PM
Working to build a vibrant blue economy: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said the government has been working to build a vibrant blue economy by utilising marine resources for Bangladesh’s economic prosperity.
Strictly execute ‘no mask no service’ policy: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday directed the authorities concerned to strictly implement the “no mask no service” policy at every government and private offices in the wake of the second wave of Covid-19 in many countries in Europe and America.
Freedom of speech must not be undermined with false propaganda: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday asked all concerned to highlight the facts of any incident alongside protesting the spread of rumours and false propaganda in the name of freedom of speech.
"Spreading false propaganda is not freedom of speech…there should be immediate protests against any false propaganda….people must know the facts. Sitting silent will not help," she said.
The Prime Minister said this while speaking in the beginning of the regular weekly meeting of the cabinet at Bangladesh Secretariat. The Prime Minister chaired the meeting joining it from her official residence Ganobhaban through videoconferencing.
“There might be some pain in telling the truth of any incident, but ultimately it’ll surely work and that’s the reality,” Hasina said, adding that a vested quarter is accustomed to making ill-efforts to cause harm to people and the government of Bangladesh.
Calling upon all to remain aware about that quarter, she said concerned all need to highlight truth and facts. “A section of people is trying to spread rumours to undermine the government’s image, but they can never succeed in fulfilling their ill motives.”
She went on saying, "The area where there’s a scope to create anarchy is freedom of speech? Nabbing those delivering speech for creating conflicts is snatching the freedom of speech? This is not correct."
She said it cannot be accepted in this era of digital media that one would write and publish whatever he or she wants in the name of freedom of speech.
"In social media, anyone can say whatever he/she likes…one can spread false propaganda, when the government takes any step against those then the vested quarters makes hue and cry and spreads various arguments across the globe ," she said.
Hasina said people usually do not look into the matter why the step has been taken!
On the other hand, she mentioned, it was also essential for the authorities concerned to provide facts and information with necessary explanations.
In this regard, the Prime Minister said the mentality of taking a defensive stance without giving appropriate information is not a good practice at all.
Durga Puja begins Thursday
Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Hindu community, is set to begin on Thursday with Maha Sashthi puja at temples across the country maintaining health guidelines set by the governmen due to Covid-I9 pandemic .
Help rehabilitate Rohingyas in Myanmar: PM to int’l community, USA
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday renewed her call to the international community, including the United States, to help Bangladesh rehabilitate Rohingyas in their homeland of Myanmar.
She also put emphasis on immediate repatriation of them and said Myanmar should take their citizens back.
"We want immediate repatriation of the Rohingyas and the world community, including the United States, should help rehabilitate them in their homeland of Myanmar," she said.
The Prime Minister said this while visiting US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen E Beigun paid a courtesy call on her at her official residence Ganobhaban.
PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.
He said Stephen E Beigun said the United States also wants a permanent solution to the protracted Rohingya crisis. "We'll continue to extend our support to Bangladesh on this issue," Karim quoted Beigun as saying.
The Prime Minister mentioned that over 1.1 million forcibly displaced Rohingya nationals are living in Bangladesh at the moment, which is an extra burden on the country.
"The problem has been created by Myanmar and we're holding dialogue with them ... they should take their citizens bak," she said.
Rapists are like 'beasts': PM
Describing rapists as 'beasts', Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said the government has to induct the death sentence in the relevant law to save girls from these beasts.
PM to open Kishoreganj’s all-weather road Thursday
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to inaugurate the Itna-Mithamoin-Astagram all-weather road on Thursday.
PM Hasina to lead global leaders at CVF event Wednesday
Bangladesh along with Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) will host the virtual Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) leaders’ event on Wednesday.
Don’t let Covid-19 reverse achievements in women empowerment: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday warned world leaders that the Covid-19 is threatening to reverse the hard-earned achievements in women empowerment and urged them to do more to retain the successes.
The Prime Minister also urged them to renew commitments and enhance their efforts to ensure women’s equality, empowerment and advancement.
"We’ve much more to do. The Covid-19 pandemic has particularly aggravated the vulnerability of women. During this pandemic, women are facing discrimination and increased domestic violence, and, therefore, threatening to reverse our hard-earned achievements in women empowerment," she said.
The Prime Minister said this in her pre-recorded video message delivered at the High-Level Meeting on the 25th Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women at the UN Headquarters.
She put light on three points for the world leaders to consider for working to build back better.
Firstly, Sheikh Hasina said, the world can benefit from every girl whose potential is realized, from every woman whose talent is tapped, and this can only be done through education.
Increase storage capacity of water bodies: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday called for enhancing surface water by increasing the storage capacity of water bodies across the country, aiming to protect the biodiversity, boost fish production and ensure safe water for all.