Bangladesh has proposed to make provisions for scholarships so that students and professionals from developing countries can do internship in the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
Bangladesh Ambassador to the Netherlands Sheikh Mohammed Belal made the proposal and formally submitted it during the recently held fourth review conference of the OPCW, said Bangladesh Embassy in The Hague on Saturday. This scholarship fund, if approved, will also open up opportunities for candidates from Bangladesh to go to The Hague to work in the OPCW. Reflecting Bangladesh’s successful engagement with the OPCW, Ambassador Belal was elected as Chairperson of the Credential Committee of the fourth review conference. Other members of the committee are Columbia, Guatemala, Malaysia, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Sudan and Macedonia. OPCW organises review conference every fifth year comprising 193 countries.
The OPCW, a Noble laureate organisation, is working to get the world rid of chemical weapons across the world. Earlier Bangladesh formally submitted a non-paper on “Internship and Junior Professional Officer (JPO) programmes opportunities in the OPCW for applicants from the States Parties in the developing world under the regular budget of the OPCW and/or through a Trust Fund towards balanced geographical representation in the Technical Secretariat” for consideration by the Fourth Review Conference. With facts and figures, Bangladesh showed to the member States that, at this time, interns and Junior Professional Officer (JPO) are recruited by OPCW only if they could fund themselves, said the Embassy. In its proposal, Bangladesh urged all to get rid of “affordability” as the criteria through a scholarship fund for candidates from developing countries like Bangladesh.
If approved, Bangladesh will help create a precedent which other international organisations could also replicate. This scholarship fund will also open up opportunities for candidates from Bangladesh to come to The Hague to work in the OPCW. During proceedings of the review conference, Bangladesh also expressed its support and solidarity for the State of Palestine as they joined the OPCW as the 193rd country.
