Saima Wazed Hossain, chairperson of Bangladesh National Advisory Committee for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, has been made the goodwill ambassador of the World Health Organization (WHO) for autism in the South-East Asia region. Terming Saima Wazed a globally renowned champion for the cause of autism spectrum disorder, WHO in a statement made the announcement that she will be the goodwill ambassador for a two-year term. Her passionate and persistent efforts for addressing autism are commendable. Saima Wazed, daughter of Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was designated as WHO Regional Champion for autism in May 2016.

Bangladesh has further enhanced its capacity to effectively train peacekeepers and conduct United Nations and regional peace support operations. A new multipurpose training facility at the Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training (BIPSOT) was inaugurated in support of the US State Department's Global Peace Operations Initiative or GPOI programme. During a recent visit to Bangladesh, Commander of United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) Admiral Harry B Harris Jr, attended the inaugural ceremony. The new $3.6 million multipurpose training facility provides the BIPSOT with a 750 seat auditorium and additional training rooms.

Outgoing Ambassador of Switzerland in Dhaka Christian Martin Fotsch expressed satisfaction over the security measures taken by the government for the diplomats and foreign nationals in Bangladesh after the last year's Gulshan cafe' attack. Within a year into its deadliest terror attack at an upscale restaurant in the capital, Bangladesh has made real and measureable progress in its fight against militancy, ensuring recurrence of similar grisly stay at a zero level. During a meeting with the Foreign Minister, the envoy congratulated Bangladesh for successful hosting of the 36th IPU Assembly in Dhaka early this year, where a 5-member strong Swiss delegation participated.

POWER AND ENERGY

Some 2.6 lakh residential consumers in Dhaka and Chittagong cities are going to get prepaid gas meters from next year under a Japan-funded project. To this end, a Japanese contractor is now making pre-shipment inspections of the imported prepaid meters, which will reach the country this month. As many as 50 point of sales (POS) centres in Dhaka city will be set up to facilitate its consumers to recharge their prepaid cards while a data centre will be set up in Titas Bhaban in Karwan Bazar.

GROWTH AND EDEVLOPMENT

The government has established 1,203 adolescent care corners so adolescent boys and girls can receive better treatment and necessary advice. Similar corners under the family planning directorate would also be introduced at the hospitals in all upzilas in phases. At the existing care units adolescents can get advice, treatment and counseling for any problem related to their reproductive health.

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY

The government has launched a new project for the economically backward Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) which the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) views as Bangladesh's commitment to fully implement the 1997 peace accord. The UNDP in partnership with USAID and Danida will help implement the project titled Strengthening Inclusive Development in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (SID-CHT) for the next five years. This is a continuation of a project that has been implemented with "significant" results since 2003 in the three districts of the CHT area - Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban.

TRADE AND INVESTMENT

Owing to successful labour diplomacy under the current government, over 4.6 million Bangladeshi workers went abroad in the last eight years since 2009 as her government has taken many initiatives for creating new labour markets. While under the BNP regime, such opportunities were available to 97 countries, the horizon has been extended to 107 countries under able leadership of HPM Sheikh Hasina. Her government set up 29 labour wings at Bangladesh embassies or high commissions, with opening of the latest in Mauritius in October 2016, alongside, a study was conducted on 50 new labour markets including Europe, Australia and Brazil.

INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL COOPERATION

The head of UN refugee agency yesterday urged the international community to continue its support to Bangladesh over the Rohingya refugee issues through resource mobilisation, saying the solution to the problem lies with Myanmar. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi also called upon the Bangladesh and Myanmar leaderships to secure the future of younger generation of the Myanmarese refugees living in this country.