M Zakir Hossain placed the bill which was sent to the respective parliamentary standing committee for further examination to implement a single shift in all public primary schools across the country. Moreover he claimed that the government will try to implement the decision of having a single shift at government primary schools from January 2023 while talking to reporters on his last working day.

Aminul said they are considering this plan keeping in mind the number of students, classrooms and teachers. The proposals which includes, Shifting the dependency on fossil fuel to renewable and sustainable energy in accordance with local ecosystem, ensuring social justice focusing on social and cultural dimensions, incorporating women protection and empowerment in every instance of climate justice, protecting the forest engaging indigenous population and indigenous knowledge, local knowledge and local identification of climate change victim, implementing climate rights framework, recognition of ecocide and climate refugee, accountability for climate change information and data, and injunctions of polluting MNCs & TNCs and strengthening national governments. Moreover, Istiaq Nur Muhit, convenor of Dhaka University for Climate Action mentioned that it is high time to ensure justice for climate affected people, while addressing the event urged all to act unitedly in this regard. Another speaker, Ferdous Siddique Saymon mentiond that DU will lead the country once again by standing the side of climate affected people just like it did earlier in many historical events of Bangladesh.

Dhaka University (DU) and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) are the only two universities ranked in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2023. DU ranked in the 551-600 brackets while BUET was ranked in the 601+ bracket. A total of 700 universities have been ranked in this list. Likewise The QS Sustainability University Rankings are based on two impact factors – Environmental and Social. The Environmental Impact covers three areas – sustainable institutions, sustainable education, and sustainable research. The Social Impact covers five areas – equality, knowledge exchange, impact of education, employability & opportunities, and life quality.

If we look back in the educational reforms of previous government, seven public universities have been established by the government in 2005. Of these, four are general universities and the other three are specialized universities, such as for agriculture and veterinary studies. The general universities offer degrees in liberal arts and science subjects, for instance Bengali, English, history, philosophy, Islamic history and culture, Islamic studies, economics, sociology, political science, social work, physics, mathematics, chemistry, statistics, geography and environment, botany, zoology, psychology, along with the business and technology related subjects. However, the difference between a general and a specialized university is not only in producing different knowledge, but also in administrative and financial aspects. Moreover, the government promulgated the Jagannath University Act in 2005, in order to expand and improve teaching and research, and to produce modern knowledge in line with global standards of higher education. The president of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh was to be chancellor of the University and had the power to appoint the top posts, for example the vice chancellor (VC) and treasurer. According to the Act (section 1), they would be appointed for a period of four years and might be continued depending on the satisfaction of the chancellor (Ministry of Education, 2005). The treasurer can invest the university’s assets with the permission of the syndicate and will be responsible for preparing the university’s annual budget based on the university’s income.

The other two general universities, the Comilla University and the Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, were established in 2006. The government promulgated the Comilla University Neoliberalism, Policy Reforms and Higher Education in Bangladesh 161 and the Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University Acts on 8 May and 9 May, respectively. Both universities were established to expand modern teaching and research facilities at national level in line with global demands. The universities are entitled to introduce new streams of teaching and research degrees in science, arts, social sciences, law, and business studies with the permission of the UGC.

The struggle of the previous government of BNP in the field of education to bring educational reforms and economic sector, and the policy implementations brought fruitful results in improving literacy rate of Bangladesh.  The current developments could lead Bangladesh to 100% literacy rate till 2030 if the political unrest in Bangladesh comes to an end in next forthcoming elections of 2023. Moreover, people of Bangladesh are well aware of current politics in Bangladesh and hence by knowing the circumstances they can take fair decisions regarding state and state policies. This is how Bangladesh will progress by leaps and bounds in coming years.