India and Bangladesh are jointly working on riverbank protection; FBCCI urges the Russian government to grant duty-free market benefits to Bangladeshi products; Flag of a new infantry division of Bangladesh Army was raised; Bangladesh welcomes the agreeme
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    • (SEPTEMBER 16-22)

    According to reports, even though the deals on sharing waters of Teesta and Feni rivers remain non-starters, Bangladesh and India are working in right earnest on riverbank protection and dredging of 54 common rivers which is expected to go a long way in providing respite from floods and bank erosion. According to an update provided by the Water Resources Ministry to National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon at a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office, dredging work on the Ichamati river to restore navigability and prevent flooding in West Bengal and Bangladesh is almost complete. Dhaka and New Delhi had agreed to dredge the river on the Bangladesh side as well as the Indian side as a shoal or a sandbank had been causing floods on both sides.1

    In another development, according to report, the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) urged the Russian government to grant duty-free market benefits to Bangladeshi products to narrow the bilateral trade gap. The present trade volume between the two countries is around $543.59 million, with the balance of trade being in favour of Russia. In fiscal 2012-13, the country’s import from Russia stood at $335.30 million against the export of $208.29 million. The call for the trade benefits came at a meeting with Yuri Slyusar, Russia’s deputy minister of industry and trade, at the FBCCI office in Dhaka. 2

    Reports noted that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has raised the flag of a new infantry division of Bangladesh Army at a ceremony in Jalalabad Cantonment, Sylhet on September 17, 2013. The new “17 Infantry Division” will have a brigade and two battalions while one brigade from 33 Infantry Division will be placed under its operational and administrative command. 3

    In other developments, according to reports, Bangladesh welcomed the agreement between the United States and the Russian Federation on elimination of Syrian chemical weapons. 4

    The US government handed over six metal shark boats to Bangladesh Coast Guard on September 19, 2013 to enhance its capability in safeguarding the country’s coast and maritime area. 5

    According to a report jointly released by the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank and the United Nations Population Division, Bangladesh has outshone all its South Asian neighbours save the small island nation the Maldives in terms of reduction in child mortality. By slashing 89 percent between 1990 and 2012, the Maldives topped child mortality reduction chart in South Asia followed by Bangladesh (72 percent) while India and Pakistan remain among the biggest contributors to global child mortality, said the report titled “Levels & Trends in Child Mortality”. 6

    Reports noted that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka on September 22, 2013 on an eight-day official visit to New York to attend the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). She will address the UNGA on September 27 and attend several high level side events and bilateral talks. 7

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