prime minister
PM flies for Finland Friday morning on her way to UNGA
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will leave for Finland on Friday morning as part of a two-week official visit to attend the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 76) in New York, USA.
It is her first foreign trip since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020. She is going to join the UNGA for the 18th time as the head of government of Bangladesh and will address the UNGA general debate on September 24.
Besides, Sheikh Hasina will attend the opening session of the UNGA general debate on September 21 and other sideline events in the UN headquarters (UNHQ) on September 20-24. She will also have talks with a number of leaders during her stay in New York. The PM is expected to return home on October 1 next.
The Prime Minister will depart Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for Helsinki, Finland, by a VVIP chartered flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BG-1901) at 9am on Friday. The flight is scheduled to land at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport at 4:00pm (local time) on Friday, said PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim on Thursday.
On September 19 (Sunday), Sheikh Hasina will leave Helsinki for New York by a VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BG-1902) at 3pm (local time). The flight is scheduled to land at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York at 6pm (local time).
She will stay at the Hotel Lotte Palace during her stay in New York from September 19 to 25.
On September 20 (Monday), the PM will attend a closed-door meeting for a small group of HOSs/HOGs on climate change at the UNHQ at 9am, plant a tree and dedicate a bench at the UN Gardens at 11:30am in honour of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the occasion of his birth centenary, and lay a floral wreath at the Peace Memorial at the North Lawn of UNHQ at 11:50am.
On Monday, Sheikh Hasina will sit in two separate bilateral meetings with EU Council President Charles Michel at 12:30pm (local time) and with Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley at 2:45pm at her place of residence. Besides, she will join a virtual event of Sustainable Development Solution Network at 4:00pm.
Read: Vaccine equity, Rohingya, climate change on top of Hasina’s UNGA agenda
On September 21 (Tuesday), the PM will attend the opening session of the UNGA general debate at 9:00pm, sit in a bilateral meeting with Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in the afternoon and join Business Roundtable on US-Bangladesh Business Council at 4:00pm at the place of residence.
On September 22 (Wednesday), Sheikh Hasina will virtually attend three events. The events are the high-level meeting of the UNGA to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action at 9:00am, White House Global Covid-19 Summit: Ending the Pandemic and building back better, and a high level side event on Rohingya crisis: imperatives for a sustainable solution at 3:00pm.
On September 23 (Thursday), the Bangladesh PM will attend two programmes by sending her prerecorded statements. These are the Leaders’ Network on ‘delivering on the UN common agenda: Action to achieve equality and inclusion’ to be organised by Swedish Mission to the UN at 8:00am, and the Food Systems Summit, as part of the decade of action to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2030, convened by the UNSG at 1:00pm.
On Thursday, Sheikh Hasina will sit in four separate bilateral meetings with Queen Máxima of the Netherlands at the place of residence, UN Secretary-General António Guterres at 1:30pm, Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih at 2:00pm and Vietnam President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc at 2:40pm at the UNHQ.
On September 24 (Friday), the Bangladesh Prime Minister will address the UNGA 76 general debate in the morning, sit in a bilateral meeting with Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte at UNHQ, and will virtually join a community programme.
On September 25 (Saturday), Sheikh Hasina will depart New York for Washington DC by a Biman flight at 8:00am. She will stay in Washington DC from 25 to 30 September.
Hasina is scheduled to leave Washington for Dhaka on 30 September and will return home on October 1 after a stopover in Finland.
UNGA: Hasina to leave for US Friday on her first foreign trip since pandemic
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to leave here on Friday on a two-week official visit to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York and other engagements with a likely stopover in Helsinki, Finland.
As per her schedule, the Prime Minister will leave for New York from Helsinki, Finland on September 19 after her stopover there on September 17-18.
She will stay in New York from September 19-24 to attend the UNGA where she is likely to address on September 24.
Wrapping up her official visit to New York, the Prime Minister will visit Washington DC where she will stay from September 25 to 30.
Hasina is scheduled to leave Washington for Dhaka on September 30 and will return home on October 1 after a stopover in Finland.
Asked about the PM's likely stopover in Finland, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen told UNB that they are working on it.
Read: PM likely to join 76th UNGA in person
Dr Momen will formally brief the media on the Prime Minister’s visit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at 3m on Thursday.
This is going to be Prime Minister Hasina’s first overseas visit since the outbreak of the Covid-19 in March 2020.
Earlier, she addressed the UNGA for 17 times and this would be her 18 times joining the UNGA.
The Covid-19 pandemic has proved to be the most challenging period the world has seen since the Second World War, said the UN Secretary-General on Tuesday.
Newly sworn in General Assembly President, Abdulla Shahid of the Maldives, opened the new 76th session, noting that his country’s flag is “flying at the highest peak today”.
He spoke of near-universal “collective anxiety” and hopelessness, not all of which is pandemic-related, saying: “The narrative must change” and that the General Assembly “must play a part in this”.
Follow health guidelines, reiterates Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday urged all to follow the health guidelines to protect themselves from coronavirus and wear masks even after getting vaccinated.
“We should follow health protocols to keep ourselves safe from Coronavirus. All, including those vaccinated, should mask up to prevent the spread of the virus,” she said.
The Prime Minister came up with her renewed call while speaking at Parliament on a condolence motion.
Parliament unanimously adopted a condolence motion expressing profound grief at the demise of Jatiya Party MP for reserved women seat and a presidium member of Jatiya Party Prof Masuda M Rashid Chowdhury.
Speaking on the condolence motion, leader of the House and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the demise of Prof Masuda caused a huge loss to society. “She was a very learned person…these days such a knowledgeable person is rarely seen,” she said.
Hasina said she was a teacher, politician, social worker, women entrepreneur, and engaged in children and women sports with versatile qualities.
Read: Take Covid-19 vaccine, follow health guidelines: PM Hasina
The Prime Minister said had Prof Masuda been lived longer she could have contributed more to society.
Hasina expressed her profound shock as the 11th Parliament is taking condolence motion one after another due to the deaths of its members.
Jatiya Party chairman and deputy leader of the opposition GM Quader, opposition chief whip Masiur Rahman Ranga, Anisul Islam Mahmud, BNP MP Harun Ur Rashid, Jatiya Party MP Nazma Akther, AL MP Moslem Uddin Ahmed, Jatiya Party MP Lazi Firoz Rashid, AL MP Abdus Sobhan Miah, Jatiya Party MP Shamim Haider Patwary, AL MPs Syeda Johra Alauddin, Simin Hossain Rimi and Washiqua Ayesha Khan also spoke on the condolence motion.
Prof Masuda M Rashid Chowdhury passed away on Monday at the age of 70. She was elected MP for the first time in 2019 from reserved seats for women in parliament.
Bangladesh-New Zealand T20 series: PM greets Tigers for going 2-0 up
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Friday congratulated the Tigers for their second consecutive win against touring New Zealand in the five-match T20 series.
Bangladesh beat New Zealand by 4 runs in the low-scoring second T20 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium to go 2-0 up in the series.
Read: PM greets Tigers for first ever T20 win against New Zealand
Chasing 142 runs, the Kiwis needed six off the last ball but managed just a single as the Tigers continued their winning streak – sixth in seven games.
Prof Ali Ashraf was a versatile person: Sheikh Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday paid tributes to late Prof Ali Ashraf praising his versatility as a seasoned parliamentarian , teacher, businessman and politician.
“He (Ali Ashraf) was a knowledgeable person. He was a professor, did business and also politics. We’ve lost a versatile parliamentarian, which is very unfortunate for us,” she said, participating in the discussion over a condolence motion placed to express profound grief at the death of sitting MP Prof Ali Ashraf (Cumilla-7).
Sheikh Hasina said Prof Ashraf served as deputy speaker in 7th Parliament and also discharged his responsibility competently in all other forums including different parliamentary committees as either chairman or member.
She said Ali Ashraf always protested the August 15 carnage and met her in London in 1980. He also testified against the killers in the 1975 November 3 jail killing case.
She said that the veteran parliamentarian was elected MP in five parliamentary polls.
Talking about his Cumilla-7 constituency (Chandina), the prime minister said Bangabandhu’s killer Col (Abdur) Rashid hailed from Chandina. But Begum Khaleda Zia brought the killer to Parliament and made him the leader of opposition in the House.
READ: PM mourns former AL lawmaker Mizanul Haque's death
“Ziaur Rahman awarded the killers (of Bangabandhu) giving them indemnity and jobs in different foreign missions of Bangladesh. But Begum Khaleda Zia perhaps went one step forward and brought a killer in the parliament,” said Sheikh Hasina.
She said Khaleda Zia brought two killers of Bangabandhu -- Col Rashid from Chandina and Maj Huda from Chuadnga-- in Parliament through the 1996 February 15 voter-less election that boycotted all other political parties.
The PM said Prof Ashraf later was elected MP from the constituency. The new parliamentarians could learn many things from the five-time lawmaker. “We lost a seasoned parliamentarian,” she said.
Mentioning the names of different books written by Prof Ashraf, the PM said he was also a good writer beyond his political life. He wrote 15 books on contemporary politics, economy and international affairs. The young parliamentarians can learn a lot from his books.
Sheikh Hasina said the professor also published a research-based book titled “Rural Economy and Development of Bangladesh,” which will greatly contribute to building Bangladesh in future.
READ: PM mourns death of journalist Zahiduzzaman Faruk
She prayed for salvation of the departed soul and expressed deep sympathy to his family members.
At the beginning of the 14th session of the current parliament, Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury moved the condolence motion, expressing deep shock at the death of the sitting MP, seven former MPs including an ex-state minister and some noted personalities.
The Parliament adopted the condolence motion unanimously by a voice-vote following discussion.
Besides, Law Minister Anisul Huq, Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam, Deputy Opposition Leader Ghulam Muhammed Quader, Opposition Chief Whip Mashiur Rahman Ranga, AL MPs Mazibul Hoque (Cumilla-11), Matia Chowdhury (Sherpur-2), Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim (Gopalganj-2) and Muhammad Faruk Khan (Gopalganj-1), Jatiya Party MPs Kazi Firoz Rashid (Dhaka-6) and Anisul Islam Mahmud (Chattogram-5), Ganoforum MP Sultan Muhammed Mansur Ahmed (Maulvibazar-2), Tarikat Federation MP Syed Nazibul Bashar Maizvandary (Chattogram-2) and Bikalpadhara MP Abdul Mannan (Laxmipur-4) participated in the discussion.
The Parliament also expressed deep shock at the death of a state minister and six former MPs. They are Afaz Uddin Ahmed (MP of 9th Parliament from Kushtia-1), Tofazzal Hossain Sarkar ( MP of 1st Parliament from Rangpur-22), Jamal Uddin Ahmed (MNA, 1970 from Dhaka-13), Khurram Khan Chowdhury (MP of 2nd, 4th, 5th and 8th parliaments from Mymensingh-5, 8 and 9), Md Reza Khan (MP of 4th Parliament from Jamalpur-5), former state minister for cultural affairs Prof Jahanara Begum (MP of 5th and 6th parliaments from a reserved seat and Rajbari-1), and Anwar Hossain (MP of 4th parliament from Dhaka-8).
The House also deeply condoled the death of a number of noted personalities including freedom fighter and legendary singer Fakir Alamgir, noted lyricist Fazl-e-Khuda, (known for his famous song Salam Salam Hajar Salam), Freedom fighter and the High Court Division Justice Amir Hossain, freedom fighter and former PM’s Principal Secretary SA Samad, Bangladesh’s true friend British journalist Simon Dring and legendary German footballer Gerd Muller.
Besides, it mourned the death of the physicians and health workers at home and abroad, the members of administration and police, political leaders, business and social dignitaries, government and private employees, who lost lives in the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Parliament expressed profound shock at the casualties in some recent incidents including Rupganj fire in Narayanganj, lightning strike in Chapainawabganj, Haiti earthquake (a Caribbean country), and the recent accidents taken place at home and abroad. The House also conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved families.
A one-minute silence was observed and a munajat was offered seeking the eternal peace of the departed souls. AL MP Md. Hafiz Ruhul Amin Madani (Mymensingh-7) conducted the munajat.
As per the tradition, the day’s business of Parliament was adjourned after the adoption of the condolence motion over the death of the sitting Awami League MP in order to pay respect to him.
Prof Ashraf, also a valiant freedom fighter, died on July 30 last. He was born at Gallai village in Chandina Upazila in 1947.
According to the obituary reference, Ali Ashraf, who completed graduation (in 1967) and post-graduation (1968) degrees in economics from Dhaka University, was a successful businessman and industrialist. He became a Member of Parliament in 1973, 1996, 2008, 2014 and 2018.
PM greets Tigers for first ever T20 win against New Zealand
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday congratulated Bangladesh Cricket Team for their first ever T20 win over New Zealand.
Bangladesh team outplayed New Zealand by seven wickets in the first T20 played at Sher-e-Bangla national cricket stadium.
Read: Bangladesh overpower New Zealand on tricky surface
With this win, the host country is leading the five- match T20 series with 1-0.
PM: Govt has arranged to bring one crore Covid vaccine doses a month
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday told Parliament that the government has taken steps to get over one crore coronavirus vaccine doses every month.
“Steps have been taken to ensure more than one crore vaccines every month,” she said.
She made the statement while answering a tabled question from ruling party MP Shahiduzzaman Sarker during PM’s question-answer session.
Sheikh Hasina said that as per the schedule Bangladesh will get two crore vaccine doses each month from Sinopharm from next October. Until December some six crore jabs will come from Sinopharm, she said.
She also said that so far (August 30) some 1,82,89,018 persons got first dose of vaccine while 78,40,169 persons got second shot. In total 2,61,29,187 doses of vaccines have been given.
Read: Decision on vaccinating school students soon: DGHS DG
“Collection of vaccines is on while providing the shots free to the people,” she said.
The prime minister said that the government has established contacts with all vaccine producing organisations.
Cox's Bazar Airport set to get a spectacular maritime runway
Bangladesh is set to add another feather to its development journey with the formal groundbreaking inauguration of the runway extension work along the Sea at Cox's Bazar Airport on Sunday.
This maritime runway, the first of its kind in Bangladesh, is seen as a major step towards promoting Cox’s Bazar, the country's popular beach town, to an international metropolis.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to virtually inaugurate the groundbreaking ceremony and unveil the foundation stone of the runway extension at 10am, said an official.
Read PM inaugurates work on Cox's Bazar Airport’s runway upgradation
Apparently inspired by Hong Kong International Airport, the government of Bangladesh has taken the runway expansion project at the Cox's Bazar Airport by reclaiming land from the sea.
Upon completion of the project, all types of large aircraft will be able to take off and land on the maritime runway, officials said.
The US$ 185 million project will help boost the development of Cox’s Bazar and the neighbouring regions, they said.
Read Bangladesh unlocks tourism
The government is currently implementing a large number of projects in Cox's Bazar under a mega plan to develop the tourism city like Singapore and Hong Kong.
PM’s remark on Zia’s grave 'absurd': BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday termed absurd the Prime Minister’s remark that Ziaur Rahman’s body is not there at Chandrima Udyan graveyard, saying that it has exposed her political 'vengeance'.
“The President of Awami League, who declared herself the Prime Minister through late-night voting, has once again spitted venom against Ziaur Rahman and talked about his grave and role in the Liberation War. It’s a ridiculous statement,” he said
Speaking at a virtual discussion, he also said it is a truth like the daylight that Zia fought in the battlefield and led the war in 1971.
“Lakhs of people in the country cried for him (Zia) on the day he was assassinated and joined his janaza on Manik Mia Avenue, exhibiting his immense popularity,” the BNP leader said.
Read: Corruption amid pandemic making life miserable: BNP
Earlier in the day, the Prime minister said “BNP engaged in fights at Chandrima Udyan. Doesn't the BNP know that there's no grave or body of Zia, or Zia is not there? They know it very well! If so, why do they stage the drama? Khaleda Zia is also aware of it.”
While addressing a programme virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban, Sheikh Hasina also said whether Khaleda Zia or Tarique Zia could claim that they saw Zia’s body in the box (which was brought from Chattogram) as a bullet-hit body can easily be recognised. “No one saw it as there was no body (of Zia) in the box,” she said.
Fakhrul accused Awami League of committing an act of treason by violating the country’s constitution. “They’ve killed democracy and snatched voting rights of people, turning Bangladesh into a vassal state.”
He said Bangladeshi nationalism and the nation’s existence will be at stake if Awami League stays in power for a long time.
READ: Bid to implicate Zia in Bangabandhu killing a political vengeance: Fakhrul
Earlier, while inaugurating BNP’s Corona Help Centre at Dhaka-10 constituency, Fakhrul called upon the party leaders and activists for taking preparations for a tough movement to oust the current government.
“If we can’t remove Awami League from power, we won’t be able to free Khaleda Zia and get rid of thousands of false cases. So, we must take to the streets and defeat this regime,” he said.
Fakhrul said BNP has no other option but to put up a strong resistance against the current government to ‘restore’ democracy and people’s voting and all other rights. “The youth must wake up and lead the movement for bringing a change in power demonstrating their courage.”
GLG on AMR: Hasina seeks technology transfer to ensure equitable access to medical facilities, antibiotics
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has sought continued collaboration from global leaders to keep up the momentum for ensuring equitable access to affordable and effective antibiotics and other medical facilities through technology transfer and sharing of ownership.
“Let’s work at the same time for partnership for investment in Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) containment,” she said on Tuesday.
The Prime Minister made the plea in her pre-recorded speech at the Second Meeting of Global Leaders Group (GLG) on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
She said the AMR challenge requires sustained action across sectors. “I’m pleased to see the finalisation of the action plan in this regard. I’m also happy to support the GLG priority advocating for financing and implementation of multisectoral National Action Plans, with a One Health approach,” she said.
Read: Don’t be hesitant about taking Covid test: PM to rural people
Hasina said she was glad to approve the comprehensive communication strategy for the GLG. “We’ll do our part to raise the profile of the GLG work through different networks.”
She mentioned that financing across sectors is essential to reduce the burden of AMR. “I look forward to hearing your ideas on what the GLG can do to increase sustainable financing to directly address AMR.”
The Prime Minister gave importance to the need to make sure that adequate funding is available for the national action plan implementation, research and development, and for ensuring equitable access to new innovations.
“Needless to say, we need to prioritise political action to achieve our goal,” she said, adding that AMR should be embedded in implementation of SDGs.
Talking about her own country, Hasina said Bangladesh has developed a six-year (2017-2022) National Strategic Plan and National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance Containment.
Read: Better housing: Hasina distributes flats among 300 low-income families
“The Bangladesh AMR Response Alliance has also been formed.”
She mentioned that Laboratory-based AMR surveillance for both human and animal health are being conducted regularly to ensure WHO categorisation.
“We’ve also been providing AMR surveillance data to WHO GLASS Platform for the last two years.”