Awami League
AL wants increased allocation to ICT sector
Awami League's sub-committee on science and technology has recommended an increase in the allocation to ICT sector in the upcoming 2021-2022 national budget.
The recommendation came on Monday in a letter sent to State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Junaid Ahmad Palak from the ICT sub-committee.
Read: Awami League announces candidates for 27 local body polls
In the letter, Engineer Abdus Sabur, member secretary of the sub-committee said that field level government officials need to get advanced IT training to boost their capacity.
Sabur, also the secretary of science and technology of the ruling party, said if the educated young population become proficient in advanced IT, it will generate self-employment and earning of foreign currency through outsourcing.
"In addition, the development of the domestic software industry will accelerate the pace of achieving sustainable development in information technology if it is possible to formulate tax-exempt policies on the purchase of domestic software and increase government investment in developing start-ups," he said.
The committee also presented five-point recommendations for the development of the sector including the initiative to build a sustainable start-up ecosystem, and provide loans to registered outsourcers.
Sabur said Bangladesh has become a role model of development in the world today through the implementation of 'Digital Bangladesh' under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
He said "We are preparing ourselves to lead the world in the Fourth Industrial Revolution by building an IT-based knowledge-based society under the far-reaching plan of Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Information and Communication Technology Adviser to the Prime Minister."
Bangladesh has achieved unimaginable success in the ICT sector under his leadership. He said "We want this trend to accelerate. So, it is necessary to increase the allocation in the budget for ICT sector."
Swechchasebak League leader hacked to death in Bogura
A Swechchasebak League leader on Sunday night was hacked to death in Bogura's Shajahanpur upazila.
The deceased was identified as Shihab Uddin Babu, 35, former social welfare secretary of Shajahanpur upazila Swechchhasebak League and owner of Shahidul Matsya Bhandar in Sabrul Bazar of the upazila.
READ: Ansar member hacked to death in Rajshahi
According to locals, after shopping from Sabrul Bazar, Shihab Uddin Babu was returning home at night. At around 8.30 pm a group of miscreants hacked him with sharp weapon.
Due to excessive bleeding, he died on the spot.
Soon after the incident the people of the bazar shut their shops and left.
Police later recovered the body and sent it to the morgue.
Shahjahanpur police sub-inspector Abdur Razzak said police had been deployed in the Sabrul Bazar area.
READ: Two farmers hacked to death in Narsingdi
Bogra Sadar Circle Additional Superintendent of Police Faisal Mahmud said the body was sent to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy.
An investigation was underway in this regard.
PM condoles death of Rangpur AL leader
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Rangpur city Awami League advisory council member and valiant freedom fighter Mir Anisul Huq Peyara.
She prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family.
Mir Anisul, a language hero, breathed his last at around 5:50pm at a hospital in Rangpur. He was 91.
READ: Fortify action-oriented approach to attain green growth: PM tells P4G Summit
He left a son and four daughters, a host of relatives and well-wishers.
AL general secretary Obaidul Quader also expressed shock at the death of Mir Anisul.
READ: PM gifts auto-rickshaw to a struggling ex-leader of BCL
AL factional clash in Companiganj again , 6 shot
At least six people were shot when an Awami League procession was attacked on Saturday evening by a rival group in Basurhat of Companiganj in Noakhali.
According to witnesses, supporters of Basurhat municipality Mayor Quader Mirza, brother of Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader brought out a procession on Saturday evening which was attacked by a rival group near ward no 9 of Basurhat at 7pm.
Six people were shot during the incident and were later admitted to Noakhali General Hospital.
Five of the wounded have been identified as, Sabuj(40), Mohammad Sunny (28), Delwar Hossain (26), Didar (35) and Jisan (23).
Companiganj Police Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mir Jahedul Haque Rony confirmed the news to UNB.
Also read: 2 killed, 15 hurt in Barishal Awami League factional clash
He also said that all the victims were supporters of Mayor Quader Mirza.
Supporters of Quader Mirza blamed Companiganj upazila unit Awami League Organising Secretary Mizanur Rahman Badal and his group behind the attack.
There has been a fierce rivalry between the supporters of these two local AL leaders which resulted in deadly factional clashes multiple times in the recent past.
An activist of Bangladesh Chhatra League was killed on March 9 and 30 other AL activists were injured during a clash between the same groups.
These casualties came within three weeks of the killing of journalist Muzakkir during the factional clash of ruling Awami League in Basurhat of Companiganj in Noakhali.
On Feb 20, at least 50 people were injured in a clash between the very same groups in Noakhali's Companiganj upazila.
BNP has lost interest in elections, says Obaidul Quader
Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Monday said that the BNP is losing interest in elections after its defeat in all recent polls.
He was responding to BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam’s latest allegation that “the election system of the country has completely collapsed."
At a regular briefing at his official residence this morning Quader blasted BNP for attacking the government and the Election Commission for their failures in both movement and ballots.
The Election Commission is a constitutional body and it is now playing an independent and authoritative role, he said.
Obaidul Quader, who is also Road Transport and Bridges Minister, said the BNP came to the polls only to make the Election Commission and the electoral system questionable.
Read: Obaidul Quader: Covid vaccines to be collected, no matter what
He further said that the people have turned away from the BNP as they have understood this ploy.
Saying that no one can break the record of BNP's history of rigging, the Awami League leader wondered how the opposition party can now raise questions about the election system.
Obaidul Quader also commented on Mirza Fakhrul’s remarks about journalist Rozina Islam’s bail.
Has Mirza Fakhrul any specific information about this, he asked.
Obaidul said that such imaginary allegations are making the country’s independent judiciary questionable.
He also said the BNP has so far spread lies against the government and now it is speaking against the court which is tantamount to contempt.
Passport is a travel document and identity, nothing else, it is not a document of foreign policy or geopolitical book, he said referring to Mirza Fakhrul’s comment on court’s order to surrender Rozina’s passport.
Read: Obaidul Quader urges all to work together to tackle coronavirus
One’s passport has no relationship with world of politics, Quader said .
The government has introduced e-passport as it is now popular all over the world, he said.
The general secretary of the Awami League wondered that it was not clear why Mirza Fakhrul was making such a fictitious allegation about passport and foreign relations.
Earlier in the day Obaidul Quader received the second dose of corona vaccine at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.
Hasina happy as new generation takes interest to know history
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday appreciated the new generation as it wants to know the history of the country and feels proud of the victory in the Liberation War.
“If this trend continues, Bangladesh must be a developed and prosperous Golden Bangladesh in the world and we’ll be able to fulfil the dream of the Father of the Nation,” she said.
She said this while speaking at an event marking the handover of Swadhinata Padak (Independence Award for 2021) to nine individuals and one institution in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the country at her official residence Ganobhaban.
Sheikh Hasina said the ideals were lost after 1975 based on which Bangladesh got its independence.
Read: PM distributes Swadhinata Padak among recipients
“We’ve been able to bring back those ideals,” she said.She said whenever Awami League comes to power, it tries to return the dignity to the Freedom Fighters of the country. “We obviously recognise the contributions of the individuals whatever they had done.”
She said her task is to do something for the families of valiant Freedom Fighters so that the respect and reverence they are getting continue generation after generation.Congratulating the award winners, the Prime Minister said their works will encourage the future generation to follow their footsteps to do something for the country and its people utilising their merits and creativities.
Hasina said the people of independent Bangladesh will always move around the world with their heads ever high.
“We want that…we’ve attained our victory in the Liberation War…we won’t beg for mercy from anyone,” she said.The Prime Minister said the government always wants to ensure a decent life for the people of the country. “We always work for that, we want to march forward upholding whatever the country has achieved,” she said.Earlier, she handed over the highest civilian award among nine individuals and one organisation.AKM Bazlur Rahman, Shaheed Ahsanullah Master and Brig Gen (retd) Khurshid Uddin Ahmed and Akhtaruzzaman Chowdhury Babu have been named posthumously for the award in recognition of their contributions to Independence and the Liberation War.
Read: 10 named for Independence Award 2021Dr Mrinmoy Guha Neogi received the highest state award for his contributions to science and technology, Mohadeb Saha for literature; Ataur Rahman and Gazi Mazharul Anwar for culture, and Dr M Amjad Hossain for social work.Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council judged for the award in the research and training category.Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam conducted the programne while Ataur Rahman spoke on behalf of the award recipients.Bangladesh has been recognising individuals and institutions with the award every year since 1977.
Quader urges journalists to be patient over Rozina issue
Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Wednesday urged journalists to be patient and play a responsible role over Rozina Islam issue.
He came up with the call while addressing a discussion at 23 Bangabandhu Avenue in the morning.
Awami League's Relief and Social Welfare Sub-Committee organised the event where Obaidul Quader was virtually connected from his official residence.
Read: DB to investigate case against Rozina
He hoped that the journalist concerned will get justice as a case has been filed and the matter is under trial.
The Awami League general secretary also said action would be taken as per the investigation committee report if there was any injustice against the journalist concerned.
The Awami League general secretary said such a misunderstanding would not have arisen if someone from the ministry had briefed the journalists on the day of the incident.
On Tuesday, a Dhaka court sent Rozina, arrested in a case under the Official Secrets Act, to jail after rejecting the police's demand for her five-day remand.
Read: That's something concerning: UN on Rozina's arrest
She was arrested for allegedly attempting to illegally “collect sensitive government documents and taking photos of them” from the Secretariat on Monday.
The Prothom Alo journalist rejected all the allegations saying, "I was, in fact, harassed at the Secretariat."
PM suspended Khaleda's sentence out of humanity
Regarding various statements made by BNP leaders about Begum Khaleda Zia's illness, Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader said Sheikh Hasina had suspended Begum Zia's sentence because of her humanity.
He said this while addressing a discussion meeting organized by Dhaka Metropolitan North Awami League on the occasion of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Homecoming Day on Bangabandhu Avenue this morning.
He questioned the BNP leaders and said it is not humanity?
Also read: Khaleda still suffering from post-Covid complications: Doctor
Obaidul Quader further said that the BNP leaders did not even appreciate this humanity.
Obaidul Quader said the BNP has become a world champion in the politics of revenge with observance of Khaleda Zia's fake birthday by cutting a cake on the day of Bangabandhu's assassination on August 15.
Quader also said that there is no one else who has created this record.
He remarked that Bangladesh will be able to move forward at a relentless pace in the quest for development and prosperity by tackling the Corona crisis.
Referring to Sheikh Hasina as the most honest, courageous and humane leader in post-75 Bangladesh, Obaidul Quader said Bangabandhu's Bangladesh is a wonder of the world today under the farsighted leadership of Sheikh Hasina.
Mentioning that Sheikh Hasina has been successfully leading the party for the last four decades as a symbol of unity of the Awami League, the General Secretary of the Awami League said that Sheikh Hasina has come a long way and stood on the rubble and repeatedly triumphed over life.
Also read: ‘Vindictive politics’ behind govt’s negative decision on Khaleda: BNP
Noting that Bangladesh has evolved from a least developed country to a developing country today with the return of Sheikh Hasina, Obaidul Quader said it is another golden feather in the crown of Sheikh Hasina's success.
Dhaka Metropolitan North Awami League President Sadek Khan presided over the meeting at Bangabandhu Avenue while Awami League presidium member Jahangir Kabir Nanak, joint secretary Mahbubul Haque Hanif, organisational secretary Mirza Azam also spoke among others.
Sher-e-Bangla's 59th death anniversary Tuesday
The 59th death anniversary of Abul Kashem Fazlul Huq, popularly known as Sher-e-Bangla (Tiger of Bengal), will be observed on Tuesday.
Different political organisations including Awami League have chalked out elaborate programmes to mark the day while maintaining proper health guidelines.
The party will lay floral tributes to the great leader and offer prayers at his grave in Dhaka at 9am.
Sher-e-Bangla was born in 1873 at his maternal uncle's house in the then Bakerganj district, now Jhalakathi of Barishal division.
Also read: Sher-e-Bangla’s 57th death anniversary today
From 1913-1916 Huq served as the secretary of the Bengal Provincial Muslim League and joint secretary of the All India Muslim League. Next, he served as the president of the All India Muslim League from 1916 to 1921.
He held many key political posts including the mayor of Calcutta (1935), chief minister of undivided Bengal (1937-1943) and East Bengal (1954), home minister of Pakistan (1955) and governor of East Pakistan (1956-58).
Huq also moved the famous Lahore Resolution or declaration of independence of Pakistan in 1940.
The Tiger of Bengal breathed his last in 1962 and was buried on the grounds near Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka.
'Strict’ lockdown again if health rules violated: Quader
The government will impose a ‘strict’ lockdown again if health safety rules are not followed everywhere, including the public transport, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader warned on Sunday.
Quader, also the general secretary of Awami League, made the remarks at a regular briefing from his residence in the morning.
“When the public transport will be allowed to resume operation after the lockdown, everyone will have to maintain the social-distancing rules strictly,” said the minister.
Also read: Metro train coaches being moved to depot: Quader
On Saturday, Obaidul Quader said the government was planning to resume public transport services once the current ‘strict lockdown’’ is over.
The government is considering the resumption of public transport services in the interest of people on condition that the health guidelines will be followed properly.
Urging everyone to follow health protocols even if the lockdown is relaxed, Quader said the use of masks and hand sanitisers should be made mandatory.
Also read: Quader to BNP: 'Stop paying lip service amid Covid-19'
On March 31, the government raised the fares of all buses, including inter-district ones, by 60 per cent as the vehicles are allowed to carry only half the passengers of the total seats of a bus to ensure social distancing amid the Covid-19 pandemic.