Development
‘Bangladesh couldn’t have achieved this level of development without continued democratic trends’
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said Bangladesh has witnessed incredible progress solely because of the continuation of democratic trends and elected governments.
“Bangladesh couldn’t have achieved this level of development without continued democratic trends,” she said while inaugurating 11 newly-completed projects under the Housing and Public Works Ministry.
Read more: AL won’t run away, rather will continue developing Bangladesh: PM in Rajshahi
The premier joined a programme at Ramna Batamul (Ramna Park) through a virtual platform from her official residence Ganabhaban.
The projects were implemented in the 2021-2022 fiscal year by the Public Works Department, the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) and the National Housing Authority.
Sheikh Hasina said her government took Bangladesh forward as per its plans and the country gained the status of a developing country by 2021. “It has been possible only because democracy remained established continuously and elected public representatives were in power since 2009,” she said.
Focusing on her government’s steps for the development of Bangladesh, the PM said, “We’ve been working for the overall development of the country and the people. It is possible (to accomplish such development work) only because today, a government elected by the people is in power.”
She said the people voted Awami League to power in the 2014 and 2018 elections as the AL government worked for development. If there is a continuation of democratic trends, people will witness development, she said.
“I hope you all notice the change Bangladesh witnessed in the last 14 years (2009-2023) and it has been possible only as AL is in power,” she added.
The premier said her government has already developed the country as "Digital Bangladesh" and now its target is to transform the country into a "Smart Bangladesh" by 2041 where everything including people, governance, economy, education and health sectors will be Smart.
“Inshallah, we’ll be able to do so (to accomplish the target of building Smart Bangladesh),” she added.
Noting that the international organisations predicted that the global economic downturn might worsen in 2023, Hasina said the government has focused on raisinh food production and already asked all not to leave a single inch of land uncultivated in a bid to protect the country from the blow of the economic recession.
She also asked the people to practice austerity in using electricity, water and other resources during the global crisis induced by the Covid-19 pandemic, Russia-Ukraine war and economic sanctions and counter-sanctions.
Read more: PM inaugurates 26 dev projects worth Tk 1,333 cr in Rajshahi
The projects opened today include six from the Public Works Department, three of the National Housing Authority and two ones of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk).
The six projects of Public Works Department are 20-storey Judges Quarters (90 flats) at Azimpur in Dhaka; nine 10-storey housing buildings (324 flats) for government officials and employees at Mirpur-6 in Dhaka; Renovation of Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Library Bhaban, Annex Bhaban and Auditorium; Nine 10-storey housing buildings (324 flats) for government officials and employees at Noakhali Sadar; Infrastructural Development and overall beatification of Dhaka Ramna Park including Ramna Lake; and six 13-storey housing buildings (288 flats) for government officials and employees at Tejgaon in Dhaka.
Three projects of National Housing Authority are 1040 residential flats (Swapnanagar-1) for middle-income people in Mirpur-9; one 14-storey housing building (100 flats) in Mirpur-15; and Site and Services Residential Plots in Sunamganj.
Two Rajuk projects are Purbachal Water Supply Project Phase-I; and Progati High School Bhaban, Palkhan High School and Purbachal Adarsha College Bhaban in Purbachal new city project.
Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Housing and Public Works Ministry Eng. Mosharraf Hossain, State Minister for Housing and Public Works Sharif Ahmed spoke at the event, while Housing and Public Works Secretary Kazi Wasi Uddin delivered the welcome speech.
Govt working to consolidate relations with neighbours: State Minister
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam on Tuesday said the Bangladesh government is persistently working to consolidate relations with neighbours for regional stability, shared prosperity, and mutual development.
Speaking as the chief guest at a seminar, he emphasised strengthening bilateral relations with neighbours through promoting partnership and cooperation, increasing trade and commerce, pursuing cooperation in the water and power sector, enhancing connectivity, collaborating on capacity building for people-to-people contact and underscored the importance of humanitarian assistance to demonstrate soft power.
Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organised the seminar on ‘Strengthening Bangladesh’s Foreign Relations with Neighbours in the Evolving Global Order’
The State Minister Bangladesh’s principal foreign policy – friendship to all, malice towards none- will remain intact whatever the global order is shifting towards.
Read more: Pilot project of Rohingya repatriation to be executed at an early date, hopes Shahriar
“Our principal position - friendship to all, malice towards none- will remain intact, no matter what happens,” he said.
The state minister said that Bangladesh would also never compromise in the areas of its founding principles - nationalism, socialism, democracy and secularism.
“Keeping those intact, Bangladesh will continue its resources … we have large Bangladeshi diaspora .. we do have, of course, some soft power,” he said.
Alam said Bangladesh would continue to expand its relationship that has already established as a good neighbour in its neighbourhood.
“We (also) hope that our neighbours will try to reciprocate that with best of their ability,” he said adding that these are more relevant when the world is undergoing a complex situation condition
Raise own funds for development: PM Hasina urges public universities
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday called upon the public universities to raise their own funds through the alumni associations for their own development and welfare programmes.
“Every university has an alumni association and through this they can create their own funds for the development of universities and the implementation of projects for the welfare of students,” she said.
The premier made this call while the members of the Standing Committee of Bangladesh University Parishad (Bangladesh University Council) comprising vice chancellors of various public universities,called on her at her official residence Ganabhaban.
Read more: ‘Always a proud moment to see our girls doing so well’: PM tells MasterChef finalist Kishwar
After the meeting, Prime Minister's Deputy Press Secretary KM Sakhawat Moon briefed the reporters.
Placing importance on maintaining good relations with students the PM said, besides studies students should be made useful for the development of the country.
“Students of Bangladesh are very talented, if they are given a little chance, they can bring a higher degree from abroad after completing their university studies,” she said.
To this end, she called upon the university teachers to be more responsible and attentive to make the students suitable.
She said that to fulfill the dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to build a golden Bengal, golden boys and girls should be raised in the universities.
The prime minister said that university students should be involved in sports, cultural activities and creative activities in addition to studies so that they stay away from terrorism and militancy.
Read more: No condition for IMF loan to Bangladesh: PM Hasina tells Parliament
For this purpose, Hasina urged to take the initiative to start the inter-university sports competition again.
She recalled that once upon a time there was rampant use of weapons in university shootings, but after Awami League came to power, there is no clanking of weapons and terrorism and militancy in the country have been suppressed with a firm hand.
Pointing out that the government has given importance to the development of the skills of the youth, she said that steps have been taken to ensure that the youth can become entrepreneurs and provide jobs to others instead of chasing jobs after studying.
PM Hasina said that whenever Awami League comes to power, the rate and quality of education in the country increases.
In this context, she mentioned that her government has given importance to development of education, research, production and excellence as well as skill development.
At the same time, the prime minister said that the government is gradually moving the country towards industrialization by maintaining the balance of the environment.
Read more: AL never considers what it gets in return of working for the people: PM Hasina
Hasina said that the government has developed Digital Bangladesh under the guidance of her information and communication technology advisor Sajib Wazed Joy.
She expressed her determination to build a developed, prosperous and smart Bangladesh in 2041 by maintaining this continuity of development.
In the event, the vice-chancellors of government universities raised various problems of their respective universities and the PM gave a patient hearing with assurance to solve those gradually.
Modi calls on leaders of Global South to unitedly forge a common agenda for its own development
At the Voice of the Glocal South Summit hosted virtually by India on Thursday, Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi called on leaders of the Global South to unitedly forge a common agenda for its own development and for the three-fourth of humanity that lives in it.
Bangladesh, represented by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was invited to the inaugural session where world leaders shared their country’s views.
She thanked the Indian government for inviting Bangladesh to this important summit that would provide it a unique opportunity to engage with counterparts world over.
Read more: Modi rolls out 5G mobile internet services in India
PM Hasina warmly congratulated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government of India on assumption of G20 Presidency and added that Bangladesh welcomes India's vision as the President of G20 to ensure inclusive development under the theme, "One Earth, One Family, One Future".
PM Modi spoke of the Global South as a united entity with the greatest stakes in the future and added that India has always stood for the greater role of developing countries in determining our common future.
To reshape the global emerging order, he called for an equivalent voice of the Global South.
To redesign global political and financial governance, remove inequities, enlarge opportunities, support growth and spread progress and prosperity, he called for simple, scalable and sustainable solutions to transform the Global South and proposed a 4R strategy - ‘Respond, Recognize, Respect and Reform’: Respond to the priorities of the Global South by framing an inclusive and balanced international agenda; Recognize that the principle of ‘Common but Differentiated Responsibilities’ applies to all global challenges; Respect sovereignty of all nations, rule of law and peaceful resolution of differences and disputes; and Reform international institutions, including the United Nations, to make them more relevant.
Human-centric development came out as an-important important priority from all the world leaders.
Read more: India’s G20 agenda to be inclusive, ambitious, action-oriented, decisive: Modi
China will remain engaged in Bangladesh’s next stage of development journey: Momen
Newly appointed Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang has conveyed to Bangladesh that his country will “remain engaged” in Bangladesh’s development journey to the next level, noting Bangladesh’s “remarkable” economic progress over the years.
“Our discussion was very useful and fruitful. Good news is that China has expressed its willingness to remain engaged with Bangladesh in our development journey. They want to work with us as a partner,” Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said today (January 10, 2023).
Talking to reporters after attending a discussion, marking the historic Homecoming Day of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Momen said he and his Chinese counterpart discussed the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war, including disruptions in the supply chain and economic fallout.
“… We need to work together to overcome the current situation (due to the Ukraine war),” Momen said.
Read More: Bangladesh reassures Chinese FM of one-China policy, seeks better trade relations
TRADE RELATIONS
The foreign minister said he raised the huge trade gap issue with China as Bangladesh imports goods worth US$ 13 billion against exports worth less than US$ 800 million.
He said though there was a decision of duty-free and quota-free facilities for 98 percent of Bangladeshi products, it has not been fully implemented yet due to the absence of a gazette notification.
Businesses are yet to take advantage of the duty-free and quota-free facilities in the Chinese market, the minister said, seeking steps from the Chinese side.
Read more: New Chinese foreign minister makes brief stopover at Dhaka airport
ROHINGYA ISSUE
Regarding the Rohingya issue, Momen said the Chinese side sees some problems in Myanmar that are delaying the repatriation of the Rohingyas. “But he (Chinese foreign minister) remains hopeful.”
Momen said if the Rohingya issue remains unresolved, there is a possibility that they could become “radicalised”. “These people are stateless. Their future is uncertain. For that reason, they could succumb to extremism and terrorism,” he added.
The Bangladeshi foreign Minister sought special measures from the Chinese side so that the problem could be resolved as soon as possible.
“At least the process should start. He agreed,” Momen told reporters referring to his conversation with the Chinese foreign minister.
Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char and not a single Rohingya has been repatriated since August, 2017.
Read More: New Chinese envoy presents credentials to President Hamid
In August 2017, a deadly crackdown by Myanmar army on Rohingya Muslims sent hundreds of thousands fleeing across the border into Bangladesh.
Bangladesh also conveyed to China that it maintains a balanced foreign policy with all countries while reassuring Dhaka’s support to Beijing.
“We believe in the One-China principle. We maintain a balanced foreign policy. This is our principle. We will extend our support (to China) from time to time,” Momen told reporters at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport early Tuesday as conveyed to his Chinese counterpart who had a brief stopover there.
Momen received his Chinese counterpart upon his arrival at around 1:58am, a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told UNB.
Read More: Bangladesh 'pearl of Bay of Bengal, important country in South Asia': New Chinese envoy
The two Foreign Ministers had a brief meeting at the VIP Lounge of the airport and discussed issues of mutual interest.
Momen described the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Bangladesh in 2016 as a milestone but mentioned that many decisions in terms of investment are yet to be implemented.
The foreign minister of Bangladesh also mentioned China’s involvement in a number of important development projects including the rail link of Padma Bridge.
He also thanked the Chinese government for its support to Bangladesh during Covid-19 pandemic.
The Chinese foreign minister invited Momen to visit Beijing at a mutually convenient time.
Read More: Outgoing Chinese Ambassador Li Jiming hopes Rohingya repatriation will start next year
In reply, Momen also invited his Chinese counterpart to come again for a longer stay.
Foreign Minister Momen saw off his Chinese counterpart at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 2:50 am on Tuesday.
Earlier, Momen told UNB that it was not an official visit to Bangladesh, but the Chinese foreign minister would make a stopover here on his way to another destination.
Qin Gang, who until recently was ambassador to the US, has started his term with a weeklong trip to five African countries.
To “deepen the China-Africa comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership”, Qin Gang will visit Ethiopia, Gabon, Angola, Benin, Egypt, the African Union Headquarters and the League of Arab States Headquarters upon invitation, from January 9 to 16, 2023, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a daily media briefing on Monday.
Read More: No good news yet from Chinese side on Rohingya repatriation: Momen
Govt to honour expats through National Expatriate Day: Momen
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday said the government wants to honor expatriate Bangladeshis in every possible way and ease their sufferings at home and abroad.
He said the expatriates have always been supportive to Bangladesh’s economic development and even played a very significant role during the War of Liberation in 1971.
“They have kept our economy vibrant by sending remittances. We want to engage them more in our economic development,” he told reporters after attending a programme in the city.
Momen said the government has taken a decision to observe December 30 as the National Expatriates Day. The Cabinet on Monday approved the proposal.
Read more: Bangladesh requests Bahrain to recruit more skilled workers, IT professionals
Asked whether the government has decided to impose new restrictions along the border and airports to contain Covid-19, Momen said they are yet to discuss the matter.
Responding to a question on rape cases, the foreign minister said they want not a single rape case in the country but it cannot be done without social movement.
Earlier, the foreign minister spoke as the chief guest at a national level sharing meeting on civil-society led alternative CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women) reporting hosted by Bangladesh Mahila Parishad and UN Women.
Read more: Foreign Minister asked to place a report on stranded expats
Cox’s Bazar to be brought under rail connectivity within June: Railways Minister
Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan said on Thursday that trains from across the country will soon go to Cox’s Bazar as the Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar rail line will be opened to public within June next year.
The minister said this while talking to journalists at the station in Cox’s Bazar after visiting the Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar railway project on Thursday.
“Rail connection with Cox’s Bazar, which was once a dream is finally on its way to fulfillment. Like the people of Cox’s Bazar, people from all over the country are waiting eagerly to go there by train. I hope that the work of laying down rail tracks will end within the stipulated time,” Sujan said.
The minister added that the government has taken up a new project to purchase high quality tourist coaches for the Cox’s Bazar route.
Read: Much-loved train journeys to Cox’s Bazar likely in 2 years
“We’ll buy a total of 54 coaches with large windows so that people travelling to Cox’s Bazar can enjoy the natural beauty from their seats. About 80 percent work of this project has been completed already,” Sujan added.
The minister visited different floors of the railway station being built in Cox’s Bazar. Project officials said that the construction work of the railway building will be completed within April, 2023.
Later, Sujan inspected 30 kilometres of rail tracks by an inspection car. As of yet, 60km rail tracks have been laid down.
According to project officials, a total of 100km single line and dual gauge rail line is being constructed between Dohazari and Cox’s Bazar. There will be 39 major bridges and 242 culverts in this rail line. Besides, underpasses and overpasses are being built for the movement of elephants.
Read: Dhaka-Cox's Bazar train service still a distant reality as project limps along
Once established, the Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar rail line will connect the region with Trans Asian Railway. The entire nation will come under rail connectivity with Cox’s Bazar, the topmost tourist place of the country. Besides, the rail track will ease the transportation of fish, raw materials of rubber, salt and other agricultural products to and from the coastal district.
Member of Parliament Shaimum Sarwar Kamal, Additional Director General (ADG) of Bangladesh Railway (BR) Kamrul Ahsan and Managing Director (MD) of BR (East) Jahangir Hossain, among others, were present during Sujan’s visit.
PM opens 29 development projects, lays foundation stones of 4 others
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday inaugurated 29 development projects and laid the foundation stones of four others in Cox’s Bazar.
The total cost of the 29 projects which were inaugurated is about Tk 1392.37 crore.
Read: PM to open 28 development schemes in Cox’s Bazar
The development schemes opened by the Prime Minister include Bakkhali river flood control, drainage, irrigation and dredging project (1st Phase), dam reconstruction and protection work in the sea dike section at Shah Porirdwip, rehabilitation project of damaged polders in Cox's Bazar district, upgradation of link road-Laboni intersection road to a four-lane, improvement of Ramu-Fatekharkul-Maricha National Highway, and reconstruction and widening of Shah Porirdwip section from Hariyakhali.
Other development projects include 399-metre long MP & Ambassador Osman Sarwar Alam Chowdhury Bridge over Bankkhali River on Ramu Kalghar Bazar-Rajarkul UP road, six union land office buildings in the district and four upazila parishad complex buildings.
Read: Cox’s Bazar gears up for PM Hasina’s first public rally in five years
The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of four development projects worth Tk 571.49 crore that include the construction of Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute (2nd Phase), 153.25-metre jetty at Dhurung Ghat and 153.25-metre jetty at Akbar Boli Ghat on Dhurung GC Mirakhali Road under Kutubdia Upazila, jetty at Maheshkhali Gorakghata Ghat under Maheshkhali Upazila and rehabilitation Project of Polders along Naf River in Ukhia and Teknaf Upazilas to improve Bangladesh-Myanmar border security.
Friendship celebrates 20 years of transforming lives in remote, unaddressed communities
Friendship, an NGO working as a social purpose organisation, observed its 20 anniversary in the country with the commitment to continue its endeavour to promote the development of the remote and unaddressed communities at the forefront of the climate crisis.
On the occasion, addressing a press conference at the Intercontinental Hotel in the city on Friday Friendship founder Runa Khan said that in times of global crisis, Friendship’s mission and values are as relevant and important as ever.
“Today I believe, because of its impact, this work has to be scaled up and replicated with quality and dependability,” she added.
She mentioned that an unprecedented climate disaster and a global cost-of-living crisis push millions into poverty all over the world.
Friendship began its journey with an innovation: a floating hospital in the shifting river islands (chars) of the Brahmaputra/Jamuna River, where conventional healthcare systems were impossible to operate.
Due to the temporal nature of the landscape, Friendship was forced to innovate from the outset.
Friendship started in 2002 guided by its vision of a world where people—especially the hard-to-reach and unaddressed—have equal opportunities to live with dignity and hope.
Runa Khan said the Friendship’s work has been driven by an uncompromising commitment to its code of ethics and core values of integrity, dignity, justice, quality and hope.
Following the press conference, Friendship’s Char Theatre performed an adaptation from its repertoire of plays that address social issues like child marriage, dowry and basic rights in char communities.
Along with these events, an exhibition was organised at the same venue, displaying the preservation of the wooden boats of Bengal, handcrafted slow fashion products produced by char women, dignity inspired artwork by Friendship schoolchildren and the award-winning buildings designed by architect Kashef Mahbub Chowdhury.
Marc Elvinger, Co-Chair of Friendship International, Salahuddin Ahmed, chair of the board of directors of Friendship Bangladesh, Friendship national and international chairs, board members and other senior members of the organisation attended the events.
Sri Lankan minister meets PM
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganabhaban on Friday.
In the meeting, the visiting minister stressed the shipping and air connectivity between the two countries to boost trade relations and enhance people-to-people contacts, said a press release of PMO press wing.
The prime minister thanked him for attending the 22nd Ministerial Meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) held in Dhaka.
Hasina wished good luck and speedy economic recovery of Sri Lanka.
Read more: PM rules out Sri Lanka-like crisis in Bangladesh
While discussing regional and multilateral cooperation, Hasina pointed out that the prolonged presence of more than one million forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar poses a serious threat to the overall socio-economy, environment, and security architecture in Bangladesh and the entire region.
She sought Sri Lanka’s support for the sustainable, safe, and voluntary repatriation of these forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals, Rohingyas, to their ancestral land in Rakhine State, Myanmar.
The PM also discussed the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on the regional economy.
The Sri Lankan foreign minister expressed his admiration for the charismatic leadership of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and commended recent socio-economic development and stability achieved by Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
He underscored that Sri Lankans are interested in investing in Bangladesh and invited investment from Bangladesh.
Ali Sabry conveyed an invitation on behalf of his government to the prime minister to visit Colombo at a mutually convenient time.
Read more: Comparing Bangladesh with Sri Lanka is unfortunate: Principal Secretary
The meeting ended in a positive tone with a pledge to continue the friendly cooperation between the two countries in the days ahead.