Asian Development Bank Report: Bangladesh world's most vulnerable country to climate change-related risk factors; Bangladesh seeks EU support to resolve the issue of repatriation of Rohingya refugees;
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  • According to a new Asian Development Bank (ADB) report released on March 13, 2012, Bangladesh is the world's most vulnerable country to climate change-related risk factors. According to the report, Asia and the Pacific have six of the world's 10 countries most vulnerable to climate change. Bangladesh tops this list, followed by India (2nd), Nepal (4th), the Philippines (6th), Afghanistan (8th) and Myanmar (10th),” the report said. 1

    In another development, Bangladesh on March 13, 2012 sought the support of the European Union (EU) in resolving the long-standing issue of repatriation of Rohingya refugees. At a meeting with a seven-member EU delegation led by William Hanna, EU Ambassador to Bangladesh, Food and Disaster Management Minister Abdur Razzaque urged the EU to settle the problem, by sending the Rohingyas back to their homeland in Myanmar. In reply, the delegation informed the minister that the EU had already chalked out a project worth $100 million to be implemented in Myanmar for the Rohingya refugees intruding in Bangladesh. 2

    Meanwhile, India announced taking up the rail connectivity project linking Agartala, capital of the northeastern state of Tripura, with Akhaura in Bangladesh in a bid to improve ties between the two countries. 3

    Reports noted that Russia has agreed to provide 85 percent of the fund for the first-ever nuclear power plant in Bangladesh. Bangladesh will further negotiate with Moscow to get the entire amount -- Tk 12,000 crore to 15,000 crore -- estimated for building the plant at Rooppur in Pabna. 4

    In other developments, according to reports, Indian Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne will visit Dhaka on March 18, 2012 on a four-day official visit to Bangladesh aimed at bolstering defence cooperation. 5

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