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June 19, 2021 NEWSLETTER |
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Bangladesh among top three performers on SDG index: UN report According to a recent report, released by, Sustainable Development Solution Network (SDSN), Bangladesh emerges out among the top three countries that have progressed most on the SDG Index score since 2015, when the UN member states agreed the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. With the country’s score has increased to 63.5 out of 100 from 63.02 a year ago, Bangladesh is ranked 109th among 165 countries on the index, up from 120th among 157 countries four years ago. This report stands out as a shining testament to the country’s rapid growth sustained, over the space of more than a decade, under the dynamic and prudent leadership of Honourable Prime Minister (HPM) Sheikh Hasina. |
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Global Peace Index: Bangladesh third most peaceful country in South Asia 
Bangladesh has climbed seven notches from last year and secured the 91st position among 163 countries in Global Peace Index for 2021 released by the Institute of Economics and Peace last week. The improvement makes Bangladesh the third most peaceful country in South Asia —ahead of Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Prepared by the Sydney-based think tank Institute for Economics and Peace, the Global Peace Index measures the state of peace across three domains — the level of societal safety and security, the degree of militarization and the extent of ongoing domestic and international conflict. |
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Bangladesh extends vaccine drive to university students 
Bangladesh has resumed its coronavirus vaccination drive by administering doses of the Sinopharm vaccine gifted by China. The government opened the second stage of the campaign by vaccinating students from medical colleges. Sixty-seven centres across the country are administering the vaccines, four in the Dhaka metropolitan area and one each in the remaining 63 districts. Bangladesh first began its coronavirus vaccination campaign on Feb 7 by administering the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines made by the Serum Institute of India. |
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Govt daycare centres for kids: A relief for female RMG workers 
Government has been implementing daycare facilities in phases to the children of the RMG sector working mothers for the last few years. Thanks to the implementation of this programme rolled out by the government, female workers of readymade garment factories are getting the opportunity to keep their children aged from one to six years in a safe environment without any jeopardy from 7am to 8pm. So far 15 daycare centres have been established in different areas of seven districts under this programme. A total of 450 children are now receiving daycare facilities every month. These government daycare services include health care, education, indoor games and other recreational activities. A teacher has been appointed for each daycare centre to provide education to the children. |
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Bangladesh elected FAO Council member, re-elected as member of ILO governing body 
Bangladesh has been elected a Member of FAO Council from the Asia Region for the term 2022-2024. Bangladesh with other Council Members will now lead the organisation at both policy and executive level in deciding and advising on matters pertaining to the implementation of programme and budget execution, monitoring of activities under the new results-based framework, monitoring of implementation of governance decisions and oversight of the administration of the organization for three years. On the other hand, Bangladesh has been re-elected as a deputy member of the governing body of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) from the Asia-Pacific region for 2021-2024. |
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Investment surges in economic zones 
Economic zones, a landmark initiative of the government to boost up planned industrialisation, have been flourishing fast with a surge in investment proposals from local and foreign investors. So far, investment proposals of $40 billion from local and foreign investors have been placed with Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) for the government economic zones across the country. Around 30 business groups have already started development work of their industrial units while it is mentionable that approval has already been issued for the establishment of 97 Economic Zones. Development work has already started in 9 Economic Zones and full swing progress has been witnessed in the work for 28 Economic Zones, which has provided employment opportunity for around 40,000 people. |
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Mechanisation making farm sector booming 
Owing to a rapid advancement in mechanization, the country’s agricultural sector is booming despite a reduction of arable land and other problems. As a result of the multiple benefits of mechanization, farmers are increasingly turning to agricultural machinery. With the reduction in crop production using agricultural machinery, the time between planting from one crop to another has been reduced and farmers are now able to cultivate up to three to four crops a year instead of two. This has not only saved production cost and increased production, it has also reduced the labour cost and land ploughing time between crops in a year. |
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BANGLADESH AWAMI LEAGUE |
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