Bangladesh committed to achieving gender equality at all levels

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Zillur Rahman confirmed Bangladesh's commitment to achieving gender equality at all levels through effective policies and programmes, reports UNB. The minister was speaking on "Gender Equality in Governance" at the International Conference on Governance for Sustainable Growth and Equity at the UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday, according to a message received in the city yesterday. Gender equality is a priority area of policy making and programme intervention of the government, the minister informed the conference. "The Bangladesh government has adopted the policy for women's development, for the promotion of women's rights in all spheres of national life," he said.

Iranian envoy presents credentials

The newly appointed Ambassador of Iran to Bangladesh, Muhammad Sadegh Fayyaz, presented his cre dentials to President Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed at Bangabhaban yesterday, reports UNB. Welcoming the ambassador, the President said that relations between Bangladesh and Iran are deeply rooted in common Islamic heritage and culture. He said that both the countries share common and identical perception on many regional and international issues, particularly those related to the cause of Muslim Ummah.

Hasina to visit Indonesia, Philippines in September

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to visit Indonesia and the Philippines in the first week of September in a bid to bolster the country's ties with the South Asian nations, reports UNB.

Oil refinery Dhaka, Tehran agree to carry out feasibility study

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Lt Gen (retd) Muhammad Noor Uddin Khan yesterday said that setting up of a refinery in the country and other matters related to petroleum sector was discussed during his recent visit to Iran, reports UNB. He returned home Monday night from Singapore where he spent one week on personal ground after completing his three-day visit to Iran. Noor Uddin Khan said the progress of setting up of a refinery was reviewed at the formal talks with his Iranian counterpart.

Call to improve Bangladesh-Nepal economic ties

Ambassador of Nepal to Bangladesh Lok Bahadur Shrestha underscored the need for improving economic cooperation between Bangladesh and Nepal to face the challenges of the 21st century.

The Nepalese Ambassador was addressing a certificate awarding ceremony as chief guest at the Senate Hall of Jahangirnagar University (JU) yesterday. JU VC Prof Amirul Islam Chowdhury, Dean of the Social Science Faculty AK Azizul Haq Bhuiyan and Chief Engineer of LGED Quamrul Islam Siddique, among others, spoke on the occasion. Ambassador Shrestha later distributed certificates among the participants of a course in Graphic Information System (GIS), organised by the Department of Geography and Environment, JU last month.

Hasina, Samad greet PM, FM of PNG

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday felicitated Bill Skate, MP for his election as the Prime Minister of the independent state of Papua New Guinea (PNG), reports BSS.

Malaysia to protect rights of Bangladeshi workers

Malaysia will protect the legitimate interest of Bangladeshi workers, employed in different establishments in that country, reports UNB. An assurance to this effect was given at a meeting between Malaysian Deputy Human Resources Minister Dato Abdul Kadir Bin Haji Fadzir and Bangladesh State Minister for Labour and Manpower MA Mannan in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, according to a message received in Dhaka. MA Mannan, currently visiting Kuala Lumpur, also discussed with the Malaysian Deputy Minister the problems Bangladeshi workers facing there.

Pronk leaves for home

The Netherlands Minister for Development Cooperation, Jan P Pronk, left Dhaka yesterday ending his eight-day long official visit to Bangladesh, reports BSS. Finance Minister Shah AMS Kibria saw him off at Zia International Airport. Earlier, the two ministers signed the minutes of the bilateral official meeting, held on July 23. During his stay in Dhaka, Pronk held talks with Bangladesh ministers on bilateral issues.

Khaleda seeks more Dutch investment

Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Begum Khaleda Zia yesterday sought increased Dutch investment in Bangladesh for creating employment opportunities and economic development of the country, reports UNB. She said Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) will extend allout cooperation from its position to facilitate more foreign investment in the country. Begum Zia said this when the visiting Dutch Minister for Development Cooperation Jan. P. Pronk called on her at her Cantonment residence in the afternoon.

Netherlands to join other donors in building Ganges Barrage

The Netherlands is willing to join a global consortium to construct the Ganges Barrage, but unwilling to take a lead in organising the group, the visiting Dutch minister said yesterday, reports UNB. Jan P Pronk, the Dutch Minister for Development Cooperation who held official level talks here, said international agencies like the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank should initiate the group. "We are willing to join the consortium, but we are too small to lead," he told a press conference in the NEC conference room in the capital, ending his week-long visit to one of its main aid-recipient countries. Finance Minister Shah AMS Kibria, who led a Bangladesh team in the official-level meeting on Wednesday, also spoke at the joint news conference, welcoming the Dutch gesture for...