PM
President, PM lead nation in paying tribute to Language Movement heroes
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina tonight paid rich tributes to the martyrs of the historic Language Movement by placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar marking ‘Amar Ekushey’ -- the International Mother Language Day and Shaheed Dibosh.
They placed floral wreaths at the Central Shahid Minar here at one minute past midnight.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived at the Shaheed Minar seven minutes before the clock struck 12. On her arrival, she was received by Dhaka University Vice-chancellor Prof Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman.
Later, the Prime Minister and the VC received the President when he arrived four minutes before the zero hour.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina proceeded to the altar of the Central Shaheed Minar together as the immortal song on Amar Ekushey—'Amar Bhaiyer Rakte Rangano Ekushey February’-- was playing.
PM Hasina slams move to undermine Bangabandhu’s role in Language Movement
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday denounced attempts to undermine the contribution of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to the historic Language Movement.
“Bangabandhu was jailed for waging the Language Movement. Why was he in jail (at that time) if he had no contribution?” she asked.
The premier said this after conferring the "Ekushey Padak 2023" to 19 eminent personalities and two organizations in recognition of their contributions to the 1952 language movement, art, culture, journalism and journalism.
She handed over the Ekushey Padak, the country’s second highest civilian award, at a ceremony at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka.
Hasina said the ‘Joy Bangla’ slogan, which inspired the freedom fighters to make their supreme sacrifice, and the historic 7th March speech were banned after the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib in 1975.
“Actually his name was obliterated from history. Not only that, his contribution to the Language Movement was erased,” she said, adding that even some scholars said he had no contribution since he was in jail at that time.
The PM said Bangabandhu was arrested on three occasions within months after the emergence of Pakistan as a country. Arrested in 1949, he was not released until February 27, 1952, she noted.
While he was in jail, student leaders used to meet him and received his instructions regarding the Language Movement, she said adding that it can be learnt reading the books ‘Oshomapto Attojiboni’ (Unfinished Memories) of Bangabandhu and ‘Secret Documents of Intelligence Branch on Bangabandhu.
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The specific dates, names of student leaders who met Bangabandhu and his role during the Language Movement can largely be learnt from the 113-130 pages of the Volume-II of the secret documents book.
The PM extended her sincere thanks to the awardees and noted personalities.
The Cultural Affairs Ministry organised the event on the occasion of ‘Amar Ekushey’ and International Mother Language Day.
Among the award recipients, Khaleda Manzoor-e Khuda, freedom fighter AKM Shamsul Haque (posthumous), and Haji Mohammad Majibor Rahman received the award for their roles in the Language Movement.
Masud Ali Khan and Shimul Yusuf received the prestigious award for their contributions in acting, while Manoranjan Ghoshal, Gazi Abdul Hakim and Fazal-e-Khuda (posthumous) for music, Jayanto Chattopadhyay for recitation, Nawazish Ali Khan for Shilpakala (arts), and Kanak Chanpa Chakma for painting.
Besides, Momtaz Uddin (posthumously) was given the award in the Liberation War category, Md Shah Alamgir (posthumously) in journalism, Dr Md Abdul Majid in research, Professor Dr Mazharul Islam (posthumously) in education, Saidul Haque in social service, Advocate Manjurul Islam (posthumously) and Akhter Uddin Mia (posthumously) in politics, and Dr Maniruzzaman in language and literature.
Bangladesh National Museum received the award in the category of education and Bidyanondo Foundation in social service.
Each awardee received a gold medal, a certificate of honour, and a cheque worth Tk four lakh.
State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid chaired the award giving ceremony, while Cabinet Secretary Md. Mahbub Hossain conducted it and read out the citations of the award recipients.
Cultural Affairs Secretary Md. Abul Monsur delivered the welcome address.
The Ekushey Padak was introduced in the memory of the martyrs of the 1952 Language Movement.
PM confers Ekushey Padak 2023
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today conferred ‘Ekushey Padak 2023’ to 19 eminent personalities and two organizations in recognition of their contributions to various fields.
She handed over the Ekushey Padak, the country’s second highest civilian award, at a ceremony at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka.
The Cultural Affairs Ministry organised the event on the occasion of ‘Amar Ekushey’ and International Mother Language Day.
Among the award recipients, Khaleda Manzoor-e Khuda, freedom fighter AKM Shamsul Haque (posthumous), and Haji Mohammad Majibor Rahman received the award for their roles in the Language Movement.
Read more: 19 eminent personalities, 2 institutions named for Ekushey Padak
Masud Ali Khan and Shimul Yusuf received the prestigious award for their contributions in acting, while Manoranjan Ghoshal, Gazi Abdul Hakim and Fazal-e-Khuda (posthumous) for music, Jayanto Chattopadhyay for recitation, Nawazish Ali Khan for Shilpakala (arts), and Kanak Chanpa Chakma for painting.
Besides, Momtaz Uddin (posthumously) was given the award in the Liberation War category, Md Shah Alamgir (posthumously) in journalism, Dr Md Abdul Majid in research, Professor Dr Mazharul Islam (posthumously) in education, Saidul Haque in social service, Advocate Manjurul Islam (posthumously) and Akhter Uddin Mia (posthumously) in politics, and Dr Maniruzzaman in language and literature.
Bangladesh National Museum received the award in the category of education and Bidyanondo Foundation in social service.
Each awardee received a gold medal, a certificate of honour, and a cheque worth Tk four lakh.
State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid chaired the award giving ceremony, while Cabinet Secretary Md. Mahbub Hossain conducted it and read out the citations of the award recipients.
Cultural Affairs Secretary Md. Abul Monsur delivered the welcome address.
The Ekushey Padak was introduced in the memory of the martyrs of the 1952 Language Movement.
AL believes in empowering while BNP tries to confuse people: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said that the aim of her government is to preserve democracy and improve the fate of the people.
“Preserving democracy and developing the fate of the people is our aim,” she said while inaugurating the Mirpur-Kalshi flyover in Dhaka.
The flyover has been constructed to ease commute in Mirpur, Mirpur DOHS, Pallabi, Kalshi, Mahakhali, Banani, Uttara and Dhaka airport.
The prime minister opened the flyover to traffic from a function at Kalshi intersection, adjoining Balur Math, in Dhaka.
Sheikh Hasina said that after much struggle, AL has been able to ensure people’s voting rights.
“People had cast their votes to AL and elected us in the elections in 2008, 2014 and 2018 to run the government. AL came in the power elected by the votes of people,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said that people of Bangladesh are aware of their voting rights, and if anyone rigged elections, they would never accept that.
Also Read: PM opens Mirpur-Kalshi flyover
In this connection, she said that everyone remembers the February 15, 1996 election during which BNP tried to hold onto power through rigging votes, and Khaleda Zia declared herself as the prime minister.
The PM said as Khaleda rigged votes the people did not accept it and forced her to step down in less than two months through a massive movement.
She recalled that similar incident had happened while the BNP was in power after 2001.
She said that BNP included 1.23 crore of fake voters in the voter list trying to return to power through rigging, a design foiled by the people’s movement.
She said that many were elected uncontested, while people realised that their votes will be rigged. They initiated a movement again and Khaleda Zia was ousted, she said.
The PM said that in 2008 election, BNP managed to bag 29 seats out of 300. Later, they won another seat in a by-election.
“We came to power repeatedly through the votes of the people, by attaining their trust and confidence, and developing the country,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina, also the AL chief, said that her party believes in the empowerment of people while BNP is trying to confuse people.
She said that Bangladesh is on the highway of development and the government has been able to develop Bangladesh as AL has been in power for a long time.
The PM said that Bangladesh, by 2041, will be a developed, prosperous and ‘Smart Bangladesh’.
“We have formulated a plan for that and are devising the five-year plan based on that to take the country forward. Bangladesh will never look back. It will never be dependent on anyone. We will produce our own food, develop the country, and will not beg to anyone,” she said.
The PM said that economic recession and food scarcity have engulfed the whole world, where even the fates of developed countries are at stake.
She said that the land in Bangladesh is fertile, and urged all once again to utilize all arable land in cultivation. “Not a single inch of land should be left out from cultivation activities. Produce whatever you can. We will meet our demands and if necessary, we will help others.”
LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam, Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Md Atiqul Islam, Army General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed and Dhaka-16 MP Md Elias Uddin Mollah also spoke at the programme.
PM opens Mirpur-Kalshi flyover
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (February 19, 2023) inaugurated the Mirpur-Kalshi flyover to vehicular movement. The flyover has been constructed to ease commute in Mirpur, Mirpur DOHS, Pallabi, Kalshi, Mahakhali, Banani, Uttara and Dhaka airport.
The prime minister opened the flyover to traffic from a function at Kalshi intersection, adjoining Balur Math, in Dhaka.
The 2,335m long flyover has been built under the Road Widening and Development Project from ECB Square to Mirpur and the Construction of Flyover on Kalshi Circle Project, which got ECNEC approval on January 9, 2018.
Read more: Want peace, but ready to resist external attack: PM Hasina
Under the project, 3.70km stretch of road from the ECB square to Kalshi was also widened.
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and the Bangladesh Army (24 Engineer Construction Brigade) implemented the project at a cost of around Tk 1,012 crore.
According to the project details, the flyover looks like the English alphabet ‘Y’.
The previously four-lane roads have been widened to six lanes to ease commute.
Read More: Remove posters, writings from Dhaka’s flyovers in 2 weeks: HC
The main four-lane flyover runs from ECB square towards Kalshi and Mirpur DOHS, while a two-lane ramp descends from Kalshi intersection to Kalshi Road.
The project also includes extension of a PC girder bridge, construction of two foot bridges, a public toilet, two police boxes, a 7.40 km RCC drain and saucer drain, a 1755m RCC pipe drain, retaining wall, 3383m communication duct, 8 lakh-linear metre sand compaction pile, separate cycle lane, and six bus bays.
On her arrival at the venue, LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam, Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Md Atiqul Islam, Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, Dhaka-16 MP Md Elias Uddin Mollah, and Local Government Division Secretary Muhammad Ibrahim welcomed her.
Read More: Flyovers to be constructed in haor region, not roads: Planning Minister.
Director seeks PM’s intervention in ‘recovering footage of govt-funded film Mike’
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's intervention has been sought to recover footage of the government-funded full-length children's film 'Mike' based on Bangabandhu's historic March 7 speech.
This request was made at a press conference organized at Sagar-Runi Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity on Wednesday.
In a written statement read out at the press conference, director and producer of the film FM Shaheen said, “Anytime between 10 pm on February 8 and 10 am on February 9, at the office of bbarta24net.com and Jagran TV on the 11th floor of Padma Islami Life Insurance Bhaban, miscreants stole the portable hard disk containing the latest edited footage of the film 'Mike' that was kept in my desk drawer. The estimated value of the footage is Tk 1 crore 25 lakh.”
Shaheen also said, apart from this, Tk 5.35 lakh cash was taken from the drawer of bbarta24net.com editor.
The media outlets have been operating since May 3, 2021, by renting a part of the 11th floor of this building as an office.
They also claimed that police did not cooperate with them to find the culprits from the beginning.
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Keep vigil against evil forces to sustain country's development pace
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday urged the people of the country to remain alert against the evil forces so they can't grip Bangladesh again.
“The people of the country have to remain alert and cautious so that dark clutch (of evil force) must never again grip Bangladesh,” she said.
The prime minister said this while handing over the keys of 5000 government-built houses, ‘Bir Nibash’, to the underprivileged freedom fighters of the country. A total of 30,000 houses are being built across the country under the project.
Liberation War Affairs Ministry organised the programme at Osmani Memorial Auditorium with its minister AKM Mozammel Huq in the chair.
Hasina said that Bangladesh is advancing with an unstoppable speed and no one will be able to stop it.
“Bangladesh will be built with the spirit of the Liberation War. We will build Bangladesh as non-communal country imbued with the ideology of the Liberation War and that is our aim,” she said.
She said that under the leadership of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman the people had sacrificed their blood to attain Independence in 1971.
“This is our country, and we have gained our Independence sacrificing our blood under the leadership of the Father of the Nation. We will build this country as the Golden Bangladesh of the Father of the Nation, Inshallah,” she said.
Also read: ‘Bir Nibash’: PM gives away keys to 5000 houses for disadvantaged freedom fighters
The prime minister said that her government will build a better living condition for the freedom fighters.
She said her government has been giving houses to disadvantaged freedom fighters and arranging for them means of livelihoods so they can lead a dignified life.
She said the construction of 17660 more houses for the freedom fighters are in various stages.
"I hope that the construction of 30,000 Bir Nibash will be completed by this year," she said.
Describing briefly her government’s programmes for the overall development of Bangladesh in the past 14 years, Hasina said that Bangladesh has now become a developing nation from the least developed one. And it would be a developed, prosperous and Smart Bangladesh by 2041.
She said freedom fighters and their family members now get Tk 20,000 per head as monthly allowance. Besides, they get various festival bonuses including the one on Bangla New Year’s Day.
The PM said they have arranged treatment for the freedom fighters and their free transportation alongside giving special scholarship to their family inmates.
“For which the worthy sons of the soil nowadays can say they’re freedom fighters and their family members can say they’re coming from freedom fighters’ families keeping their heads high,” she said.
The PM said her Awami League government is not only honouring the freedom fighters of the country, but also the foreigners who fought for Bangladesh’s independence particularly the Indian military personnel and stood by the country during the War of Liberation in 1971.
Sheikh Hasina asked all concerned to find out the mass killing grounds, which are yet to be traced and preserve those for the people to know about the true history of independence and the sacrifices of the martyrs.
Over 20,000 graveyards of the freedom fighters have so far been preserved, she said.
“We have already built Liberation War memorials and museums in 360 places in 293 upazilas. We’re building a separate Liberation War Complex in each upazila of the country where there will be a museum and a memorial inscribed with the names of freedom fighters,” she said.
She said that it might not be possible to find out names of every freedom fighter of the localities.
“We’re preserving the places as the people from generation after generation can remember those for whom we have achieved the country’s independence,” she said.
The Prime Minister said they have also preserved two places from where the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave the historic 7th March speech and the place where the Pakistani occupation forces surrendered to the allied forces aimed at presenting the true history of the Liberation War before the people.
Liberation War Affairs Secretary Khaja Miah also spoke at the programme.
A documentary related to the project was screened at the programme.
The Tk 4,122-cr project - house construction for poor freedom fighters - was approved by the Ecnec on March 21 last year.
Under the project 30,000 ‘Bir Nibash’ (houses) for poor freedom fighters, Birangana (women freedom fighters), widows and children of martyred and late freedom fighters will be built for their socioeconomic uplift.
Named as Bir Nibas, the 635-square-foot-houses, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a dining room and a kitchen will be built for poor freedom fighters on their family homesteads.
This project is an initiative of PM Hasina seeking to uplift the socio-economic status of poverty-stricken freedom fighters, widows and children of late heroic freedom fighters.
Construction of each house costs Tk14,10, 382, according to official sources.
Deputy Commissioners of Narail, Madaripur, Gopalganj, Gazipur and Kishoreganj, on behalf of the Prime Minister handed over the keys in their respective areas.
Diabetic association team meets PM
A team of Bangladesh Diabetic Association (BADAS) met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganabhaban on Tuesday.
The team members include BADAS president and national professor AK Azad Khan, vice president Dr Sarwar Ali, secretary general Mohammad Saif Uddin, joint secretary general Prof Rashid-e- Mahbub and national council member and National Professor Dr Mahmud Hasan.
PM’s personal physician Prof Dr ABM Abdullah was present at the time, PM’s assistant MM Emrul Kayas told UNB.
During the meeting, the premier assured to extend support for implementing several initiatives taken by Bangladesh Diabetic Association (BADAS), including connecting 300 digital healthcare centres with community health centres.
The BADAS leaders on behalf of their association congratulated Sheikh Hasina for naming her as the global ambassador of diabetes recently by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF).
When requested for time to formally congratulate the premier for being the ever-first global ambassador in the history of the IDF, she gave her consent to attend their event at a convenient time in the future.
During the meeting, it was noted that Bangladesh Diabetic Society has an outstanding role outside the government in creating manpower in the field of healthcare.
Philippines, Sri Lanka and India create international quality doctors and nurses and arrange overseas employment for them in the western countries and thus they are earning huge amount of foreign currencies, said the BADAS leaders.
BADAS, if given the opportunity, can also play a role in creating international quality doctors and nurses abroad, they said.
If such an institution can be established, boys and girls of different countries will also have the opportunity to study here in Bangladesh and their countries will also be able to earn such foreign currencies, they added.
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For this purpose, Bangladesh Diabetic Association is working to establish some more nursing colleges and medical colleges. After knowing the matter, the Prime Minister assured to extend her cooperation to this endeavor.
The Bangladesh Diabetic Association has already launched an online healthcare program as well as has taken an initiative to launch 300 digital healthcare centres and link these centres with the government community health centres with the help of the government.
In this regard, the Prime Minister assured her support to BADAS and expressed her satisfaction knowing that such activity has already started in Khoksa Upazila of Kushtia district. The ministries concerned will provide assistance to this initiative, she said.
Sheikh Hasina agreed to inaugurate the two mobile vans at a convenient time, which were received by BADAS from the Local Government Department, to deliver dialysis services and diabetic services in the rural area.
The premier was informed that the interest of the loan taken for the Healthcare Development Project (HCDP) of BADAS has not been fully paid.
BADAS leaders said the 50 percent interest has been paid at the PM’s initiative and sought her assistance for payment of the remaining interest as well.
Help people in villages in cultivation activities: PM to Ansar and VDP
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (February 12, 2023) reiterated that the country will never look back again and it will move forward to become a developed, prosperous, and smart Bangladesh.
“Insha Allah, this country will never look back again. Bangladesh is advancing and will advance more… it will be ‘Smart Bangladesh’. We will have the ‘Sonar Bangla’,” she said.
The prime minister said this while addressing the 43rd National Assembly-2023 of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP as the chief guest at the Ansar and VDP Academy in Gazipur’s Shafipur.
Read more: Allow more women to excel in science: PM to int’l community
She said that the country was liberated with the supreme sacrifice of blood during the Liberation War.
“Today Bangladesh got the recognition of a developing country, and we want to advance further. We want to build Bangladesh as a developed and prosperous country, alongside ensuring socioeconomic progress,” she said.
People in the country will not beg to anyone, she said.
Read More: Encourage people to pay tax instead of harassment: PM Hasina asks revenue collectors
Sheikh Hasina said that the coronavirus pandemic created immense pressure on the economy at the international level, while Russia-Ukraine war caused global recession, not just in Bangladesh.
“I urge everyone to follow the footsteps of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman… do not keep a single inch of arable land unutilized,” she said.
“For that Ansar and VDP can play a special role. They can help people in the villages and engage them in various cultivation activities to produce crops and preserve those. I hope that you will contribute,” the PM added.
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Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Public Security Division Senior Secretary Md Aminul Islam Khan, and Director General of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP Major General AKM Aminul Haque welcomed the prime minister when she arrived at the venue.
The PM handed over medals to 180 Ansar and VDP members for their outstanding contribution to their respective fields.
She also inspected the parade and witnessed a smartly-turned out contingent of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP. Later, she witnessed choreography and a cultural programme.
Read More: Shotguns, bullets snatched from Ansar members recovered; 10 held.
Allow more women to excel in science: PM to int’l community
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday urged the international community to work to address the barriers in mindset and learning environment to allow more women and girls to excel in science.
“It is unfortunate that women represent only 12% of scientists and 30% of researchers globally. We must work to address the barriers in mindsets and learning environments to allow more women and girls to excel in science,” she said.
The premier said this in a video statement screened at the 8th International Day of Women and Girls in Science Assembly, held in the United Nations Headquarters, New York, USA.
“Today, we celebrate the women and girls who are making important contributions to the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” she said.
Also read: Come out of nightmare of an unelected government: PM
Hasina urged the women and girls to act as the agents of change themselves. “The women and girls in science and technology must remember that they are not alone. The steps they take would help open the door further for their sisters around the world,” she said.
She focused on her government’s steps for development of women in Bangladesh.
Turning to Bangladesh, the PM said, “I have made it a priority to have our women and girls lead in every sphere. Our women are doing very well in the field of research and higher education.”
She said scholarships are being given to girls to carry out research in agriculture, industry, health, science, art, information technology - all fields in Bangladesh.
To encourage girls, 5,275 digital centres have been established across Bangladesh from where one girl and one boy entrepreneur are providing 200 types of services, she said.
The premier said her government has established Science and Technology Universities across the country to give boys and girls easy access. Hi-tech Parks have created an inclusive environment where our girls can thrive alongside boys in the country, she added.
Hasina wished to see women and girls fulfill their potentials for innovation and creativity in science. “We must bridge the gaps in opportunities available for them in developed and developing countries. We want our girls to have their full share in building smart, knowledge-based societies,” she went on.
The PM congratulated all the women and girls on this International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
The 8th International Day of Women and Girls in Science Assembly was held aiming to bridge between the international community and women in science through linking their knowledge and expertise and its applications in a systematic, critical way for the 2030 agenda and its 17 global goals.
The Royal Academy of Science International Trust (RASIT), and co-organizing Member States celebrated the International Day of Women and Girls in Science in the UN Headquarters.
The theme of the assembly is “Innovate. Demonstrate. Elevate. Advance. (I.D.E.A.) to bring communities forward for sustainable and equitable development.”