Bangladesh has proposed Trust Fund for interns from developing world in the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
Dhaka has been urging all international organisations in the Netherlands to devise pilot projects for providing sponsored internship for young graduates from the developing world, said the Bangladesh Embassy in The Hague on Friday.
At this time, internships to most of the international organisations are open to young graduates who can afford to bear expenses of living in The Hague. In a way, the present system serves the purpose of developed countries that provides scholarships to their nationals for internship in organisations like OPCW, ICC, ICJ, among others.
Bangladesh Ambassador to the Netherlands Sheikh Mohammed Belal, while making his inaugural statement at the 91st Executive Council of the OPCW, proposed to the 193-member OPCW to form a Trust Fund to provide scholarships to the qualified young graduates from the developing world.
Bangladesh’s proposal enjoys broader support and accordingly a Trust Fund for scholarship may be formed by the OPCW in the near future, said the Embassy. This will open up opportunities for qualified young graduates from Bangladesh to work as interns and Junior Professional Officers.
It will, in turn, help bring much needed lessons and experiences to better prepare Bangladesh for not only facing any exigencies with regard to chemical weapon as well as to promote peaceful use of chemistry.
Ambassador Belal is also working with other international organisations in the Netherlands for similar scholarships for young graduates from Bangladesh and other developing countries. Bangladesh’s persistent engagement, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has already formed a scholarship fund for young graduates.
Ambassador Belal remains engaged for a stood alone arrangements for young law graduates from Bangladesh with other organisation in The Hague, the embassy said. Bangladesh was elected to the elite 41-member Executive Council of the OPCW for the period 2019-2021.
