PM
Utilise export opportunities emerging due to Russia-Ukraine war: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (March 20, 2023) put emphasis on formulating new long term export policy for Bangladesh, considering graduation to a developing country from LDC after 2026.
“After 2026, while we will graduate to a developing country from LDC, we will get some opportunities… We have to utilise those opportunities to make our economy stronger and develop the country further,” she said.
The prime minister said this while speaking at the 11th meeting of the National Committee on Export, at her official residence Ganabhaban.
She mentioned that after graduating to a developing nation, the next aim will be to become a developed one.
Read More: Canada to increase potash exports to Bangladesh to boost food production, says country’s trade ministry
Sheikh Hasina also asked the concerned to utilise opportunities regarding enhancing Bangladesh’s export items that have emerged due to Russia-Ukraine war.
She said that due to Russia-Ukraine was, there is an opportunity for Bangladesh to create new markets with its own products.
In this regard, she said that many countries have already shown interest to import food items from Bangladesh.
“We could export food items after fulfilling local demands. We can take initiatives for that,” she said.
Read More: Simplified policy, product diversification could boost exports to UK over $12 billion by 2029: Study says
She said that immense opportunities could be created through establishing food processing industries in the country and export those items.
The PM said that the government has given importance to the export sector.
“After assuming office, we have taken steps to formulate long term export policies instead of policies on one-year basis. To sustain achievements, there is no alternative to long term strategy,” she said.
She said that the government has formulated export policy until 2024 (2021-2024).
Read More: Apparel export to EU up 14.3% during July-February of FY23
“…But what will we do after that? In the meantime, we are graduating to a developing country. I think this is the right time to consider what we will do in the coming days or how we will advance,” she said.
She put emphasis on setting the next moves for economy, keeping in mind the current economic turmoil across the globe.
“We have to find new markets across the globe. We have to diversify our products, we have to include new items in our export basket,” she said.
The PM said that the Awami League government has given utmost importance to the private sector and it opened every sector to entrepreneurs as it is not possible for the government alone to develop the country.
Read More: 'India a great potential market for Bangladesh's RMG exports'
For the development of the export sector, she said, a strategy needs to be adopted and products have to be identified.
“For that we have formulated a prospective plan – to turn the country into a developed one by 2041,” she said.
The PM also mentioned ICT and digital devices, RMG, pharmaceuticals, light and medium weight industries, motor vehicles and electronic motor vehicles, while talking about diversifying products.
She said that the government is preparing 100 economic zones with investment from home and abroad.
Read More: Bangladesh export income rises despite bad global economy
“Bangladesh has been able to attract foreign investments,” PM Hasina said.
Be vigilant against food hoarding, black-marketing: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday asked all to be vigilant against the hoarding of foods and the black-marketing of these commodities during the upcoming fasting month of Ramadan.
“We all will have to be alert so that no one would ever be able to hoard foods and do black-marketing of these items,” she said.
The PM was addressing a discussion arranged in the city, marking the 103rd birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the National Children’s Day-2023.
Bangladesh Awami League organised the discussion at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka.
Hasina, also the AL president, said her government has taken all necessary measures so that the people do not suffer during the month of Ramadan.
Talking about the food support programmes for the poor, she said the government provides rice at a subsidised rate of Tk 30/kg to one crore people through family cards and gives rice at Tk 15/kg to 50 lakh other people.
The PM said the government has decided to provide rice to 50 lakh more people (at Tk 15/kg), if needed, so that the people do not suffer.
Alongside rice, she said the government is also providing some other essential commodities including pulse, edible oil, sugar and chickpeas during the Ramadan at subsidised prices for the poor.
AL general secretary Obaidul Quader delivered the introductory speech, while its presidium member Matia Chowdhury, joint secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud, organising secretaries Ahmed Hossain and Afzal Hossain, Health and population affairs secretary Dr Rokeya Sultana, its central working committee members Nurul Islam Thandu and Prof Merina Jahan Kabita, AL Dhaka city south unit president Abu Ahmed Mannafi and Dhaka city north unit president Sheikh Bazlur Rahman, spoke on the occasion.
AL publicity and publication secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap and deputy publicity and publication secretary Syed Abdul Awal Shamim jointly conducted it.
On March 17, 1920, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was born at a village in Tungipara of Gopalganj.
The premier criticised BNP leaders for their blank remarks, undermining her government’s successes and achievements in different sectors.
“When Awami League comes to power, the economy of Bangladesh gets developed. Today we heard BNP leaders who are continuously saying that we (AL government) have made the country empty. If anyone pretends to be blind despite having eyes, that person can’t be shown anything,” she said.
She also highlighted the government’s achievements in different aspects including economic index, and also in health, food and education sectors. “When the people of the country stay in good condition, the BNP-Jamaat gets hurt,” she said.
Hasina, who chaired the discussion, said the people of the country would never allow the BNP-Jamaat alliance to assume power again and play ducks and drakes with their fate.
“Those who carried out bomb, grenade and bullet attacks, engaged in the 10-truck arms haul and embezzled the public money and orphans’ funds would never be able to come to power. The people of Bangladesh will never accept them,” she said.
The PM said they will build the country as Smart Bangladesh by 2041. There’ll be a smart population in terms of every perspective including education and technology.
“This country will move forward. No one will be allowed to play ducks and drakes with the fate of the people anymore despite thousands of plots and conspiracies hatched,” she added.
The AL president asked her party men to showcase her government’s development works before the people time and again to counter the falsehood spread by the BNP. “They (BNP leaders) want to establish a false as true by saying it time and again,” she said.
Hasina said Bangladesh is a country of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the people of this country will move in the world arena keep its head high as a victorious nation.
“On the birthday of the Father of the Nation, it is our vow that the Bangalis will move in the global stage raising their heads, what he had desired,” she said.
The PM asked her party leaders to work for the welfare of the people following the ideology of the Father of the Nation.
India can use ports in Ctg, Sylhet for better connectivity: PM
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (March 19, 2023) said that India can use ports in Chattogram and Sylhet if they want.
The Prime Minister said this while Member of the Governing Council of India Foundation, Ram Madhav, called on her at her official residence Ganabhaban.
PM’s Deputy Press Secretary KM Shakhawat Moon briefed reporters after the meeting.
Sheikh Hasina said that the government puts emphasis on regional connectivity which will result in better people-to-people ties.
Also read: Teen gangs must be stopped: PM
The PM conveyed her greetings to the Indian Prime Minister during her meeting with Ram Madhav.
The member of the Governing Council of India Foundation highly appreciated the socioeconomic advancement of Bangladesh under the leadership of PM Sheikh Hasina.
He said that Bangladesh and India have excellent friendship as neighbouring countries and hoped that the relation will continue in the coming days.
Ambassador at Large M Ziauddin, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam and Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah were present during the event.
Read More: Be vigilant against food hoarding, black-marketing: PM
Teen gangs must be stopped: PM
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (March 19, 2023) asked law enforcement agencies to take action against cybercrime and the trend of teen gangs.
“We’ll have to monitor cybercrimes and take action accordingly. RAB and intelligence agencies will have to play a decisive role in this regard,” she said.
The prime minister was speaking at the 19th founding anniversary of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) at the force’s headquarters in Dhaka’s Kurmitola.
Saying that her government developed the country as “Digital Bangladesh”, the PM said cybercrimes have increased as the scope of digitization expanded.
Also Read: PM meets UK’s cross-party delegation, discusses Rohingya
Sheikh Hasina said the aim of Digital Bangladesh is to ensure the wellbeing of the people, not to cause distress.
She said there are some anti-state forces. They see “nothing, no matter how much advancement Bangladesh achieves.” There is another section of people who “defame Bangladesh to foreigners and secure financial or other benefits through this,” the PM said.
Talking about the US sanction imposed on RAB officials, the premier asked RAB personnel not to be upset at what others said about them but rather move ahead resolutely.
“This is our country that was freed through the sacrifice of blood… We know who does what and we’ll assess accordingly. We have to work with confidence,” she said.
Read More: Man killed in RAB gunfire for 'protesting neighbour's arrest,' family says
“We will have to identify those who carry out propaganda and defame Bangladesh. We will have to find out why they are doing it and their purpose,” she added.
The PM said Bangladeshis can judge who has done good or bad. “If anyone commits an offense, we must speak about it. Don’t be upset at what some people are saying. You will have to move ahead with a sense of self-esteem and confidence,” she said.
About the rising trend of teen gangs, Sheikh Hasina said parents, teachers and public representatives alongside law enforcers must take responsibility to put an end to the culture of teen gangs. “The teen gangs must be stopped,” she said.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and RAB Director General Additional IGP M Khurshid Hossain also spoke at the programme.
Read More: 8 arrested while trying to rob a RAB vehicle in Narayanganj: RAB
PM to address media on Qatar visit Monday
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will address a press conference Monday afternoon on the outcome of her recent official tour of Qatar.
The conference will start at 4:30pm at her official residence Ganabhaban, Press Secretary to Prime Minister Ihsanul Karim said.
Read: PM inaugurates 73 dev works, lays foundation stones of 30 more in Mymensingh
PM Hasina returned home on Thursday afternoon after wrapping up her official visit to Qatar.
Earlier on March 4, Sheikh Hasina went to Doha to attend the 5th United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5).
During her stay in Qatar, she attended the LDC5 conference, several side-line events and a civic reception.
PM offers land for Saudi investors in Bangladesh's economic zone
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday offered land for increased investment from Saudi Arabia in the country's Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
She also invited Saudi Arabia to set up an oil refinery in Bangladesh where all kinds of oil including crude can be refined.
The premier made the offers when a nine-member delegation led by visiting Saudi Minister of Commerce Dr Majeed bin Abdullah Alkussabi met her at Ganabhaban here this evening
PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.
During the meeting, the PM discussed with the Saudi minister about the enhancement of businesses of both the countries for mutual interest.
The Saudi minister said key investors of his country are keen to invest in Bangladesh, particularly in renewable energy sector, according to the press secretary.
In this context, he urged the prime minister to ease the investment proceess in Bangladesh by addressing the brueacratic delays.
The prime minister, in reply, said she has already asked the officials concenned to take required measures to simplify and quicken the invement process, said the press secretary.
The PM said there are huge markets in the neighboiring countries, adding that her government has been working to ease the transportion of goods by setting up connectivity on all the modes, including the waterways.
Read more: PM to inaugurate Bangladesh Business Summit on Saturday
The premier said the government has taken measures in dredging the rivers to enhance their navigability through the wayerways.
She said her government wants to build an Arabic Language Institute to facilitate Bangladeshi workers to know the language well before going to Saudi Arabia so they can easily communicate with Arabic speaking people.
She said her country is eagerly waiting to receive the KSA Crown Prince when the Saudi minister said their Crown Prince is intetested to visit Bangladesh.
The Saudi minister invited the PM Hasina to visit Saudi Arabia to perform the Umrah.
The Saudi minister highly praised Bangladesh's remarlable progress and development under the dynamic leadership of PM Sheikh Hasina.
The premier also appreciated the fast development of Saudib Arabia.
Talking about Rohingya crisis, the KSA minister described Hasina as the Mother of Humanity.
KSA minister Dr Majeed said there are enormous potential of Saudi investment in Bangladesh, noting "We can share our experience in the field of business with Bangladesh."
He said in the last 10 months as many as 6.50 lakh Bangladeshi went to Saudi Arabia with jobs.
PM's Private Industry and Investment Affairs Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah and Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to Bangladesh Essa bin Yousef Al Duhailan were present during the meeting.
PM joins ‘Joy Bangla’ concert
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday witnessed the Joy Bangla Concert 2023 held at the Army Stadium in the capital.
This year, the Joy Bangla concert began by observing one minute of silence to pay homage to the victims of Gulistan explosion.
The PM earlier on Wednesday afternoon returned home from Doha, wrapping her visit to Qatar to attend the 5th United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDC5 Conference).
Like previous years, the Joy Bangla concert was held to commemorate the historic March 7 speech of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Read more: PM returns home from Qatar
Uphold country's image abroad, respect hosts' laws: PM Hasina tells expats
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday asked the Bangladeshi expatriates to strictly abide by the laws of the host countries and send remittances through legal channels.
“It won’t be tolerated anymore if any person commits offenses (in host country) and thus tarnishes the country's image,” she said while addressing a civic reception accorded to her at Bangladesh MHM School here in Doha.
The premier said her government has taken Bangladesh to a dignified position through round-the-clock hard work over the years and the image is being damaged due to criminal activities by a few people in foreign lands, which hampers the scope for sending more Bangladeshis abroad for overseas job.
Also Read: Set up special desks at airports to receive dead bodies of Bangladeshi expatriate workers: NHRC Chairman
“Bangladeshi expatriates must follow the existing laws and rules of the countries where they are staying…. I have made it clear that we will not try to save those who will be engaged in criminal activities,” she said.
PM Hasina also asked the overseas job seekers to use the legal channels. “We have lost the scope of sending more people abroad,” she added.
She said if any Bangladeshi expatriate commits crime abroad the government will not shoulder its responsibility.
About remittance, the PM said, “Send remittances through the legal channels. We are providing 2.5 percent incentive (for sending remittance through banking channels).”
PM in Doha: LDCs need 5 key support from dev partners
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (March 06, 2023) sought five key support from development partners to ensure a smart, innovative and knowledge-based society that will help to promote peace and inclusivity.
The prime minister made the call at a side event, titled “Investment in Research and Development in LDCs for Smart and Innovative Societies”, at the 5th UN LDC Conference held at Qatar National Convention Center.
Read More: LDC5 Conference: PM Hasina leaves Dhaka for Doha
The key supports are:
1. Provide appropriate incentives to the international private sector for impactful technology transfer to LDCs, including for climate action.
2. Invest in digital infrastructures to reduce broadband divide and tech discrimination in LDCs.
3. Foster collaboration among research professionals and institutes to address issues and challenges facing LDCs.
4. Continuation of LDC waivers under TRIPS Agreement, also beyond graduation, especially for pharmaceuticals and agro-chemicals.
5. Support in developing an intellectual property regime conducive to both innovation and development in LDCs.
Read more: Bangladesh open to Qatar’s investment in energy sector: PM tells Doha Investment Summit
She also apprised the participants of her goal to go much further, to the next vision — ‘Smart Bangladesh’ by 2041.
“It will be based on four core elements: Smart Citizen, Smart Government, Smart Society and Smart Economy,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said that in 2009, when her government made a pledge to the people to build a ‘Digital Bangladesh’ by 2021, at the time, it sounded like a tall order.
“But, the Covid-19 pandemic proved that we could fulfill that pledge.”
Read More: Graduating LDCs want to make sure growth momentum isn’t slowed down: PM in Doha conference
She said that the pandemic reminded all that LDCs cannot wait to invest in scientific research and technological innovation.
“Such investments are a must for advancing their economies through productive capacity building,” she said.
She mentioned that LDCs average GDP expenditure for research and development still remains below 0.6 percent. Only a handful of them feature in the Global Innovation Index.
“But, LDCs cannot afford to lag behind with the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Our young people should be made part of the future of work. We need meaningful global partnership for that,” she said.
Read More: Private sector should prepare to face challenges of LDC graduation, FBCCI president says at AGM
Sheikh Hasina said that Bangladesh qualified for LDC graduation in 2021 under all three criteria.
“We are now preparing for graduation in 2026. During this transition, investment in science, technology and innovation is a priority for our government. We are working with the UN Technology Bank for LDCs on a national needs assessment,” she said.
She said that the government attaches importance to promoting a scientific mindset in the education system.
“We have established a host of science and technology universities and specialized institutes around the country,” she said.
Read More: Switzerland to work with all Bangladeshi stakeholders for a ‘smooth, inclusive, sustainable’ LDC graduation
Sheikh Hasina said that the government has introduced the Bangabandhu Science and Technology Fellowship and National Science and Technology Fellowship.
The PM said that the new focus on blended education is aimed at developing IT skills for all.
In this regard, she said that Sheikh Russel Digital Labs and Schools of Future are being set up across educational institutions. Bangladesh now has the world’s second largest community of registered IT freelancers. A new Institute of Frontier Technology is in the making for supporting high-end research and development.
She mentioned that following the launch of Bangabandhu-I communication satellite, the government is now planning for an earth observation satellite.
Read More: PM Sheikh Hasina arrives in Qatar to join UN conference on LDCs
“Bangladesh had to invest in improving early warning and weather forecast systems to drastically reduce natural disaster risks,” she added.
Sheikh Hasina said that the government has worked on home-grown climate adaptation measures, including through technological applications.
“We also need access to mitigation technologies to further curb greenhouse gas emissions. Our government is building two nuclear power plants as part of a clean energy transition. We aim to increase our share of renewable energy, preferably with floating solar panels, offshore wind turbines and green hydrogen.”
She said that the government has given emphasis on supporting agricultural research which made it possible for Bangladesh to combat hunger and become largely food secure.
Read More: Int'l community must renew commitment for real structural transformation in LDCs: PM in Doha conference
“We are investing further in making our agriculture and livestock environment-friendly. We stand ready to share our good practices with other LDCs through various means, including contract farming.”
Talking about the government's present focus on enhancing scope for medical research, she said, climate change’s impacts on public health are being manifested through new disease burdens.
“We must have international collaboration for research in neglected tropical diseases. We urgently need investments in developing new treatments for antimicrobial resistance,” the PM said.
Party of Estonian PM, strong Ukraine backer, gains big win
Voters in Estonia elected a new parliament Sunday with initial results suggesting the center-right Reform Party of Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. one of Europe’s most outspoken supporters of Ukraine, had won overwhelmingly with nearly all votes counted.
Kallas faced a challenge from the far-right populist EKRE party, which seeks to limit the Baltic nation's exposure to the Ukraine crisis and blames the current government for Estonia's high inflation rate.
Nine political parties in all fielded candidates for Estonia’s 101-seat parliament, or Riigikogu. Over 900,000 people were eligible to vote in the general election, and nearly half voted in advance.
With 99% of votes counted, Reform Party had taken 31.4% of the votes, followed by EKRE with 16.1% percent and the Center Party, traditionally favored by Estonia’s sizable ethnic-Russian minority, 15%.
“This result, which is not final yet, will give us a strong mandate to put together a good government,” Kallas told her party colleagues and jubilant supporters at a hotel in the capital, Tallinn.
“I think that with such a strong mandate, the (aid to Ukraine) will not change because other parties, except EKRE and maybe Center, have chosen the same line,” she said.
Preliminary results suggested six parties passed the 5% threshold of support needed to be in parliament, including newcomer Eesti 200, a liberal centrist party. Voter turnout was 63.7%, according to initial information.
Also Read: Estonia to get 1st female PM as government deal clinched
The initial results mean the Reform Party is in a remarkably strong position to take a leading role in forming Estonia's next government; its support translates into 37 seats in the legislature. But it will need junior partners to form a coalition with a comfortable majority to govern.
Kallas has ruled out being in a government with EKRE due to ideological differences, and is likely to turn to former coalition partner the Center Party and outgoing coalition partners - the small conservative Fatherland party and the Social Democrats - for a pact.
Newcomer Eesti 200 is also likely to be included in government talks with Reform.
National security in the wake of neighboring Russia's invasion of Ukraine and socio-economic issues, particularly the rising cost of living, were main campaign themes.
Kallas, 45, became prime minister in 2021 and has emerged as one of Europe’s most outspoken supporters of Ukraine during the year-long war. She is seeking a second term, with her standing enhanced by her international appeals to impose sanctions on Moscow.
A Baltic nation of 1.3 million people that borders Russia to the east, Estonia broke away from the Soviet Union in 1991 and has taken a clear Western course, joining NATO and the European Union.
Kallas' center-right Reform Party, a key player in Estonian politics since the mid-1990s, continuously held the prime minister’s post during 2005-2016 and regained it in 2021.
EKRE party leader Martin Helme, the prime minister's main challenger, faulted Kallas for the country’s inflation rate of 18.6%, one of the EU’s highest, and accused her of undermining Estonia’s defenses by giving weapons to Ukraine.
“We’ve never questioned support for Ukraine. We’ve never questioned Estonia's membership in NATO," Helme said in an interview with The Associated Press. “That’s just crazy talk. But we have been very critical of the government because they have not assessed the risk to Estonia and to Estonian security and defense.”
"We have basically given away all our heavy weaponry to Ukraine, and the replacement comes within two or three years. Basically, that is an invitation of aggression,” he said.
The outspoken and polarizing EKRE entered into the mainstream of Estonian politics in the 2019 election, when it emerged as the third-largest party with nearly 18% of the vote. The euroskeptic party was co-founded by Martin Helme’s father, Mart Helme, and was part of a Center Party-led government during 2019-21.
Kallas argues it’s in her country’s interests to help Kyiv. The full-scale invasion of Ukraine sparked fears in Tallinn that a Russian victory could embolden Moscow to switch its attentions to other countries it controlled in Soviet times, including Baltic nations Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
She says that Estonia’s defenses remain strong as the United States and other NATO allies have supplied top-notch weapons like the HIMARS rocket system to Ukraine and also to Estonia.