House panel calls for education diplomacy globally

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday proposed introducing an education diplomacy at Bangladesh missions abroad and launching an emergency hotline for female migrant workers, report state news agency BSS.

The proposal was made at the first meeting of the committee of 13th Jatiya Sangsad held on Monday with its chairman Jahrat Adib Chowdhury presiding over the event.

Both foreign minister and state minister expressed their consent to the proposals.

Committee members and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, Md Amanullah Aman, Humam Quader Chowdhury, SK Azizul Bari, Sayeed Al Noman, ABM Mosharraf Hossain, Sanjida Islam, Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher and Atikur Rahman Mojahid attended the meeting.

Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman attended the meeting as a special invitee.

The committee was briefed on the organisational structure, functions and ongoing activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The ministry’s activities and achievements over the past six months were reviewed, while its work plan for the next 180 days was presented.

Committee members put forward various opinions and recommendations aimed at making the ministry’s activities more effective, coordinated and result-oriented.

The meeting decided to hold a comprehensive discussion at its next session on measures that could be taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prevent illegal migration to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other countries.

The committee also explained Bangladesh’s achievements and active participation in various foreign affairs initiatives, including the Prime Minister’s recent visits to Malaysia and China, as manifestations of rising global confidence in the government.

The committee unanimously decided to adopt a resolution congratulating and thanking Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on his election as President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Foreign secretary and senior officials concerned from the ministry and the Parliament Secretariat were present at the meeting.