Libya’s FM briefs heads of diplomatic missions on latest developments in Tripoli

Tripoli Libyan Foreign Minister Mohamed Taher Siala met with the heads of diplomatic missions and charges d’affaires accredited to Libya, at the ministry’s headquarters in Tripoli on Wednesday.

During the meeting, Siala briefed the diplomats on the latest developments of the attack on Tripoli, praising their solidarity and presence in the capital. He stressed that their presence is a practical response to the misleading reports of departure of the diplomatic missions from Tripoli. The foreign minister apprised the diplomatic personnel on the current situation including the assaults on innocent civilians, as well as the shelling of densely populated residential areas which resulted in human casualties and the destruction of public and private property.

Siala also reviewed the steps taken by the Foreign Ministry in the Security Council to issue a resolution condemning the attacks on the civilians. He urged all the missions to make efforts to convey to the international community the real picture of current events.

The minister further called on the international community to take a firm position on these violations against the civilians and to force the aggressors to halt the attack and return to their sites before 3 April. He emphasized the need to differentiate between the aggressor forces that practice terrorism and intimidation, and the forces defending the lives and property of the civilian population in Tripoli.

Siala stressed that protection of diplomatic missions and their premises is crucial to the Libyan Presidential Council, adding that ensuring their safety and security is one of the top priorities of the Government of National Accord.

Ambassador of DR Congo, Dean of Diplomats in Libya Jules Mbilu Mboungu expressed the solidarity of the diplomatic missions with the Government of National Accord and thanked the Libyan foreign minister for this meeting.

Source: International Islamic News Agency

OIC reaffirms commitment to lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan

Jeddah Permanent Representative of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Kabul Ambassador Huseyin Avni Botsali has engaged in a new round of consultations with Afghan leadership on the peace process, inter-Afghan dialogue, and negotiations with Taliban.

Botsali called on Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani, Chief Executive Officer Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, and Presidential Advisors of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to reassure Afghan leadership of OIC’s firm commitment to lasting peace, stability, reconstruction, and development in Afghanistan.

It is noteworthy that President Ashraf Ghani had extended an invitation to OIC Secretary General Dr. Yousef Al-Othaimeen to visit Afghanistan, to review issues pertaining to cooperation, OIC’s engagement and activities, and the follow up on the Makkah Declaration of July 2018, by the International Ulema Conference for Peace and Security in Afghanistan.

Source: International Islamic News Agency

Carrying a Culture’s Expectations: Work-Life Balance for Women in Bangladesh

The United States marked April 2 as Equal Pay Day, which “symbolizes how far into the year women must work to earn what men earned in the previous year.”

In the past decade, Bangladesh has made strides in narrowing the gender pay gap, lifting the status of women, and ensuring easier and greater access for women to participate in the workplace. As a society, however, it still lags in terms of empowering women and balancing gender workloads.

Regardless of women’s participation in the professional workplace, societal norms are that the woman will be responsible for household work. This cultural expectation, coupled with Bangladesh’s dominant religious views, makes work-life balance for career women in Bangladesh even more difficult than their counterparts in Western societies.

Progress has been made

Over the past decade, government policies have pushed the country toward attaining and maintaining steady progress in gender equality. As a result, Bangladesh has been ranked No. 1 for gender equality among South Asian countries for two consecutive years in the Gender Gap Index.

The index, prepared by the World Economic Forum, considers education, economic participation, health and political empowerment to measure gender equality.

According to a 2018 report by the International Labor Organization (ILO), at 2.2% the gender wage gap in Bangladesh is the lowest in the world, where the average gender pay gap is 21.2%.

According to a report published in the Dhaka Tribune on July 12, 2018, the number of working women in Bangladesh was 18.6 million in 2016-17, a marked increase from 16.2 million in 2010.

According to The Global Gender Gap Report, Bangladesh was ranked 48th among 144 countries in wage equity in 2018. Other South Asian countries ranked much lower, including Sri Lanka, Nepal, India, Bhutan and Pakistan, which were ranked 100, 105, 108, 122 and 148 positions, respectively.

Cultural expectations

A study by Action Aid Bangladesh, called Incorporation of Women’s Economic Empowerment and Unpaid Care Work into regional polices: South Asia, released in December 2017, found that a woman in a typical Bangladesh household spends on average six hours a day doing unpaid work in the household, including cooking, cleaning, caring for children and elders, while men spend just over an hour on such activities.

Farah Kabir, country director for Action Aid Bangladesh, told the Dhaka Tribune that if men and women equally shared household work, women would be able to earn more because they would be able to work more hours or put in more effort at paying jobs.

While women have seen access to employment opportunities, education and health care grow, some say additional action is needed for on-the-job training, options for elder care and improvements in mass transportation. Because of the religious and cultural taboo in the country, many women do not drive, even though they are legally able to drive. Many women end up relying on mass transportation, where availability is limited.

Debate renewed

Many impediments remain that affect women’s work-life balance: The Bangladeshi culture expects women to cook, clean and look after their children, even if they have full-time jobs. The discussion around women’s unpaid household work were renewed by a speech made by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that went viral on social media nearly two years ago.

Sheikh Hasina, widely known for her straight talk and sharp sense of humor, in a speech in February 2017, said, People get surprised when they learn that I cook. I don’t understand what’s so surprising about that? I am a mother and a grandmother. My grandchildren love to eat food that I cook. It doesn’t matter whether I am the prime minister or not, I love to cook for my family.

She told the audience that both her son and daughter-in-law are professionals and they share household duties, such as cooking, cleaning, caring for and rearing their children, and helping with their studies. Neither believes the chores are the job of a particular gender, she added.

The prime minister, however, pointed out that most households in Bangladesh do not share this belief system when it comes to sharing household chores.

Most men would say, ‘I don’t know how to do this kind of stuff’ or ‘I’m tired,’ Sheikh Hasina added. But she immediately dismissed those complaints, saying, There is no shame in doing household chores. Men usually say, ‘We can’t.’ Why would they say something like that? What’s so difficult that they can’t do? If you can’t, you must learn. Both the husband and the wife must share the burden.

Do comments on social media speak the truth?

Zahidul Hoque commented after sharing the clip of Sheikh Hasina’s speech on Facebook, writing, I have been cooking for the Customs officers at Chittagong House, (of Customs Department) for last seven years though I am employed as a driver. But I also always feel delighted to help my wife.

Benoy Bhuiyan wrote, The Prophet himself used to help his wives in household choresSo there is no scope for any man to say it is not his duty to help in household chores.

Nazia Nigar commented, Honorable Prime Minister, if every guy was like your son, we the Bangladeshi women, all would have been very happy house wives.

Nurul Haque wrote, We are really inspired by your speech, from now on we boys would also do household chores.

Arjumand Ara Bokul commented, I can’t why would they give this excuse? You are absolutely right, everybody must learn. Thank you honorable Prime Minister.

Kamrul Hasan wrote, Yesterday chicken ranna korlam halka jhol with alu bolte pari ladies fail. ((Translated: Yesterday, I cooked chicken and potato curry. I can compete with any woman when it comes to cooking.))

Ruma Tabassum Nispa vented, Indeed, they (men) get so tired coming back from work while women despite working as hard as donkey never get tired!

Talat Islam shared a personal experience in his comment, I still remember when she herself served us her cooked khichuri [[a traditional Bangla dish]] at the Dhanmondi residence while we were conducting a blood donation drive in the memory of the brutal killings of 15th August (1991/1992). She thanked us for our hard work and said, ‘I should have cooked better food for all the hard work you are doing but couldn’t as I had to prepare food for all the people.’

Though the comments largely depict a favorable leaning toward the prime minister’s view, statistics show the Bangladesh culture still views women as primarily responsible for household labor.

Source: Voice of America

Pakistani Forces Kill Five Terrorists in Peshawar

ISLAMABAD Officials in Pakistan announced Tuesday counterterrorism forces have killed five militants in a 17 hour long gun battle in an upscale locality in the northwestern city of Peshawar.

The clashes erupted on Monday evening after security forces, acting on a tip, stormed a suspected militant hideout in the Hayatabad residential area where five terrorists had taken cover along with a huge quantity of weapons and massive explosives, officials said.

The militants, officials and residents reported, retaliated with heavy gunfire at the raiding police party, killing one officer and wounding two others. Two civilian women were reportedly also among those injured.

Army commandos later joined the civilian security force and the fight continued intermittently into Tuesday afternoon. Police told reporters shortly after the siege ended that about 50 kilograms of explosive material was found installed in a bike and parts of the building.

Neighbors told reporters the slain suspects had moved into the house just days ago. There were no immediate claims of responsibility.

Militants linked to the outlawed Pakistani Taliban outfit and loyalists of Islamic State have claimed responsibility for previous terrorism-related incidents in Peshawar and elsewhere in Pakistan. Last week, a bomb explosion in a market in the southwestern city of Quetta killed at least 20 people and injured more than 50 others. Islamic State claimed it carried out the attack that was primarily aimed at the minority ethnic Hazara Shi’ite community.

Source: Voice of America

Kazakh President Tokayev begins state visit to Uzbekistan

Tashkent President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived in Tashkent on Sunday evening on an official two-day visit to Uzbekistan.

Upon arrival at the Tashkent International Airport, President Tokayev was greeted by Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov and Mayor of Tashkent city Jahongir Ortikhodjaev.

During the visit, the leaders of the two countries will discuss the topical issues of bilateral cooperation aimed at further strengthening of trade and economic, social and humanitarian, transit and transport cooperation as well as key regional and international problems of mutual concern.

The visit will result in the signing of a number of important documents. Also, President Tokayev and his Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev are expected to participate in the solemn ceremony of inaugurating the Year of Kazakhstan in Uzbekistan.

Source: International Islamic News Agency

OIC backs choices of Sudanese people in determining their country’s future

Jeddah The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) expressed its support for the Sudanese people’s choices in determining the future of their country, and welcomed the decisions and measures taken to ensure the interest of the people and to preserve the state institutions.

The OIC urged all Sudanese parties to continue constructive dialogue in order to maintain peace and social cohesion in the country, with the view to achieving the aspirations of the Sudanese people for the peaceful transition of power, as well as realizing stability and sustainable development in line with the resolutions adopted by the Islamic Summit and the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers.

The Organization expressed the hope that the aid package announced by Saudi Arabia and any similar steps by member states would contribute to meeting the urgent needs of the Sudanese people and supporting their future options.

Source: International Islamic News Agency

Pakistan: Hazara community must be protected

Responding to the horrific bombing of an open-air marketplace in a neighbourhood where many members of Shi’a Hazara community live in Quetta that killed at least 16 people and wounded several others on the morning of 12 April 2019, Amnesty International’s Deputy South Asia Director, Omar Waraich, said:

This horrific loss of life is a painful reminder of the threats that Quetta’s Hazara community continues to face. Targeted for their religion by sectarian armed groups, they have suffered many such tragedies over several years. Each time, there are promises that more will be done to protect them, and each time those promises have failed to materialize.

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government has made important commitments to protect all religious groups in the country. Those commitments must translate now into policies to effectively protect the Hazaras of Quetta, ending more than a decade of bloodshed that has scarred their community.

Source: Amnesty International