Highlights from the local media of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka

September 28th, 2015 | Volume: 1 - 19/9

BANGLADESH Teesta deal to be signed with Bangladesh: PM Modi the independent | 26th September Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed hope that the Teesta River water-sharing agreement would be signed with Bangladesh, reports UNB. PM Modi came up with the view at a delegation-level unscheduled meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Both the leaders, now in New York to attend the seventieth session of the UN General Assembly. Bangladesh PM Hasina receives ‘ICT Sustainable Development Award’ BSS / The Daily Star | 27th September Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has received "ICT Sustainable Development Award" from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao formally handed over the award to the Prime Minister at a gala dinner programme at UN headquarters last evening. ITU honoured a number of heads of state and government, past and present leaders of the United Nations, UN permanent representatives and business executives in recognition to their contribution to promote the use of ICTs towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Skypower to invest $4.3b in solar power BSS / The Daily Star | 26th September Skypower Global, one of the world's largest and most successful utility-scale solar power producing companies, would invest 4.3 billion US dollars in solar power sector in Bangladesh. Kerry Adler, president and CEO of the Canada-based multinational company, announced this at a roundtable meeting of Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ILO, Sweden, Bangladesh sign agreement to launch new initiative in garment sector bdnews 24 | 27th September An agreement to launch a new initiative to enhance “workplace rights and industrial relations” in Bangladesh’s clothing industry has been signed in New York. Sweden will fund $5.4 million in this five-year project, a new endeavour in the series of initiatives undertaken in the clothing sector following the worst-ever factory disaster in 2013. Beijing assures Dhaka of reducing trade gap UNB / Prothom Alo | 27th September Terming Bangladesh China's one of important cooperation partners, Chinese president Xi Jinping has assured prime minister Sheikh Hasina of taking necessary measures to reduce the huge trade gap between the two countries. In a bilateral meeting at Hotel Waldorf Astoria in New York on Saturday, PM Sheikh Hasina apprised the Chinese president of her government's decision to give 774 acres of land in Chittagong to set up an exclusive Chinese special economic zone (SEZ).  BHUTAN Growing pains KUENSEL | 25th September The direct financial implications of Bhutan’s graduation from a least developed country (LDC) status will be a loss of 26 percent of the Official Development Assistance (ODA), including those of the UN system. However, if the government of India’s assistance was included, only about nine percent of Bhutan’s total aid would be at risk. The finance minister Namgay Dorji said that graduation from LDC is the ultimate solution to self-reliance. Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay in New York KUENSEL | 25th SeptemberPrime Minister Tshering Tobgay met UN Under Secretary General and UNDP Administrator Helen Clark, at the UNDP Headquarters in New York on Thursday. The UNDP Administrator noted that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were consistent with Bhutan’s developmental goals. The two discussed sustainable development, climate change and other current challenges facing Bhutan including urbanisation and youth unemployment.  MALDIVES Need re-think on development finance access for Least Developed Countries, Maldives says Haveeru Online | 27th SeptemberMaldives along with other developing states are facing a lot of challenges in accessing development financing after grading to the Least Developed Country group, foreign minister Dhunya Maumoon said Saturday. Indian High Commissioner to the Maldives Rajiv Sahare guarantees a numbers of investors from India Sun Online | 27th September Indian High Commissioner to the Maldives, Rajiv Sahare has assured that a large number of Indian investors would visit the Maldives to invest in the country in the future. Speaking at the India-Maldives Friendship Confluence at Dharubaaruge tonight, Mr. Rajiv Sahare said India and the Maldives have been maintaining their friendship for more than 50 years.  PAKISTAN Economic crisis can only be eliminated through cooperation: PM Sharif Geo.tv| 27th September Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addressed the South-South Cooperation round-table conference in New York where he stressed, that the economic crisis can only be eliminated through mutual cooperation. Islamabad bothered by US-India ties The Nation| 25th September Pakistan is set to take up the issue of the United States’ discriminatory attitude towards Pakistan against India, official sources said.  No meeting scheduled for Nawaz and Modi at UNGA Dawn| 24th September Pakistan and India have no plan to meet at the upcoming United Nations (UN) General Assembly, the Pakistani foreign office said on Thursday, scotching speculation that the leaders of the two nations might seek the opportunity to improve rocky ties. Every inch of motherland to be defended: Pakistani Chief of Army Staff The News International| 25th September Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif said on Thursday that India had been violating the ceasefire agreement continuously and expressed the resolve that every inch of the motherland would be defended with full force and commitment. High-Level Pak-Afghan Contact Expected in NYPakistan Observer| 25th September Pakistan is expected to raise the issue of Badaber Air Force attack with Kabul leaders in New York as meeting between Sartaj Aziz, Adviser to PM on Foreign Affairs and Abdullah Abdullah, Afghan Chief Executive is expected in New York, sources in Foreign Office said. SRI LANKA Japanese PM Abe to meet Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe next month Colombo Gazette | 27th September Arrangements are being made for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to hold talks with French, Turkish and Sri Lankan leaders in Japan over three days in early October, a government source said, according to The Japan Times. Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif keen to visit Sri Lanka soon Colombo Gazette | 27th September The PM said this when he met President Maithripala Sirisena in New York on the sidelines of the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. India-Sri Lanka joint military exercise Mitra Shakti 2015 to commence from 29th September Colombo Page | 27th September A two-week long joint military exercise between India and Sri Lanka will begin on September 29th in Pune, India's Ministry of Defense said in a press statement. Sri Lanka Navy rescues three Indian fishermen in distress Colombo Page | 27th September Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) said a naval craft on patrol in the seas north west of Thalaimannar sighted a sinking Indian trawler on Saturday (26) and rescued the three Indian fishermen, who were in the sea. UN Chief asks President Sirisena to advance dialogue on a political settlement in Sri Lanka Colombo Page | 27th September The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has encouraged Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena to advance the dialogue on a political settlement in the island nation and seize the opportunity "to lay the foundation for long-lasting peace and stability."

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