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Bangladesh celebrates Hasina’s 75th birthday
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina may be in the United States but her 75th birthday is being celebrated across the country on Tuesday.
Hasina, the eldest among the five children of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, was born at Tungipara in Gopalganj on September 28, 1947.
Like previous years, the ruling Awami League and its affiliated organisations are celebrating the day through various programmes, highlighting her life and achievements.
Different programmes, including discussions, doa and milad-mahfil, special prayers and photo exhibitions have been organised in the capital and elsewhere across the country marking her birthday.
Besides, another nationwide mass vaccination campaign began this morning, with a target to Inoculate 80 lakh people on the occasion of Hasina's birthday.
As part of the AL central programmes, a discussion was held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the capital at 10am.
Besides, doa and milad-mahfil have been arranged at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque and all other mosques throughout the country after Zahr prayers.
Special prayers have also been offered at International Buddhist Monastery (Bihar) in Merul Badda, Christian Association Bangladesh (CAB) Mirpur Baptist Church, Jakmala Rani Church in Tejgaon and Dhakeshwari Temple on the day. AL central leaders were present at the events.
AL general secretary Obaidul Quader also asked all the AL’s associate bodies, social and cultural organisations and their all-level leaders and activists to celebrate the day through different programmes, including discussions, doa-mahfils and special prayers throughout the country.
He also asked the leaders of all AL units up to the ward level to celebrate the day, taking up similar programmes maintaining all Covid-safety protocols.
Hasina assumed office on 7 January, 2019, for the fourth time after her party-led grand alliance won the eleventh parliamentary election held on December 30, 2018.
She served as Prime Minister for the first time in 1996-2001, second term in 2009-2013, and the third term in 2014-2018. Hasina served as the Leader of Opposition thrice.
Hasina spent much of her childhood in her ancestral small hamlet in Tungipara. When Bangabandhu was elected a legislator, his family moved to Dhaka in 1954. She graduated from the University of Dhaka in 1973.
Having a chequered political career, Hasina was elected vice-president of the Students Union of the Government Intermediate Girls College when she contested as a candidate from the Students League.
Later, she served as secretary and then as president of the college unit of the Student League. She was also a member of the Students League at Dhaka University and became the secretary of the Rokeya Hall unit. She actively participated in all mass movement from her student life.
Bangabandhu, along with the members of his family, was brutally assassinated on the fateful night of August 15, 1975. Hasina and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana were the only survivors as they were in West Germany at that time.
Hasina was unanimously elected as the president of th Bangladesh Awami League in 1981 in her absence while she was in forced exile. She finally returned home on May 17, 1981, ending her six years in exile.
She faced the wrath of the then rulers on her return as she launched a movement to restore democracy in the country. Hasina was detained time and again, and at least 22 bids were made on her life.
'Thank You, PM', says Bangladesh
Shunned as a burden at birth, Babu Mia was raised by his grandmother in Magura. Till recently, this differently abled man was denied the basic facilities for living a dignified life.
However, things suddenly took a turn for the better some days ago when he managed to buy a mobile phone and conveyed his plight to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Within a few days, Babu received an "unexpected gift" -- a piece of land with a home on it.
Bewildered but grateful, Babu paid an emotional tribute to PM Hasina in a video, which was shared by ICT adviser and son Sajeeb Wazed Joy from his Facebook page.
UN chief showers praise on Hasina, says Bangladesh a ‘development miracle’
Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres has highly praised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the development in Bangladesh, calling it a ‘miracle’.
“The UN Secretary-General commended Bangladesh for its development in different sectors and humanity…. he thanked the Prime Minister for achieving a development of miracle,” said Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen.
The Foreign Minister was briefing reporters after a bilateral meeting held between Sheikh Hasina and António Guterres at the UN Secretariat Building in New York on Thursday.
Also read: PM’s presence in UNGA important for critical issues: Dr Momen
As the Bangladesh Prime Minister arrived at the meeting venue, the UN Secretary-General said, “Welcome to your home.”
He said both the UN and Bangladesh shared common priorities in different areas, including climate, financing and SDGs. “We share common priorities. Whether it’s climate, financing and SDGs. Those priorities in the UN are also the priorities of Bangladesh,” Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations Rabab Fatima, who was at the briefing, quoted António Guterres as saying.
Sheikh Hasina urged the Secretary-General to appoint more Bangladeshis to higher posts in the United Nations since Bangladesh plays a significant role in the United Nations. “We’re your major tools, but there’re a few Bangladeshis in your different higher posts,” she said.
In reply, the Secretary General said they would consider it.
In this regard, the Foreign Minister told reporters that Bangladesh and the UN are very closely linked. Bangladesh is the number-1 troops-contributing country to its peacekeeping mission. All the UNDP projects are fulfilled (implemented) in Bangladesh, he said.
“Bangladesh is a model (case) to the UN as it’s a vibrant economy coming out from a poor economy. This is why the UN always respects Bangladesh,” said Dr Momen, adding that the Bangladesh is a success story for the United Nations.
Bangladesh has been playing a very significant role in the UN since it became a member of the multilateral organisation in 1974, he said.
“Bangladeshi peacekeepers are creating a brand name wherever they work. So, we asked them to appoint Bangladeshis in other areas also,” Dr Momen added.
Also read: PM joins opening session of 76th UNGA general debate
More meetings
The Bangladesh Prime Minister also had a bilateral meeting with Queen Maxima of the Netherlands at the former’s place of residence.
Queen Maxima, also the UN Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development, said they are thinking whether an insurance programme can be launched in Bangladesh to bring poor farmers who are affected by flood and storm under the insurance coverage.
Hasina also held two separate bilateral meetings with President of the Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and President of Vietnam Nguyễn Xuân Phúc at the UN Headquarters on the sidelines of the United Nations general assembly.
In the meeting with Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Bangladesh asked the Maldives to introduce a commercial shipping service between Chattogram port and Male port to transport goods and food items at cheap rates in order to boost trade and business between the two countries.
In response, the Maldives said they are working on it, but the operation of Male-Dhaka private airline services would begin soon.
Bangladesh also requested it to regularize undocumented Bangladeshis living in the Maldives, said Dr Momen.
The President of the Maldives was reminded about signing some proposed deals like the Promotion and Protection of Investment Agreement, remained pending with the court in the Maldives.
Ibrahim Mohamed Solih invited Sheikh Hasina to visit his country and the Bangladesh Prime Minister accepted the invitation.
In the meeting with the Vietnamese President, Vietnam was asked to help Bangladesh over the repatriation of forcibly-displaced Rohingyas as it has very good relations with Myanmar.
Sheikh Hasina asked Vietnam to explore investment scopes in different sectors in Bangladesh.
As Bangladesh has a large negative trade balance with Vietnam, Dhaka asked Hanoi to raise its import from Bangladesh.
Now the bilateral trade volume is some US$ 900 million. Of the money, Bangladesh imports goods of 600-650 million. “So, we asked them to raise the business of Bangladesh in their country,” said Dr Momen.
He said Vietnam is a rising star while Bangladesh is a rising giant. Both sides put emphasis on strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries.
Since Vietnam is a member of ASEAN, Bangladesh also sought support from Vietnam to its application to become a sectoral dialogue partner of the association.
Foreign Senior Secretary Masud Bin Momen and PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim were present at the briefing.
PM joins opening session of 76th UNGA general debate
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday attended the opening session of the high-level general debate of the 76th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
The UNGA general debate will continue till September 27 with participation of heads of states and governments across the world.
Sheikh Hasina will deliver her speech in the high-level general debate at the General Assembly Hall of the UN headquarters on September 24.
Read: PM arrives in New York to attend UNGA
The 76th session of the UNGA opened on September 14. On the opening day, Abdulla Shahid of the Maldives was sworn in as the president of the 76th session of UNGA.
Due to the global pandemic, small delegations are allowed in the UNGA this year.
Read: PM’s presence in UNGA important for critical issues: Dr Momen
Over 100 Heads of State or Governments are expected to attend in person in the 76th UNGA.
Sheikh Hasina arrived in New York on Sunday last to join the UNGA for the 18th time as the head of the government of Bangladesh.
Durga Puja: PM donates Tk 3 crore
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday donated Tk 3 crore to Hindu Kalyan Trust on the occasion of Durga Puja.PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus handed over a check for the financial assistance to secretary of the Trust Dr Dilip Kumar Ghosh at the Prime Minister Office.
Hasina leaves for US on first foreign trip since Covid
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka for the US Friday morning to attend the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, with a scheduled stopover in Finland.
A VVIP chartered flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the PM took off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for Finnish capital Helsinki at 9:10 am.
The flight is scheduled to land at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport around 4pm (local time).
This is Hasina's first foreign trip since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020. She will attend the UNGA for the 18th time as the head of the government of Bangladesh and will address the general debate on September 24.
Also read: PM flies for Finland Friday morning on her way to UNGA
On September 19 (Sunday), Hasina will leave Helsinki for New York by a VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BG-1902) at 3pm (local time). The flight is scheduled to land at John F Kennedy International Airport, New York, at 6pm (local time).
She will stay at Hotel Lotte Palace during her stay in New York from September 19 to 25 as part of her official visit to attend the UNGA and a number of high-level events there. She will also hold talks with a number of leaders during her stay in New York. The PM is likely to return home on October 1.
In fact, on September 20 (Monday), the PM will attend a closed-door meeting for a small group of HOSs/HOGs on climate change at the UNHQ at 9am, plant a tree and dedicate a bench at the UN Gardens at 11.30am in honour of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the occasion of his birth centenary, and lay a floral wreath at the Peace Memorial on the North Lawn of UNHQ at 11.50am.
On Monday, Sheikh Hasina will sit in two separate bilateral meetings with EU Council President Charles Michel at 12.30pm (local time) and with Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley at 2.45pm. Besides, she will join a virtual event of Sustainable Development Solution Network at 4pm.
On September 21 (Tuesday), the PM will attend the opening session of the UNGA general debate at 9pm, sit in a bilateral meeting with Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in the afternoon and join Business Roundtable on US-Bangladesh Business Council at 4 pm.
Also read: PM for further modernization of national education framework
On September 22 (Wednesday), Hasina will virtually attend three events. The events are the high-level meeting of the UNGA to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action at 9am, White House Global Covid-19 Summit and a high-level event on Rohingya crisis at 3pm.
On September 23 (Thursday), the Bangladesh PM will send her prerecorded statements at two events. These are the Leaders’ Network on ‘Delivering on the UN Common Agenda: Action to Achieve Equality and Inclusion’ to be organised by Swedish Mission to the UN at 8am, and the Food Systems Summit, as part of the decade of action to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2030, convened by the UNSG at 1pm.
On Thursday, Sheikh Hasina will sit in four separate bilateral meetings with Queen Máxima of the Netherlands at the place of residence, UN Secretary-General António Guterres at 1.30pm, Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih at 2pm and Vietnam President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc at 2.40pm at the UNHQ.
On September 24 (Friday), the Bangladesh Prime Minister will address the UNGA 76 general debate in the morning, sit in a bilateral meeting with Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte at UNHQ, and will virtually join a community programme.
Also read: Hasina cancels PMO’s vehicle procurement plan, diverts fund to public healthcare
On September 25 (Saturday), Hasina will depart New York for Washington DC by a Biman flight at 8am. She will stay in Washington DC from 25 to 30 September.
Hasina is scheduled to leave Washington for Dhaka on 30 September and will return home on October 1 after a short stopover in Finland.
Wanted to make Zia accused in 1975 killing case: Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said she had wanted to make Ziaur Rahman an accused in the Bangabandhu killing case as his involvement in the massacre was beyond doubt.
“There’s no doubt that he was involved in the 1975 carnage. I wanted to make him an accused, but then home secretary Rezaul Hayat once said dead persons cannot be made any accused. But his name (Zia’s name) should have been there as an accused (in the case),” she told Parliament.
The Prime Minister said this while delivering her valedictory speech in the 14th session of the 11th parliament.
Hasina said Bangabandhu’s killers Farooq and Rashid in their interviews with the BBC had said Zia was involved in the conspiracy. It was also stated in the books of Anthony Mascarenhas and Lawrence Lifschultz. “So, how can they (BNP) deny it?” she questioned.
Read: Evidence on Zia's involvement in Bangabandhu killing to be made public
Coups and killings
Mentioning that so many people were killed in different jails during the Zia’s regime, the Prime Minister asked the members of parliament (MPs) to take an initiative to find out how many people were hanged in different jails at that time.
“I think our MPs should take an initiative to find out how many people were killed during the Zia’s regime. So many people were hanged in every jail, particularly in Dhaka, Bogura, Rajshahi, Khulna, Cumilla and other places. There were coups one after another and hundreds of people were killed,” she said.
Hasina said a good number of army officers and soldiers and 562 air force officers and soldiers were killed during Zia’s regime.
Mentioning different activities of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman during the 1971 Liberation War, the Prime Minister questioned about his contribution to the War.
“Zia was a freedom fighter and Bangabandhu provided him with gallantry award. All these are true, but what’s his role in the Liberation War, anyway?” she said.
When Khaled Mosharraf had been injured, Major Haider took over the charge.” Zia didn’t become a sector commander rather he worked as an “Odhinayak”, Hasina said.
Referring to BNP MP Harunur Rashid, she said the MP mentioned that the casualties were high in the area where Zia was in change. If so, there is a question what he did in the war. “Whether he made an arrangement in favour of Pakistan so that our freedom fighters die? It’s my question,” she said.
Hasina said Colonel Aslam Beg, who was in Bangladesh during the Liberation War and later became the chief of Pakistan Army, wrote a letter to Ziaur Rahman during the war complimenting Zia’s works at that time.
She mentioned that Aslam Beg, in his letter, said Zia did a good job and they (Pakistan) were happy with his works. He also asked Zia not worry about his (Zia’s) wife and sons. Aslam also assured that Zia would be given more tasks in the future, said the PM.
Hasina said she has also a copy of the letter. She would bring it to read out in Parliament another day as it should remain there as record in the proceedings of parliament.
Read: 'Will prove Zia's involvement in Bangabandhu killing': Minister
PM for further modernization of national education framework
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday underscored the need for modernizing the national education framework further to cope with the technology-driven competitive world.
She came up with the views while witnessing a power-point presentation on the draft outline of the “National Education Framework'' at her official residence Ganobhaban.
The Ministry of Education prepared the draft outline.
Sheikh Hasina said technology is advancing and Bangladesh must move ahead keeping pace with the advancement of the world and technology; and the country’s education framework needs to be a time-befitting one.
Mentioning that the education framework is being modernized following the policy of the government, she said Bangladesh must not lag behind as the world is advancing in terms of knowledge, science and technology.
Hasina expressed satisfaction over today’s presentation saying measures were highlighted there to make academic activities more attractive to students alongside teaching them on life and livelihood.
The Prime Minister regretted that the educational institutions had been closed for more than last one and half years due to the Covid-19 pandemic although online education activities continued during the time.
Also read: PM for regional development through cooperation
In this regard, she said, the children were deprived of enjoying their academic life and environment in educational institutions, including colleges and schools.
About reopening of the educational institutions, the PM hoped that the situation would get normal in the days ahead.
She said the government introduced pre-primary education to attract the children to schools through games and amusement.
EU to help Bangladesh fight climate adversities: Rensje Teerink
European Union Ambassador to Bangladesh Rensje Teerink on Thursday said the EU countries will help Bangladesh fight the adverse impacts of the climate change.
“EU member countries will support Bangladesh to face climate changes,” the outgoing EU Ambassador said when she met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the latter’s official residence Ganobhaban.
PM’s Press Secretary Ihasnul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.
Also read: Ensuring global access to Covid vaccines EU’s priority: Teerink
Rensje Teerink said the Netherlands have some ambitious plans to help the climate vulnerable countries to fight the climate change issues.
She said the Netherlands have expertise over the climate change issue. The Netherlands can help Bangladesh with the expertise in this regard, Rensje Teerink added.
The Prime Minister said Bangladesh has attached priority with the environment in all development programmes as it is a climate vulnerable country.
She said Bangladesh can share its experiences with others to handle the natural disasters. “We can share our experiences in handling natural disasters like floods, cyclones and river erosion."
The Prime Minister said Bangladesh has adopted the Delta Plan 2100 which will help face the climate change impacts.
Hasina has sought the EU's support to check the unexpected heat created from nature and appraised the EU envoy that Bangladesh has been dredging rivers.
At the meeting, they also discussed the Covid-19 situation.
The PM said her government has been able to control the Coronavirus and the people of the country are showing interest to get vaccinated.
About the Rohingyas, Hasina said it is becoming a security threat as many of the forcibly-displaced Rohingyas have been engaged in different anti-social activities.
Also read: Brexit not to affect EU-Bangladesh ties, says Rensje Teerink
The Prime Minister hoped that the Bangladesh-EU relations will continue to be strengthened further.
The outgoing EU envoy also commended Bangladesh for handling the Covid-19 situation successfully.
Describing Bangladesh as a stable country, she commended the overall development of Bangladesh.
Rensje Teerink said the Padma Multipurpose Bridge was an important part of the development.
The EU envoy said they have worked with Bangladesh in the Social Safety Net Programmes.
PM’s Ambassador-at-large Mohammad Ziauddin and PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus were present at this time.
Govt plans big to equip youths for future job market
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday approved a Tk 4,300-crore project to equip over 1 million youths, women, workers and disadvantaged section of people with skills needed for the future job market.
The approval came from an Ecnec meeting held with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
She joined the meeting virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.
Ministers, State Ministers, Planning Commission Members and Secretaries concerned attended the meeting from Sher-e-Bangla Nagar NEC conference room.
Also read: Govt to spend Tk 4,167cr on 10 projects, Ecnec gives nod