Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will head the interim government; China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy hospital ship “Peace Ark” visits Chittagong Port; Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh comments on political affairs of Bangladesh;
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  • According to reports, the highest policy-making body of the ruling Awami League, on August 18, 2013, took the stance that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will head the interim government that will oversee the next parliamentary elections. In no circumstances, the Awami League will move away from this stance, observed party leaders at a meeting of the Awami League Central Working Committee at the Gono Bhaban.1

    Reports noted that China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy hospital ship “Peace Ark” arrived in Chittagong on august 19, 2013 on a week-long visit to provide free medical services to the people of Bangladesh and conduct academic exchanges with the country’s military hospitals. Apart from providing treatment to 300 servicemen and civilians every day onboard the ship, medical teams will be sent to Navy Hospital in North Patenga, Ashar Alo and Bangladesh Navy Primary School to provide medical service. In the past two months, Peace Ark visited Brunei, the Gulf of Aden, the Maldives, Pakistan and India. After Bangladesh, the ship will sail for Indonesia and Cambodia before wrapping up its visits.2

    According to reports, in a rare remark on the political affairs of Bangladesh, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jun has urged the two major political parties Awami League & Bangladesh National Party, to sit for dialogue to build confidence between them and resolve the current political standoff ahead of the next general election. The envoy was speaking at a press conference at Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel Dhaka on the occasion of the visit of Chinese hospital ship Peace Ark to Bangladesh. When reminded that China usually refrain from making any political statement on the internal issues of another country, the envoy said as a close friend and neighbour of Bangladesh, China attaches importance to the situation in Bangladesh and wants to see stability and development in this country.3

    Reports noted that a delegation of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment left Dhaka to join a conference on “The Prevention of Illegal Migration Process” in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta on August 19, 2013. The conference has been organised by the Indonesian government to seek cooperation of the labour-sending countries to prevent the illegal migration which causes human trafficking.4

    In other developments, reportedly, India will export 20 lakh bales of cotton to Bangladesh in the 2013-14 cotton season starting in October, even if a ban is imposed on such exports. The two countries also exchanged the final draft of a cotton purchase deal and signed a textiles sector collaboration agreement after a meeting between visiting Bangladesh’s Textiles and Jute Minister Abdul Latif Siddique and Indian Textiles Minister K Sambasiva Rao in New Delhi.5

    Reports noted that over 40,000 illegal Bangladeshi migrants have been deported from India’s national capital in the last 22 years, a Delhi court was told on August 20, 2013. The Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) also said this year till June 30, they have deported 182 Bangladeshi migrants and 119 more are awaiting deportation.6

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