Expatriates urged to help cyclone victims
Tuesday, 20 November 2007
Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA M Humayun Kabir has called upon the Bangladesh expatriate community to stand beside the cyclone-affected people of the country.
"You should complement the efforts of the government to provide post-cyclone rescue and rehabilitation support to the victims," he told the expatriates while speaking at an annual meeting of the Triangle Bangladesh Society in Durham Raleigh in North Carolina Saturday evening, reports UNB.
Addressing the meeting, State Senator Janet Cowell expressed her sympathy to the cyclone victims and reiterated the position of the US government to extend all possible support to Bangladesh to meet the emerging challenges from cyclones.
Drawing attention of the community members about the ongoing reform programmes in Bangladesh, Ambassador Kabir said the new face of Bangladesh would largely depend on the success of the ongoing reform programmes.
In this context, he also outlined new initiatives that the embassy has already undertaken to reach out to Bangladeshi community in the USA.
The ambassador also urged the Bangladeshi community members to work through their Congressmen and Senators to take forward the New Partnership for Development Act (NPDA) of 2007 in the US Congress.
He further called upon the community members to work as a bridge to link Bangladesh with global knowledge network and other investment opportunities around the globe.
Earlier, on November 16, Ambassador Kabir took part in a day-long conference on South Asia at the North Carolina Central University where he spoke at the public event on current state of political situation in Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, Italian President Dr Giorgio Napolitano and Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema and German President Horst Kohler have expressed deep concern over the devastation caused by cyclone Sidr.
In a statement released by the spokesperson of UN leader, Ban Ki-moon said he had been following with mounting concern the devastation in Bangladesh resulting from cyclone Sidr.
He expressed the full solidarity of the UN system at this time of crisis, and reiterated that the organisation was ready and willing to help them respond in any possible way.
The UN chief also noted that the UN agencies on the ground were already responding to the basic needs of those affected, and the assessment teams were on the spot.
"We've made clear that several million (US) dollars are available from the Central Emergency Response Fund depending on need," he said.
In another message sent to President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed, Hu offered deep sympathies for the victims of the cyclone and expressed the belief that the Bangladesh people would overcome the difficulties and rebuild their homes soon.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao also sent a message Sunday offering his sympathies to Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed.
In similar message to President Iajuddin Ahmed, conveyed by Italian Ambassador in Bangladesh Pietro Ballero, Italian President Dr Giorgio Napolitano has expressed condolence and deep shock at the calamity that befell Bangladesh.
In another message, Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema also expressed the condolence and solidarity of the Italian government to the Bangladesh Government.
As a first act of solidarity to the affected people, Italian government has replied to the emergency appeal of the International Red Cross with a donation of 100,000 Euro, stated an embassy press release.
In separate message to President Iajuddin Ahmed, German President Kohler said, "I was shocked and grieved to learn of the many lives lost and injuries caused by the recent hurricane particularly in the south-east of your country. On behalf also of my compatriots I offer you my deepest sympathy."
"You should complement the efforts of the government to provide post-cyclone rescue and rehabilitation support to the victims," he told the expatriates while speaking at an annual meeting of the Triangle Bangladesh Society in Durham Raleigh in North Carolina Saturday evening, reports UNB.
Addressing the meeting, State Senator Janet Cowell expressed her sympathy to the cyclone victims and reiterated the position of the US government to extend all possible support to Bangladesh to meet the emerging challenges from cyclones.
Drawing attention of the community members about the ongoing reform programmes in Bangladesh, Ambassador Kabir said the new face of Bangladesh would largely depend on the success of the ongoing reform programmes.
In this context, he also outlined new initiatives that the embassy has already undertaken to reach out to Bangladeshi community in the USA.
The ambassador also urged the Bangladeshi community members to work through their Congressmen and Senators to take forward the New Partnership for Development Act (NPDA) of 2007 in the US Congress.
He further called upon the community members to work as a bridge to link Bangladesh with global knowledge network and other investment opportunities around the globe.
Earlier, on November 16, Ambassador Kabir took part in a day-long conference on South Asia at the North Carolina Central University where he spoke at the public event on current state of political situation in Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, Italian President Dr Giorgio Napolitano and Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema and German President Horst Kohler have expressed deep concern over the devastation caused by cyclone Sidr.
In a statement released by the spokesperson of UN leader, Ban Ki-moon said he had been following with mounting concern the devastation in Bangladesh resulting from cyclone Sidr.
He expressed the full solidarity of the UN system at this time of crisis, and reiterated that the organisation was ready and willing to help them respond in any possible way.
The UN chief also noted that the UN agencies on the ground were already responding to the basic needs of those affected, and the assessment teams were on the spot.
"We've made clear that several million (US) dollars are available from the Central Emergency Response Fund depending on need," he said.
In another message sent to President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed, Hu offered deep sympathies for the victims of the cyclone and expressed the belief that the Bangladesh people would overcome the difficulties and rebuild their homes soon.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao also sent a message Sunday offering his sympathies to Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed.
In similar message to President Iajuddin Ahmed, conveyed by Italian Ambassador in Bangladesh Pietro Ballero, Italian President Dr Giorgio Napolitano has expressed condolence and deep shock at the calamity that befell Bangladesh.
In another message, Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema also expressed the condolence and solidarity of the Italian government to the Bangladesh Government.
As a first act of solidarity to the affected people, Italian government has replied to the emergency appeal of the International Red Cross with a donation of 100,000 Euro, stated an embassy press release.
In separate message to President Iajuddin Ahmed, German President Kohler said, "I was shocked and grieved to learn of the many lives lost and injuries caused by the recent hurricane particularly in the south-east of your country. On behalf also of my compatriots I offer you my deepest sympathy."