Dhaka, Oct 28 (UNB) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday sought cooperation from the people of Chattogram Hill Tracts in solving their land problems.

“Cooperate with the Land (Dispute Resolution) Commission (of the CHT) so that it can solve the land problems soon,” she said after inaugurating the newly constructed Sheikh Hasina Chattogram Hill Tracts Complex at Bailey Road in the capital.

The Prime Minister said when lands are acquired to implement any development scheme in the CHT areas people do not get compensation due to problems over land ownership there.

She said if the CHT people get the ownership of own lands against their own names according to the law which is effective for (other parts of) the country, they can get compensation in case of land acquisition.
  
Sheikh Hasina suggested not following a separate land law which had been enacted during the British colonial period for the CHT area. The Land Commission faces repeated obstacles whenever it goes to work in this regard, she added.

Noting that now the world is marching forward in a much faster way, she said, “So, I think everyone should live with their own lands and own rights. We want this system to be improved.”  

The Prime Minister said the government has already implemented most clauses of the CHT Peace Accord signed in 1997 and the execution of some others is underway. “Besides, the government is implementing huge schemes for the overall development of the CHT region.” 
She said the government developed the CHT region much making special allocation as the region had completely been neglected for 20 years after 1975.

In this regard, she suggested that the CHT Regional Council propose projects for the overall development of the region so that its people can be more self-reliant economically. “If the CHT Regional Council proposes any project for the development of their respective region, we’ll be able to implement it making special allocation,” Hasina said.

About government jobs for members of small ethnic groups, the Prime Minister said her government is taking steps so that candidates from minority groups living in both hills and plain land get priority in the recruitment process. “Though we’ve cancelled the quota system, I’ve directed the Public Service Commission so that candidates from the CHT region or small ethnic groups always get priority. We’re taking steps and will do, we can give you this word,” she said.

Noting that there will be no development if peace is not maintained, the Prime Minister said, “No more conflict. We signed the peace accord. So, we want peace to prevail in the hills and it will mark progress through this peace.”

Housing and Public Works Minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, Convener of CHT Peace Accord Implementation Committee Abul Hasnat Abdullah, Chairman of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, also known as Santu Larma, and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs Ministry RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury also spoke at the event chaired by State Minister of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Bir Bahadur Ushwe Sing.

CHT Affairs Secretary Md Nurul Amin at his welcome speech said the Sheikh Hasina Chattogram Hill Tracts Complex was constructed on two acres of land spending Tk 194 crore.

Alongside a six-storey administrative building and a six-storey dormitory, there are several other structures under the complex.

An audio-visual documentary was screened focusing the development of the CHT area and lifestyle of its people.
 

Dhaka, Oct 27 (UNB) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday ruled out the possibility of closing down the old airport at Tejgaon in the city saying that it belongs to the Air Force and it must remain under their possession.

“This airport will never be closed down…it belongs to the Air Force and it must remain theirs," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating the newly constructed VVIP Complex of the Tejgaon airport.

She, however, asked the Air Force to remain alert so that this airport must not be grabbed by others.

Sheikh Hasina assured that no one will be able to take away this airport from the Air Force as long as she is there in power.

The Prime Minister asked all to shun the thinking of constructing high-rises beside the first airport of the country. "I want to warn you many people have their greedy eyes on it, the Air Force should use it…it must not be grabbed by others." 

She went on saying, "But when I will be not be there in  power, many may come to grab this airport, I don't want to see this airport getting ruined as Dhaka city badly needs another airport…. we have another one, why should we destroy it." 

Sheikh Hasina put emphasis on the use of the airport and said flights should be operated from there so that all can understand about its use.

The Prime Minister firmly mentioned that the airport land will not be allotted from the Air Force to anyone else as long as Awami League remains in power.

In this context, she said, the Air Force needs more land as the government is further increasing its operational activities and its size.

Hasina went round different sections of the newly constructed VVIP complex of the airport.

 
Dhaka, Oct 26 (UNB) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday expressed the hope that country’s children will fulfill the dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to build Bangladesh as ‘Sonar Bangla’.
 
"Today's children will materialise the dream of the Father of the Nation to make the country ‘Sonar Bangla as they’re the country’s future," she said.
 
The Prime Minister was addressing a function at Ganobhaban marking the distribution of prizes among the winners of drawing and essay writing competitions organised on the occasion of Bangabandhu's birthday.
 
She said the government is putting immense importance to the education sector to make children worthy citizens. "Our country is marching forward. Being well-educated, today’s children will run the country tomorrow." 
 
Hasina briefly described various programmes taken by the government to upgrade the country’s education system.
 
Jatir Janak Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust organised the competition on 96th, 97th and 98th birthdays of the Father of the Nation.
 
President of Bangabandhu Jadughar Artist Hashem Khan, member secretary of Bangabandhu Memorial Trust Sheikh Hafizur Rahman and chief executive officer of the memorial trust Mashura Hossain, among others, spoke on the occasion.
 
Sheikh Hasina, also the president of the memorial trust, said the government is working for people’s welfare and building Bangladesh as a prosperous country.
 
She said the government wants every child to pursue education and that is why it is distributing free textbooks from pre-primary level to secondary one and providing stipend and scholarship to them.
 
The Prime Minister said the government has nationalised some 26,000 primary schools following Bangabandhu’s footsteps. "We're establishing government a college and a school in every upazila for the development of education
" she said.
 
She said they has turned the Dhanmondi house of Bangabandhu into Bangabandhu Museum and formed a trust in the name of the Father of the Nation. "We're giving stipend to 1,700 distressed but meritorious children from the fund as well as providing assistance to the August 21 grenade attack victims."
 
Hasina said her government is encouraging children in sports and cultural activities like songs and painting so that their talent and thoughts flourish properly.
 
She reiterated her determination to build Bangladesh as a middle-income country by 2021 and a prosperous and developed one by 2041. "We've also adopted Delta Plan-2100 to build Bangladesh as the most developed country in the next century and present a prosperous and beautiful life to the future generation." 
 
Hasina extended her sincere thanks to the participants of the drawing and essay writing competitions and their guardians, hoping that more children will take part in the competition in coming years.
 
Earlier, the Prime Minister distributed prizes among the winners of the competitions organised by Bangabandhu Memorial Trust between 2016 and 2018.
 

Dhaka, Oct 25 (UNB) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday urged China to put pressure on Myanmar so that it takes back Rohingyas who were displaced from their homeland in Rakhine state.

She made the call when visiting Chinese State Councillor and Minister of Public Security Zhao Kezhi met her at her official residence Ganobhaban in the city.

After the meeting, Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters.

Sheikh Hasina hoped that China will play a positive and constructive role in resolving the Rohingya crisis, saying Chinese initiative will significantly help end the problem.

Talking about the longest sea bridge built in China, she said Bangladesh is a riverine country and it needs to construct many bridges, seeking Chinese cooperation in this regard.

Seeking more Chinese investment in Bangladesh, the Prime Minister said her government has kept aside land where Chinese entrepreneurs can develop their industries.

In reply, the Chinese State Councillor hoped that the investors of his country will respond to the call.

He said China always supports Bangladesh as an independent and sovereign country.

Highly praising dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Zhao Kezhi said Bangladesh’s development in recent years is just amazing.

Noting that China itself is a developing country, he said Bangladesh has also been graduated to a developing nation.

Raising the issue of terrorism, the Prime Minister mentioned her government’s zero-tolerance policy and recently enacted law to combat cybercrimes.

In response, the Chinese Public Security Affairs Minister said his country is ready to provide necessary technical assistance to Bangladesh in this regard.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Nojibur Rahman, PM’s Military Secretary Major General Mia Md Jainul Abedin, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Mohammad Javed Patwary, Security Services Division Secretary Farid Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury and Public Security Division Secretary Mostafa Kamal Uddin were present.
 

Dhaka, Oct 21 (UNB) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday announced that there will be no hunger and poverty in the country if Awami League is voted to power again in the upcoming general election.

"If people cast their votes for Boat, if we get the chance to serve the country through forming the government, I can tell you, without any hesitation, there’ll be no hunger and poverty by 2020," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating 66 Sheikh Russel Mini Stadiums in 66 upazilas, Youth Training Centes in six districts and a multi-sports indoor complex in Bangladesh Krira Shiksha Pratisthan (BKSP) through a videoconference from her official residence Ganobhaban.

She mentioned that the government has been able to reduce the poverty to 21 percent and will be able to reduce more in the coming days.

Sheikh Hasina said the 100th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the 50th anniversary of the Independence will be celebrated in a hunger- and poverty-free atmosphere in the country. "We’ll be able to march forward further towards development."

Talking about the development of sports in the country, the Prime Minister said sports are closely related with education. "The more students will involve in sports the more they will be able to gain courage and get healthier. “It’ll also help bring more pride for the country and the nation."

Hasina said the government has given special attention to it so that the students and youths get involved in sports. "We want the sports to be flourished in the country further."

The Prime Minister said the more the youth will get involved in sports and cultural activities the stronger they will be in their character. "They won’t be involved in drugs and militancy."

She said the government has planned to establish BKSPs in all divisions and the Finance Minister has shown adequate interest in this regard. "We’ll provide funds and the students who will come out from there will get involved in sports." 

Hasina said youths are the future of the country and the government wants them to build them as skilled ones.

She briefly described various steps and programmes taken by her government for the welfare of the youths of the country. 

State Minister for Youths and Sports Dr Biren Sikder also spoke at the videoconference.

Later, the Prime Minister spoke to a cross-section of people through the videoconference.