PM
Int’l peace conference in Nov marking Bangabandhu’s birth centenary: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday told Parliament that Bangladesh will host a two-day international peace conference in November next, marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“The Foreign Ministry has already started taking its preparations to arrange this conference in Dhaka on November 4 and 5, 2021,” she said, replying to a tabled question from ruling Awami League MP Mozaffar Hossain (Jamalpur-5) in the House.
Read: 10-day special programme for Bangabandhu's birth centenary
The Prime Minister said a declaration titled ‘Dhaka Peace Declaration’ will be adopted in the conference.
She also said the issue of giving ‘Bangabandhu Peace Award’ is under the consideration of the government. “But no specific decision has been taken yet in this regard.”
About the two-day conference, Hasina said the government has already approved a proposal for arranging the event as part of the celebration of the birth centenary.
“With this conference, I believe, it’ll be possible to widely spread Bangabandhu’s outstanding contributions to the establishment of global peace and the welfare of humanity,” said Hasina, also the Leader of the House.
A number of panel discussions with the participation of the dignitaries who are engaged in the noble works in different countries of the world for the establishment of peace, as well as public and private officials concerned, educationists, journalists and intellectuals will be held, she mentioned.
Read: Bangabandhu's birth centenary to be celebrated abroad
In the two-day conference, the works and philosophy of Bangabandhu will be discussed alongside revisiting his noble initiatives he had taken as a pioneer of world peace and humanity, she said.
To make the conference a success, Hasina said a 42-member convening committee was formed with Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury as its president and Chairperson of the National Advisory Committee on Autism, Saima Wazed as the convener.
PM gives Agriculture Award to 32 individuals, organisations
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday awarded prestigious Bangabandhu Jatiya Krishi Puroshkar-1424, the highest state recognition for achievements in the agriculture sector, to 32 individuals and organisations.
Of them, five received gold medals, nine silver medals and 18 bronze medals for their outstanding contribution to different fields in agriculture.
Bangabandhu National Agriculture Award-1424 recognised the recipients’ special contribution to agriculture research and expansion, cooperatives motivation, technology innovation, commercial farming, afforestation, rearing livestock and poultry and fish farming.
Agriculture Minister and Chairman of Bangabandhu Krishi Puroshkar Trust Dr M Abdur Razzaque handed over the awards on behalf of the Prime Minister.
The award giving ceremony was held at Osmani Memorial Auditorium while the prime minister joined it virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.
Read Also: UNESCO adopts proposal on Bangabandhu Int'l Award
In 1973, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman introduced the award in order to take forward the agro-based economy of the newly independent country.
After Bangabandhu’s assassination in 1975, the subsequent government stopped the award.
Also read: New Delhi mission observes Bangabandhu's Joliot-Curie award anniversary
But after assuming office in 2009, the Awami League government framed “The Bangabandhu Jatiya Krishi Purashkar Tahabil Ain-2009” giving institutional shape to the award introduced by Bangabandhu.
Read Bangladeshi Imtiaj Rasel in the running for Sovereign Asian Art Prize
The Bangabandhu Jatiya Krishi Purashkar Trust Law, 2016 was enacted to make the activities more dynamic.
New army chief SM Shafiuddin adorned with rank badge of General
Newly-appointed Chief of Army Staff SM Shafiuddin Ahmed was adorned with the rank badge of ‘General’ in presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganobhaban on Thursday morning.
“Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal and Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan adorned the new army chief with the rank badge of General,” PM's Assistant Press Secretary MM Emrul Kayas told UNB.
After the badge-adorning ceremony, the Prime Minister congratulated the new army chief with a bouquet and wished him success, he said.
Also read: PM asks army personnel to stay ever prepared to safeguard national sovereignty
Shafiuddin Ahmed also greeted the Prime Minister by presenting a bouquet.
SDGs: PM says Bangladesh in top form for prudent planning
Bangladesh has been one of the top three performers on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Index due to the government’s prudent planning with specific directions, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday.
“We’ve taken proper planning with specific directions, and we’re moving ahead in a planned way for implementing the SDGs and included those in the [8th] Five Year Plan," Sheikh Hasina said.
She said this when Planning Minister MA Mannan, in the beginning of the weekly Ecnec meeting, informed the Prime Minister about Bangladesh's success in remaining there on top three positions in SDGs’ implementation.
Read: Live up to promises to ensure SDG benefits for marginalised: PM
Keeping the country’s development in mind, Hasina said, Awami League in its election manifesto stated various goal-oriented measures.
"We’ve been taking effective measures to implement those since assuming office and that’s why Bangladesh has been in the top three countries in implementing the SDGs,” she said.
The Prime Minister said Bangladesh was in an advanced position in implementing the Million Development Goals (MDGs). “We’re approaching the SDGs the same way.”
Read: Report: Bangladesh among 3 top performers in sustainable development
Hasina gave all credits for the achievements to collective efforts of all that included the people of the country, party leaders and activists alongside civil and military officials and members of law enforcement agencies.
The Prime Minister thanked all concerned for accepting the decisions taken by her government and working sincerely for their execution.
On one side the government has to face the Coronavirus fallouts and keep the country’s economy moving on the other, she said, adding, “This has been possible due to the collective efforts of all."
The Prime Minister said Bangladesh is also dealing with lots of problems, including the manmade ones, as it did in the past.
Pledging to take the country ahead facing all the odds and obstacles, she said, adding: “Bangladesh is marching ahead and will surely keep moving on.”
The Prime Minister also unveiled the cover of a memorial book titled “Durjog Jhuki Hrashe Bangabandhu” (Bangabandhu in Disaster Risk Reduction)” while joining virtually a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) from her official residence Ganobhaban while other concerned got connected with it from NEC conference room.
Unveiling the cover of the book, she said that measures taken by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in reducing the risks of disasters is exemplary for not only Bangladesh, but for any disaster-prone area in the world.
She said the people of Bangladesh could face any sort of storm, tidal surge, cyclone and natural disaster as Bangabandhu taught Bangladeshis in this regard.
Describing the measures taken by Bangabandhu in facing any disaster as a milestone for Bangladesh, Hasina said her government is taking every measure to face disasters following the footsteps of Bangabandhu.
“We have been able to protect the lives of the people (from natural disasters) and got confidence to face any natural calamity from the measures and plans taken by the Father of the Nation,” she added.
A home that gives the much-needed identity
Abu Salek, in his early 40s, had a very painful life for the last 26 years as he had no home of his own. He now thinks life could be better, much better!
“At one point of time things were horrible for me... I spent 26 years without a home,” Salek told the UNB correspondent in Brahmanbaria.
Salek is no longer a homeless man as he, along with many others, got a semi-pucca two-decimal house gifted by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in January last of the Mujib Year.
Read ‘This is biggest festival ever’: Hasina about home distribution among homeless
Cabinet okays policy to develop local automobile industry
The Cabinet on Monday approved the draft of a policy to develop automobile industry in the country considering the growing demand.
The Automobile Industry Development Policy 2021 was okayed at the weekly Cabinet meeting held at the Cabinet Room of the Jatiya Sangsad with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
“We need to develop the automobile industry in our own interest amid growing demand…. We’re thinking of the development of the automobile industry to some extent, not remaining dependent only on import,” said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam during a post-meeting media briefing at the Secretariat.
Also read: Working to build Bangladesh as regional automobile manufacturing hub: Humayun
He said there is a potential for the development of the automobile industry in the country.
The main objective of the policy is to develop the local industry by ensuring competence in automobile engineering and necessary facilities for production of automobiles and parts, he said.
Khandker Anwarul said another objective of the policy is to enhance scopes for cooperation and joint-investment between local automobile industries and with international automobile brands so that the products of famous brands and models can be produced here at lesser costs.
He said quoted Japanese ambassador in Dhaka as saying that a famous Japanese company has shown interest making their brands in Bangladesh.
Also read: Bangladesh to produce own brand of automobiles: Minister
Besides, the Cabinet gave the final approval to the draft of the Delimitation of Constituencies Bill, 2021 seeking to formulate an act to replace a military regime-era ordinance in line with the court’s judgment.
“The proposed law has been designed aiming to make an act instead of the existing Delimitation of Constituencies Ordinance 1976,” said the Cabinet Secretary.
No major change was brought to the draft law, he said.
The Cabinet also cleared a proposal for accepting the membership of OIC’s Women Development Organisation (WDO) as well as ratification and signing of the WDO Statute to this end.
Working to ensure economic solvency of people at grassroots: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said her government has been working to ensure the economic solvency of the grassroots people in its relentless efforts to make Bangladesh a poverty-free country.
“If we want to build a poverty-free country, we’ve to bring the economic solvency for the common people," she said.
The Prime Minister said this while receiving donations for 'House Construction Fund by Private Finance' and 'Coronavirus Assistance Fund'. She joined the function virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.
On her behalf, Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus received the cheques of donations from various public and private organisations and individuals at the Prime Minister’s Office.
Hasina, also the President of Bangladesh Awami League, said her party’s main principle is to improve the living standard of the common people and increase their purchasing capacity aimed at freeing them from the curse of poverty.
"If we want to accelerate industrialization alongside boosting the country’s trade and commerce, we've to create our own markets that require increased buying capacity of the masses," she said.
Turning to the Coronavirus pandemic, Hasina said, "We've to save the country as well as its people from its fallouts …we’ve been working to this end.”
Hasina said her government has been engaged in building a prosperous Bangladesh as envisioned by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
She said Bnagabandhu’s dream of independence was to build a developed country where would people get food, clothes, housing, treatments and education.
The prime minister said Bangladesh had lost its glorious image following the assassination of the Father of the Nation on August 15, 1975, and the successive governments did nothing to restore the honour.
Awami League has been following Bangabandhu’s ideology since it returned to power turning Bangladesh into a developing nation, Hasina said, adding, “Bangladesh is now a developing nation. We’ve to retain this status and move ahead at the global stage with self-dignity, raising our heads high since we’re a victorious nation."
She assured the businessmen that they would not face any trouble in running their businesses as long as the Awami League is in power and urged them to contribute to the country’s this march forward.
The agencies under Industries Ministry that made contributions to the “House Construction Fund by Private Finance” are: Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC), Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), Bangladesh Still and Engineering Corporation (BSEC), Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), Bangladesh Industrial Technical Assistance Center (BITAC), Bangladesh Institute of Management (BIM), Department of Patents, Design and Trademarks (DPDT), Bangladesh Accreditation Board (BAB), National Productivity Organisation (NPO), Office of the Chief Inspector of Boilers and SME Foundation.
The other agencies that provided donations are Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA) and National University under the Education Ministry while Chattogram Port Authority, Mongla Port Authority, Karnaphuli Shipbuilders Ltd and Three Angle Marine Ltd under Shipping Ministry.
The organizations under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board, Bangladesh Power Development Board, Power Grid Company of Bangladesh Ltd, Dhaka Power Distribution Company Ltd, Coal Power Generation Company Ltd, Ashuganj Power Generation Company Ltd, Dhaka Electric Supply Company Ltd, West Zone Power Distribution Company Ltd, Northern Electric Supply Company Ltd, Electricity Generation Company of Bangladesh Ltd, Rural Power Company Ltd, BR Power Gen Company Ltd, North-West Power Generation Company Ltd, Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla) made contribution to the fund.
Also Bangladesh Independent Power Producers’ Association (BIPPA), Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), S Alam Group, City Group, Meghna Group, Walton Group, Hosaf Group, PHG Group, Pran-RFL Group, Western Engineering Private Ltd, Bengal Group, Sheltec Group, Lather Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh, Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh, Envoy Group, Minister Group and Labib Group made contribution to the “Coronavirus Assistance Fund”.
Md Jasim Uddin, Chairman of Bengal Commercial Bank Ltd, who is also the FBCCI President, and Habib Ullah Dawn also made contributions to the fund.
Besides, different public and private organizations and individuals earlier contributed over Tk 263 crore to the “House Construction Fund by Private Finance” and Tk 110 crore to the “Coronavirus Assistance Fund," according to the data available at the PMO.
6-points anniversary: Bangladesh to keep advancing with dignity, says PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said Bangladesh will continue advancing as a nation with dignity and will be established as a developed and prosperous country in the global arena.
“We had lost the ideology of the Liberation War after 1975 but it has come back today. Bangladesh will continue to march forward with dignity raising its head in the world and Bangladesh will be established as a developed and prosperous Sonar Bangla (golden Bangla),” she said.
The Prime Minister said this while addressing a special discussion marking the historic Six-Point Demand Day on June 7.
READ: PM calls for massive tree plantation to save environment
On this day in 1966, Bangabandhu put forward a set of six demands widely acknowledged as the "charter of freedom" for Bengalis and a key milestone on the road to independence in 1971.
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Birth Centenary Celebration National Implementation Committee arranged the discussion titled "Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Charter of Freedom for Bengalese" on the virtual platform.
“Bangladesh will go ahead. It is proven true that blood (sacrificing lives) never goes in vain. Though the Father of the Nation is no more among us today, his ideology is there,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh gained independence on the basis of the Six Points Demand as it had been actually a one-point demand for independence.
“We won the (1970) election, the war and finally the independence on the basis of the Six Points Demand since this formula had been written with blood on June 07 to materialize the demand,” she said.
Hasina, also eldest daughter of Bangabandhu, said there had been one-point demand inside the Six Points Demand. “We, the family members, at least knew it. He (Bangabandhu) used to always say that the Six Point Demand means the one point that means independence. Now we are an independent nation,” she said.
She said the date is very significant for the Bengali nation and the day was inscribed as a red letter one as 11 people including Monu Mia, Abul Hossain and Shamsul Haque sacrificed their lives going to enforce a nationwide hartal demanding the realisation of the six-point demand and release of the Father of the Nation from the jail.
She also recalled the role of her mother in enforcing the 7th June hartal successfully.
Referring to several speeches Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered in the rallies in different places to drum up support in favour of the Six Point Demand, she said that the Father of the Nation knew well before that Bangladesh would be an independent country.
READ: Bangladesh always with Palestinians, reaffirms PM
The Prime Minister said the announcement of Six Point Demand was a reflection of the thoughts Bangabandhu had cherished since the birth of Pakistan to change the fate of Bengali nation.
She said Bangabandhu had finally got a ground to place the Six Point Demand after the 1965 India-Pakistan war when the people of Bangladesh (erstwhile East Pakistan) remained totally unprotected.
Immediately after its announcement, Pakistani rulers considered the demand as a move to separate Bangladesh completely from Pakistan, she noted.
Seasoned politicians Amir Hossain Amu and Tofail Ahmed, and Professor of Dhaka University Dr Nazma Shaheen also spoke at the discussion moderated by Dr Nuzhat Chowdhury.
PM calls for massive tree plantation to save environment
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday urged the people to go for massive plantation of trees to protect the country from the adverse impacts of climate change.
The prime minister was inaugurating the ‘National Tree Plantation Campaign-2021’ marking the World Environment Day.
“We’ll have to protect the environment. This country is ours. If we want to protect the country from the adverse impacts of climate changes, we’ll have to promote greenery further in this green Bengal (Sabuj Bangla),” she said.
READ: BGB, Banayan sign MoU for tree plantation
She launched the campaign by planting saplings at official residence Ganobhaban here.
Noting that she planted saplings with her own hands, Sheikh Hasina called upon the people to plant trees in the whatever places available to them.
“Plant at least one sapling. But it would be best, if you can plant three saplings. I want you to plant three saplings –-one for fruit, one for timber and one herbal,” she said.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin and its Deputy Minister Habibun Nahar were present on the occasion.
This year, the National Tree Plantation Campaign is being observed with the theme “Mujibborshe Angikar Kori, Sonar Bangla Sabuj Kori” aimed at motivating the people to make Bangladesh even greener in the Mujib Year.
READ: Tree plantation to transform Bangladesh’s tourism: Mahbub
The day is being observed across the world with the theme of ‘Ecosystem Restoration’ on Saturday.
The prime minister said Bangladesh has achieved a remarkable success in afforestation increasing the country’s forestation to 22 per cent thanks to different measures taken by her government.
She mentioned that the trees not only protect the environment, but also provide financial solvency and other benefits to the people.
READ: PM to launch tree plantation campaign July 16
Sheikh Hasina also called upon the people to take proper care of trees. “It is not enough to plant saplings only. You’ll have to take care of these as well.” she said.
Fortify action-oriented approach to attain green growth: PM tells P4G Summit
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday put forward three suggestions before the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G), including strengthening campaign about its action-oriented approach by engaging more financiers, innovators, policymakers and creative entrepreneurs in its focus areas.
“P4G needs to campaign more about its action-oriented approach, engaging more financiers, innovators, policymakers and creative entrepreneurs in the five P4G focus areas (food, water, energy, cities and circular economy), and share best practices,” she said in her recorded statement played in the 2021 P4G Seoul Summit.
The two-day summit is being held on the theme of ‘Inclusive Green Recovery towards Carbon Neutrality’ in Seoul, the capital city of South Korea, aiming to position P4G as a delivery mechanism to build back better and greener in this decade of action.
Also read: Bangladesh has to keep friendship with all to attain development: PM
The second suggestion Sheikh Hasina placed is the need for a whole-of-world attitude in addition to a whole-of-society approach for achieving green growth and global goals 2030.
Placing the third suggestion, she said, “We, the participating leaders in the P4G Summit, need to work more closely towards a greener future for our next generation.”
In the statement, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh’s key focus is to promote locally-led adaptation solutions to address the adverse impact of climate change.
“As the chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum-CVF and the host to the South Asian office of Global Centre on Adaptation, Bangladesh’s key focus is to uphold the interests of the climate vulnerable countries and promote locally-led adaptation solutions,” she said.
The Prime Minister said water, an area of work for P4G, is one of the most valuable assets of Bangladesh. “So, we’ve adopted a 100-year sustainable development plan styled as Delta Plan 2100 that focuses on efficient use and preservation of water.”
She said Bangladesh is the first LDC to establish a ‘Climate Change Trust Fund’ from its own resources. “Every year we spend about 5 billion US dollars on climate adaptation and mitigation measures.”
Bangladesh, a member of the P4G, pursues a low carbon development path. “Our National Solar Energy Action Plan 2021-2041 predicts generation of up to 40 Giga Watt of renewable energy by 2041,” she added.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh, the second largest exporter of readymade garments, is exploring efficient options of circular fashion and textiles as part of the overall circular economy.
“Despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic with its many challenges, we’ve the opportunity to build back better through inclusive green recovery and green growth,” she said.
The second P4G summit is expected to culminate in the adoption of the Seoul Declaration, and will serve as a stepping stone towards the Glasgow Climate Change Conference (COP 26).
The P4G global initiative was launched in 2017 to accelerate the response to climate change and implementation of the SDGs.
Also read: SDGs: 'Youth voice missing in policy process'
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron, Chancellor of Germany Angela Markel, South Korean Prime Minister Charles Michel, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Mongolian President Khaltmaagiin Battulga, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Chile President Sebastian Piñera, among other world leaders, spoke at the virtual Leaders’ Session of the summit.