The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has reassured its continuous support in transforming Bangladesh's rural economy. The pledge was made when IFAD's newly appointed Country Director for Bangladesh Dr Valantine Achancho presented his credentials to foreign affairs adviser Md Touhid Hossain at the Foreign Ministry here on Wednesday, said a IFAD press release today. During the meeting, Achancho said IFAD remains deeply committed to improving the lives and livelihoods of rural communities by boosting agricultural productivity, increasing rural incomes, and empowering smallholders and farmers, women, and youth. "Bangladesh has incredible potential when it comes to agriculture and transforming rural communities. I am excited to collaborate with the government, our partners, and local communities to strengthen agricultural systems and improve lives across the country," he said. By working together, the country director said, "We can create sustainable growth and give smallholder farmers the support they need to overcome challenges and thrive." Before coming to Bangladesh, Achancho served as IFAD Country Director and Representative for the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo from 2020 to 2024, and has previously held the same position for Niger, Burkina Faso, and Chad. In his new role of Country Director for Bangladesh, Achancho will be advocating for and enhancing national government programmes that strengthen climate resilience in vulnerable rural communities through infrastructure and climate-smart agriculture, while enhancing access to finance, technology, and markets for smallholders and marginalized groups to diversify the economy and create rural jobs.   "I am dedicated to collaborating with our partners to empower rural communities, enabling them to adapt to climate change, tackle economic challenges, and build sustainable livelihoods for long-term resilience," says Achancho. He also served as IFAD Country Programme Officer for Cameroon and Gabon, and Programme Officer for the Indian Ocean region, contributing to rural development projects in the Sahel and Congo basin, mobilizing co-financing, and strengthening partnerships with governments, donors, and civil society to improve rural livelihoods. Today, IFAD's programme in Bangladesh is one of its largest. Currently, IFAD has investment of USD 519 million in Bangladesh, distributed across six ongoing projects implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, the Local Government Engineering Department, Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation, and the Bangladesh Water Development Board.  

Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain has reaffirmed the interim government's commitment to conducting an impartial and internationally credible investigation into the recent Bangladesh massacre and ensuring due judicial processes are followed.   He made the remark while highlighting the events leading to the second revolution through a mass uprising of people led by the valiant students in Bangladesh at the OIC's 50th Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) in Cameroon.   The foreign adviser led a two-member Bangladesh delegation at the CFM held in Cameroon's capital Yaound, from August 29-30, a foreign ministry's press release said here today.   During the CFM, Hossain informed the meeting on Bangladesh's accession to the UN Convention on Protection for all persons from enforced disappearance.   He reiterated Bangladesh's continued engagements with the OIC and strong commitment to establish peace process for Palestine, denounce Islamophobia, hate-crimes against Muslims.   The foreign adviser also said Dhaka is keen to engage in further trade and investment with the OIC member states by strengthening the Bangladesh's transportation and communication infrastructure.   This year, the CFM was held with the theme "Intra OIC transportation and communication infrastructure" where several political, economic, social, cultural and security issues were discussed.   A resolution namely 'Situation of the Rohingya Muslim Community in Myanmar' has been adopted unanimously to keep the momentum in exerting continuous pressure on Myanmar authorities.   Foreign Adviser Hossain also had a call-on with his counterparts of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan on the sidelines of the CFM.   Meanwhile, on August 29, an Open-ended Meeting of the OIC Ad Hoc Ministerial Committee on Accountability for Human Rights Violations against the Rohingyas was also held on the margin of the CFM.   The foreign adviser highlighted the current situation in the Rakhine State and urged all to maintain international pressure on Myanmar for a quick solution to the problem.  

Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation has felicitated chief adviser to the interim government Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus, a 1984 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee. "We at the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation offer our sincerest wishes of hope to your Interim Government and the peoples of Bangladesh," read a congratulatory message of the foundation sent recently to Prof Yunus. The recent political unrest in Bangladesh is a clear expression for its people's hunger for an inclusive, corruption-free and democratic government. "The global community is relieved that the violence and brutality that marked the protests have ended, resulting to the interim government which you now head," the message read. In his credo, President Ramon Magsaysay firmly said: "I believe that government starts at the bottom and moves upward, for government exists for the welfare of the masses of the nation. I believe that the highest leader in the state should set the example of a big heart, an honest mind, sound instincts, the virtue of healthy impatience and an abiding love for the common man." "May this new chapter in your country's history be defined by stability and not uncertainty, by equity not inequality, and with leadership that upholds the fundamental rights of the common man and not the select few," according to the message.