Bangladesh has joined the ‘Global Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict’ as 123
rd country reaffirming its commitment to denounce sexual violence during armed conflicts.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague and UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Zainab Bangura jointly launched the declaration in New York on September 24, 2013 during the 68
th UN General Assembly.
Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, in a letter, conveyed the decision to British Foreign Secretary William Hague, said a Foreign Ministry media release on Sunday.

The government is exploring the options to mobilise greater volume of external aid, up to 3.0 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), to help meet the additional resources needed for developing infrastructure and cutting poverty, officials said Thursday.
Presently, utilisation of the overseas financial support is estimated at nearly 2.0 per cent of the GDP.
Development analysts, however, said it is difficult to raise the external aid inflow as the government’s development agencies have been inefficient in using loans and grants available in the pipeline.

Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said the United States does not give Bangladesh duty and quota free market access though many countries are providing such facilities.
“The United States is the single largest market for Bangladesh readymade garments and we pay the highest duty on RMG and it is US$ 800 million for the export of US$ 3.5 billion worth products . . . it is an unusual issue. . . the richest country in the world is extracting this kind of money from the poorest country,” said he.

Muhith made the remarks at a press briefi...