Bangladesh's Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has congratulated Donald Trump on the latter’s victory in the race for White House and emerging as the new US President-Elect. In a letter sent within hours of the victory of the new president, HPM hoped of boosting ties with USA under his leadership and creating a space where future generations can prosper peacefully. The Bangladesh Premier also invited the US President-Elect and would-be First Lady, Melania, to visit Bangladesh and see the development here.

The Asian Forum of Parliament on Population and Development (AFPPD) has praised Bangladesh's impressive success in the empowerment of women and their great contribution to the country's socioeconomic development. The appreciation came at the 11th Women Ministers' and Members of Parliament Conference held in Thailand. A total of 60 ministers and members of parliament from 28 Asian and Asia Pacific countries took part in the conference.

Bangladesh's export has increased by 6.63% in the first four months (July to October) of the current fiscal year (FY) 2016-17 to more than $ 10.79 billion, according to data released by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB). The EPB figures showed that the single-month export earnings notched a 14.39% growth in October this year totaling more than $ 2.7 billion compared to $2.37 billion fetched in October last year. The single-month export earning is also 2.84% higher than the strategic target of $ 2.64 billion.

Appreciating Dhaka’s efforts in rooting out the menace of trans-national terrorism, India’s Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the two countries have no difference of opinion on where terrorism originates from and how it is to be eradicated from the South Asian region. The Indian Minister made the comment when Bangladesh delegation led by Disaster Management Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, called on him at the North Block to discuss various issues. Earlier, top officials from USA also praised Bangladesh for tracking down the terrorist networks inside the country.

Growth and Development

The government will start marine resource assessment within the country's boundary in the Bay of Bengal in November next by using a high-tech marine research vessel. To achieve this goal, the ocean survey ship, imported from Malaysia in June last, is expected to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina this month. According to officials at the Fisheries Department, the high-tech 37.8-meter long multipurpose research vessel, equipped with the latest technology for fisheries and other oceanographic research, is expected to play a role in managing marine resources and improving the lifestyle of around 500,000 people living in coastal areas.

Plans are laid out to build an expressway stretching over 200 km speedy route with the option of speedy train service on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway. To this goal, the Chinese government has pledged to provide financial assistance worth $11 million. Works have been rolled out to conduct a fresh feasibility study to finalise the route. Once implemented, traveling time on this route would be reduced to a half, while a long traffic, which is prevalent on the route, would also be eliminated.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hailed Bangladesh's community-based cyclone preparedness programme, urging the developing world to emulate the successes. Moreover, both countries have also agreed to bolster their cooperation in disaster management through sharing of each other's experiences in early warning, evacuation, rescuing and relief operations. The agreement came during a meeting between Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Bangladesh's Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya in the former's office.

TRADE AND INVESTMENT

The two-day Bangladesh Denim Expo concluded on Wednesday with the participation of thousands of local and international denim producers, buyers and sellers and experts. The participants from a total of 14 countries visiting different stalls of expo tried to learn about their products and get experiences. Some of them were visited the stalls that displayed the set of equipment and other accessories in the expo.

INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL COOPERATION

A two-day commerce secretary-level meeting between Bangladesh and Myanmar began in Dhaka, stressing the need for increasing bilateral trade and investment for mutual benefits of the two countries. The meeting reviewed the implementation status of the 7th JTC meeting, cooperation in trade, prevention of smuggling of goods, and establishment of Kanyinchaung Trade Zone. Besides, the signing of preferential trade agreement, settlement of trade disputes, and establishment of formal banking channel between the two next-door neighbours were also discussed.