PM
PM meets Guterres in Doha, discusses Ukraine, Rohingyas
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday asked United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to take a special initiative to stop the Russia-Ukraine war soon.
She made the call at a meeting with António Guterres at the bilateral meeting Room of Qatar National Convention Centre here in Doha.
The premier said the world’s people are suffering due to the war, particularly economic sanctions as the disturbance in the international commodity supply raised inflation.
“She has asked the UN Secretary-General to take a special initiative for stopping the war soon,” said Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen while briefing reporters after the meeting.
Sheikh Hasina said it will be good for all if the war can be stopped as soon as possible.
“Those who make much profit because of the war should help the affected countries,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said her government is providing some 10 million people with food at subsidized prices in Bangladesh.
The PM praised the UN Secretary-General for his ‘Black Sea Grain Initiative’ (the Initiative on the Safe Transportation of Grain and Foodstuffs from Ukrainian ports) and his initiatives taken during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Read: PM Sheikh Hasina arrives in Qatar to join UN conference on LDCs
Regarding the Rohingya issue, both the PM and the UN Secretary-General agreed that the displaced Rohingya people should return to their homeland soon, not waiting for the political changeover in Myanmar.
Noting that the time of political change in Myanmar is an uncertain matter, Sheikh Hasina asked António Guterres to take a special initiative for the repatriation of the Rohingya people.
She also sought assistance from the United Nations and the international community to relocate more Rohingya people to Bhashan Char Island from camps in Cox’s Bazar.
Housing for one lakh people was built in Bhasan Char with the own fund of Bangladesh and only 30,000 people have so far been moved there.
The PM said Bangladesh prepared accommodation for Rohingyas with its own funds and still there is huge land in Bhashan Char to create housing for the displaced Myanmar nationals there.
“If you help us, we can shift many more people to the place (Bhashan Char),” she was quoted.
In this context, the UN Secretary-General said the Bangladesh PM can take an initiative in this regard.
Turning to extremism, he said fanaticism is being carried out in the name of religion in different places.
In this regard, the PM said those who are fanatics have no religion and no boundary. So, all should work together to fight fanaticism, she said.
About the climate issue, she said focus should be given on the disbursement of the committed climate fund.
During the meeting, António Guterres highly appreciated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her unprecedented successes in development, diplomacy and in tackling the Covid pandemic. It (the achievement) is very encouraging, he said
He said the UN Secretary General said they are proud of a leadership like Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who very successfully tackled the Covid situation and advanced Bangladesh even facing the crisis due to the Ukraine war.
Later, the Bangladesh premier sat in a separate meeting with President of the UNGA-Csaba Korosi at Qatar National Convention Center.
In the meeting, Sheikh Hasina proposed to form an international forum with foreign development ministers of the South-South countries to find the problems and potentials and then cooperate among the southern countries in this regard as the developed nations do not help as per their commitments.
In this regard, she sought cooperation of the UNGA in holding a daylong international conference on this issue.
In response, the UNGA President opined that the initiative should be taken before July next as they would be engaged in the pre-activities of the next general assembly session from July-September.
During the meeting, the UNGA President also highly lauded the economic progress of Bangladesh under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina saying it is a miracle and the economic progress of Bangladesh is very good even amid the tough time in the world.
Other issues like water management and climate change came up for discussion.
Foreign (Sr) Secretary Masud Bin Momen was present at the press briefing.
PM Sheikh Hasina arrives in Qatar to join UN conference on LDCs
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in Doha, Qatar on Saturday to participate in the 5th United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) slated for March 5-9.
A VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, carrying the prime minister and her entourage, which departed Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 11:15am (Dhaka time) landed at Hamad International Airport, Doha at 1:30pm local time (Doha time).
She is visiting Qatar at the invitation of the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
Hasina will have separate meetings with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, UNGA President Csaba Korosi and UNDP administrator Achim Steiner at Qatar National Convention Centre (QCC) on Saturday.
ALso Read: PM Hasina holds meeting with former British PM Sir Tony Blair
During her stay in Qatar till March 08, the PM will lead a high-level delegation and will hold bilateral meeting with her Qatari counterpart apart from her participation at the LDC5 conference.
She will also have a meeting with the Emir of Qatar. Bilateral issues including cooperation in the areas of energy sector will come up for discussion.
On March 5, the PM will deliver a speech at the opening plenary meeting of the LDC5 Conference as a special guest at the QCC.
Then she will have separate meetings with Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Rwanda President Paul Kagame, Secretary General of United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Rebeca Grynspan and Secretary General of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Doreen Bogdan-Martin there.
Besides, the Prime Minister will also deliver a speech at a side event titled “Sustainable and Smooth Transition for the Graduating Cohort of 2021,” which will be arranged jointly by Bangladesh, Laos and Nepal.
On March 6, Hasina will speak as the chief guest at a business summit, titled “The Rise of Bengal Tiger: Potential of Trade and Investment in Bangladesh” in the St. Regis Doha.
She will also have meeting with Malawi President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera and participate in a side event tiled “Investment in Research and Development in LDCs for Smart and Innovative Societies” in the QCC, and join the Regional Envoy Conference at the place of residence.
On March 7, the Prime Minister will attend a high-level dialogue on “Enhancing the participation of LDCs in International Trade and Regional Integration.”
She will hold meeting with Denmark Minister for Development Cooperation Dan Jorgensen, attend event titled “Global Partnership for Smooth and Sustainable Graduation: Marching towards Smart Bangladesh” as the special guest in the QCC as well as join a civic reception to be hosted by Bangladeshi community living in Qatar.
Hasina is scheduled to leave Doha for Dhaka on March 8.
In the LDC5 Conference in Doha, world leaders will gather with the leaders from private sector and civil society, parliamentarians, and young people to advance new ideas, raise new pledges of support, and spur delivery on agreed commitments, through the Doha Programme of Action.
PM set to leave for Doha Saturday to attend LDC5 Conference
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will leave Dhaka for Doha on Saturday to participate in the 5th United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5), to be held on March 5-9.
The premier is visiting Qatar at the invitation of the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, said her office.
During her stay in Qatar till March 08, Hasina will lead a high-level delegation and will hold bilateral meeting with her Qatari counterpart apart from her participation at the LDC5 conference.
She will also have a meeting with the Emir of Qatar. Bilateral issues including cooperation in the areas of energy sector will come up for discussion.
Also Read: PM to leave Dhaka for Doha on Mar 4 to attend LDC5 Conference
According to PMO a VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, carrying the premier and her entourage, will depart Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 11am on Saturday, which is scheduled to land at Hamad International Airport, Doha at 2:30pm local time (Doha time).
On Saturday afternoon, PM Hasina will have separate meetings with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, UNGA President Csaba Korosi and UNDP administrator Achim Steiner at Qatar National Convention Centre (QCC).
On March 5, the PM will deliver a speech at the opening plenary meeting of the LDC5 Conference as a special guest at the QCC.
Next she will have separate meetings with Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Rwanda President Paul Kagame, Secretary General of United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Rebeca Grynspan and Secretary General of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Doreen Bogdan-Martin there.
Besides, the prime minister will also deliver a speech at a side event titled “Sustainable and Smooth Transition for the Graduating Cohort of 2021,” which will be arranged jointly by Bangladesh, Laos and Nepal.
On March 6, Sheikh Hasina will speak as the chief guest at a business summit, titled “The Rise of Bengal Tiger: Potential of Trade and Investment in Bangladesh” in the St. Regis Doha, will have meeting with Malawi President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera and participate in a side event tiled “Investment in Research and Development in LDCs for Smart and Innovative Societies” in the QCC, and join the Regional Envoy Conference at the place of residence.
On March 7, the PM will attend a high-level dialogue on “Enhancing the participation of LDCs in International Trade and Regional Integration,” hold meeting with Denmark Minister for Development Cooperation Dan Jorgensen, attend event titled “Global Partnership for Smooth and Sustainable Graduation: Marching towards Smart Bangladesh” as the special guest in the QCC as well as join a civic reception to be hosted by Bangladeshi community living in Qatar.
Hasina is scheduled to leave Doha for Dhaka in the morning on March 8 (Wednesday).
In the LDC5 Conference in Doha, world leaders will gather with the private sector, civil society, parliamentarians, and young people to advance new ideas, raise new pledges of support, and spur delivery on agreed commitments, through the Doha Programme of Action.
END/UNB/MS/F
Run OMS through cards: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday asked the authorities concerned to operate the open market sale (OMS) through cards in order to ensure discipline in the management of the food programmes.
The PM issued the directive while chairing the Cabinet meeting at her office in the city.
“The PM has given a directive to fulfill the gap in the OMS management…. She asked to take steps to give the OMS commodities through cards and operate it through the card system so that there will be no gap in its management,” said Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain at a press briefing.
He said the PM also directed the administration to monitor the market of commodities and strengthen the vigilance against food hoarders.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet approved a proposal to issue an SRO by the Security Services Division to provide the dual citizenship facility to the Bangladeshis who obtained citizenship from 44 more countries.
Now the Bangladeshis having citizenship from 57 countries are enjoying this facility. So, the Bangladeshis having citizenship from a total of 101 countries will enjoy this facility after the issuance of this SRO.
Read more: Apply innovative power, talents to build Bangladesh: PM to BCS officers
Among the 44 new countries, there are 19 African countries, 12 South American ones, 12 Caribbean ones and one Oceania country.
The 44 countries include Egypt, South Africa, Kenya, Algeria, Sudan, Morocco, Ghana, Rwanda, Burundi, Tunisia, Sierra Leone, Libya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Central African Republic, Eritrea, Gambia, Botswana and Mauritius, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Suriname, Uruguay, Guiana, Cuba, Dominica, Haiti, Barbados, Bahamas, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada and Fiji.
The Cabinet also approved in principle the draft of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (Amendment) Act, 2023 with a view to bring some changes including extension of the tenure of vice chancellor, pro-vice chancellor and treasurer of the university to four years from three years.
Besides, the Cabinet cleared the draft of Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan 2022-2041 in a bid to ensure sustainable development by paying a special attention to the climate issues and problems in different other plans including the Delta Plan 2100 and the Smart Bangladesh Vision-2041.
Some US$ 80 billion fund will be required to implement the Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan 2022-2041, said the Cabinet Secretary, adding that this plan was framed so that the country’s development would be sustainable from the climate perspective.
President at Mithamain to welcome PM
President Abdul Hamid on Monday reached his ancestral land to welcome Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as she is coming to Mithamain upazila of Kishoreganj's Haor on Tuesday.
A helicopter carrying the President landed at Mithamain upazila at 3 pm on Monday.
After getting off the helicopter, President Abdul Hamid spoke to reporters on the road in front of his house.
The Prime Minister will be served with local traditional food including Haor fish, Ashtagram cheese at the President's village house.
Abdul Hamid told reporters that he is very happy that the Prime Minister is coming to his house. "Everyone in our family is very happy,"he added.
"I cannot say how many times I have been to Tungipara. Every time I went, Bangabandhu's daughter received me. I am not in politics now. He will come to my house, I am here to receive her," he said.
Sheikh Hasina is coming to his home in Kishoreganj for the first time. Abdul Hamid said there was no way for me to come home in 1998. Now I will drive to the gate of the house, earlier the launch used to be crowded here.
Read more: Apply innovative power, talents to build Bangladesh: PM to BCS officers
He said that in 1998, Sheikh Hasina saw the President's house from distance when she visited Kishoreganj. But she did not come. Bangabandhu came for my campaign in the 1970 election. He also saw the house from the market but could not come.
Earlier, President's eldest son Rezwan Ahmed Taufiq, Member of Parliament for Kishoreganj-4 (Itna-Mithamain-Ashtagram) Constituency, spoke to reporters here.
Prime Minister Hasina will be served with almost all kinds of fish from Haor, the president's son said, "I will try to entertain the Prime Minister with all kinds of fish available in Haor, including Ruhu, Katal, Baim, Chital, Prawns, Pabdas."
Besides receiving hospitality at the President's house, the PM will inaugurate the freedom fighter Abdul Hamid cantonment near President Abdul Hamid's house and will attend Awami League's public meeting at Mithamain helipad ground in the afternoon.
Hamid reached his home district Kishoreganj on a five-day official visit from February 27 to March 3.
After a guard of honor, the President left for his residence in Kamalpur, where he will spend the night.
During his visit, the President will also visit Mithamain, Karimganj, and Sadar upazilas.
On March 3, the President will be present at the circuit house and will leave for the helipad after a guard of honor. He will then depart Kishoreganj for Dhaka by an air force helicopter, scheduled to arrive at Bangabhaban at 5:30 pm.
Apply innovative power, talents to build Bangladesh: PM to BCS officers
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday asked the BCS officers to utilise their innovative power and talents in building Bangladesh smartly.
“In continuation of the works (the progress) we’ve done, you all will have to think afresh how this country can be built in more nice ways by utilizing your innovative power and talents,” she said.
The premier was addressing the certificate-awarding and closing ceremony of the 74th foundation training course of BCS officers at her office in the city.
Noting that Bangladesh now gets dignity as a development model in the world, she asked the new BCS cadres to uphold this dignity.
She said the country witnessed a radical change in a short period and asked the new officers to continue this development trend.
Hasina said they will build the country as a smart Bangladesh by 2041 through making the population, economy and all social systems smart.
Read more: Encourage children to take to sports & games: PM Hasina
In this time, she described the fresh officers as the soldiers in the implementation of the ‘2041 Smart Bangladesh’ vision as they will go to higher posts in the government services gradually in future.
“So, everyone will have to have new thoughts on how a matter can be made more nice and developed in their respective place,” she said.
The premier reiterated her call to the countrymen to show austerity in using resources including electricity, water and gas as it is not known when the Ukraine war will stop.
The price of every commodity and transport cost went up throughout the world due to the one-after-another sanctions and counter-sanctions.
The entire people of the country should be conscious in this regard as well as should make savings, become economical and show austerity in the use of everything, she said.
The PM asked the administration to promote the people to exercise austerity in the use of resources and raise food production in the country to offset the global crisis.
State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain, Public Administration Secretary Mohammad Mezbahuddin Chowdhury and Rector of Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre (BPATC) Md Ashraf Uddin also spoke at the function.
Sale of antibiotics without doctor’s prescription must be stopped: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said that sale of antibiotics without doctor’s prescription should be stopped and necessary restrictions should be imposed.
“Antibiotics are available everywhere in Bangladesh, and the sale of such antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription must be stopped,” she said.
The Prime Minister said this while Director of Biology Department of Ineos Institute of Antimicrobial Research, Oxford University, Prof Timothy E Walsh called on her at her official residence Ganabhaban.
After the meeting, PM’s speech writer Md. Nazrul Islam briefed the reporters.
The PM told the Oxford University researcher that once antibiotics were given from community clinics of the country, but now that has been stopped.
“Now antibiotics are given from the public hospitals with prescriptions of physicians,” she said.
Urging proper use of antibiotics, the Prime Minister said that efforts are being made to ensure that antibiotics are not sold everywhere in Bangladesh.
Also Read: Bangladesh almost self-sufficient in treatment of heart diseases: PM Hasina
Timothy E Walsh said that anti-microbial resistance (AMR) has become an epidemic in the world eight now.
Noting that if it is not prevented now, it will take a more dire form in the future, he expressed fear that millions may die as a result.
He praised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's actions during her duties as co-chair of the Global Leaders Group on AMR.
At the meeting, the Prime Minister highlighted the various steps taken by the government for the overall development of the health sector, including the establishment of specialized hospitals and institutes such as National Institute of Ophthalmology, Sheikh Russel National Gastroliver Institute and Hospital, Cardiovascular Institute, and Neurosciences Hospital.
Sheikh Hasina said her government has given special emphasis to research in various fields including agriculture, basic and medical science.
She said that apart from providing scholarships for general students, fellowships are given in 200 higher education institutions, especially in PhD, post-doctoral and research fields.
The Oxford University professor proposed to introduce Bangabandhu IOI Fellowship from Ineos Institute of Antimicrobial Research for Bangladeshi students for research in medical and basic sciences under the fellowship.
In response, the Prime Minister gave her consent in-principle for the fellowship.
In addition, Timothy E Walsh also proposed a partnership of the Bangladesh National Parliament on AMR with the Caucuses of the British Parliament and the Prime Minister gave her positive response.
PM unveils Duranta Biplob’s book on Bangabandhu
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday unveiled the cover of a book titled "Bangabandhu Bhalobashar Opor Nam" written by Duranta Biplob who recently died in an accident.
PM’s Assistant Press Secretary MM Emrul Kayas said that Biplob’s mother Rokeya Akter Khatun, his brother Durjoy Biplob and sister Shashwati Biplob were present on the occasion at PM’s official residence Ganabhaban.
Biplob, ex-general secretary of Jahangirnagar University unit of Chhatra League and a former member of the Agriculture and Cooperative Sub-Committee of the Central Awami League, drowned on Buriganga River when his boat was hit by a motor launch on November 7.
Read More: PM pays tribute to Bangabandhu at Tungipara
The 51-year-old entrepreneur was travelling by a boat from Keraniganj to Mohammadpur to meet his mother.
Go to people, Sheikh Hasina asks party leaders
Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday directed the leaders and workers of local Awami League to further strengthen the party ahead of the next general election.
She gave the direction while exchanging views with the leaders of Kotalipara Upazila Awami League at Kotalipara.
Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary KM Shakhawat Moon said that Sheikh Hasina also asked the party leaders and workers to remain united and highlight success stories of the Awami League-led government achieved over last 14 years.
Also Read: Step up vigilance against militancy, drugs and terrorism: PM Hasina
"Leaders and workers will have to go to the doors of the people and project before them the development taken place across the country since 2009," she said.
Research is vital to preserve, revitalise and develop mother languages: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday stressed the need for research to preserve, revitalise and develop the mother languages of the world as many languages are being lost.
“I always put emphasis on research. The reason is that enrichment of anything is not possible without research,” she said.
The PM said this while inaugurating a four-day programme of the International Mother Language Institute at Segunbagicha to mark the Martyrs’ Day and International Mother Language Day-2023.
She said the government will take steps to provide fellowship for language research in the International Mother Language Institute.
“I think this institute has a responsibility to preserve all the languages of the world, conduct research on these and know the history of languages. I think it can be done,” she said.
Hasina said she, if needed, will arrange funds to provide fellowship for language researchers.
She said today Bangladesh has attained food autarky thanks to research. “Now research is extensively needed in different sectors including science and health,” she added.
In this context, the PM said the government provides fellowship and stipends to 24 million students in Bangladesh and free textbooks to the school students.
She said her government raised the literacy rate to 65.5 percent from only 45 percent during the 1996-2001 tenure and got an award from UNESCO for this achievement at that time. Then her government formed a fund with the award money to provide stipend for higher education.
“Coming in power in 2009, now we’ve raised the literacy rate to 75.2 percent. So, we are advancing (in terms of education),” she said.
Read more: Making Bangla UN's official language involves huge money: Shahriar Alam
“Many languages in different countries are being lost…We want the engendered languages of the world to be preserved here and research to be conducted on these. We’re giving the utmost importance to research. I want International Mother Language Institute to make a huge contribution to preserve the languages,” she said.