Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
PM opens VVIP terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal Int’l Airport
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday inaugurated the newly constructed VVIP terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
She opened the VVIP terminal in the morning before she flew for Tokyo on the first leg of her two-week tri-nation official visit to Japan, the USA and the UK.
Also Read: PM Hasina reaches Tokyo to begin four-day official visit to Japan
Unveiling the screen of the terminal’s plaque, the premier joined a munajat. Cabinet members and high government officials were present.
Sheikh Hasina is now visiting Japan from April 25 to 28 at the invitation of Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio.
Also Read: PM Hasina off to Tokyo on first leg of a two-week official visit to Japan, USA and UK
She is expected to return home on May 9 after visiting the USA and the UK.
Md Shahabuddin takes oath as 22nd President of Bangladesh
Mohammed Shahabuddin was on Monday sworn in as the 22nd President of Bangladesh in a ceremony at Bangabhaban.
Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury administered the oath at 11 am.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, cabinet members and scores of distinguished guests attended the event. Family members of the new president, including his wife Dr Rebecca Sultana, attended the function.
Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique, members of the parliament, chief election commissioner, Supreme Court judges, and political leaders, chiefs of the three services, diplomats, senior journalists, and high-ranking civil and military officials witnessed the event.
Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain conducted the programme.
Shahbuddin succeeds Md Abdul Hamid whose second successive term ended on Sunday.
Shahabuddin (73) was elected as president unopposed on February 13 this year as a candidate of the ruling Awami League.
Also read: Xi Jinping sends letter to Shahabuddin, stands ready to work with the Bangladeshi president
During his student life, he served as an activist and president of Pabna Chhatra League and later took over the responsibility of Pabna Jubo League as its president. In 1971, he was the convenor of Swadhin Bangla Chhatra Sangram Parishad of Pabna and also actively participated in the Liberation War.
He was imprisoned following the brutal assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975.
He was later appointed as the Law Ministry's coordinator in the Bangabandhu assassination case.
In 1982, he joined the BCS (Judicial) Department, and in 1995, he was elected general secretary of the Judicial Service Association.
He also served as the chairman of the Judicial Inquiry Commission, which investigated murders, rapes, thefts and other crimes by BNP-Jamaat alliance's activists and leaders following the 2001 general election.
Also read: Md Shahabuddin declared President-elect of Bangladesh
He also worked as a district and sessions judge before retiring in 2006.
He was a commissioner at the Anti-Corruption Commission from 2011 to 2016.
Shahabuddin's wife, Rebecca Sultana, is a former joint secretary of the government.
Shun intra-party conflict to work for national dev: PM Hasina urges AL
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday asked her party members to shun intra-party conflict and work together for the development of the country and welfare of the people.
“No grouping and intra-party rivalry shall be allowed in the area. Everyone has to work. I will give the nomination. Those who want to work in the area, must work together,” she said.
She gave the instruction in a video call at the party's joint meeting held at the political office of the Awami League President in city's Dhanmondi.
The Awami League president also directed the party leaders and activists to highlight the development activities of the government during the holy Eid-ul-Fitr vacation alongside looking after the beneficiaries of the government projects.
She said that various types of allowances are being provided to women, men, children and the elderly persons through numerous schemes of the government.
In this connection, she asked the party men to check whether these allowances are being received directly by the beneficiaries.
Accirding to sources at the meeting Hasina instructed the leaders and activists to stand by the helpless people on the occasion of the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitre to make the party more dynamic.
She urged all to highlight the development activities of the government ahead of the upcoming general elections.
She asked the AL members across the country to remain vigilant against arson attacks of BNP-Jamaat alongside making the people aware of such violence.
Read more: Pressures on Sheikh Hasina won’t work: PM
While talking to Awami League Publicity and Publication Secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap over phone, she also asked the party leaders to plant trees for developing sound environment in the country.
Apart from giving instructions, she exchanged Eid greetings with AL leaders and activists and wished everyone a safe journey.
Earlier, a joint meeting was held with Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader Obaidul Quader in the chair.
AL presidium members and presidents-general secretaries of Dhaka City North and South units of AL and other allied organizations were present in the meeting.
Talking to journalist, AL Office Secretary Biplab Barua said that the PM asked all party members to raise public relations in view of the upcoming elections alongside exchanging Eid greetings.
Political leadership – not military rule – key to Bangladesh’s prosperity: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said that political leadership and decision- and not military rule - is the most important matter for a country to prosper.
“Whenever our country was outside this political decision, which means under direct or indirect military rule, it did not register its development and prosperity. The people of the country have to realise this,” she said.
The premier said this while delivering her introductory speech at the 8th meeting of the National Training Council held at her official residence Ganabhaban.
She said that development in every sector was ensured while the political leadership came to power.
“At least I can claim that from 2009 to 2023 the unprecedented development of the country was done by the political decision,” she said.
Hasina said that her government has adopted the ideology and ideals of Independence and followed it in running the administration.
“We are getting the results. Because of this policy we have attained the status of developing country,” she said.
Read more: Go to people, Sheikh Hasina asks party leaders
She urged all to sustain this momentum of development and democracy for the benefits of the generations to come.
“We have to keep our eyes particularly on this matter,” she said.
The PM put utmost importance on training as she said it is urgently needed to develop one nation.
“The world is changing and now an era of technology is underway. We have to advance further in compliance with the era of technology,” she said.
She mentioned that it should be ensured that the country’s manpower get proper training for appropriate advancement in the coming days.
In the ever evolving world we need to keep the pace with the rest of the world. We need that capable manpower also,” she said.
In this regard, she said that from 2009 to April 2023 the foreign training section of the Public Administration Ministry sent some 6185 public servants for short-term training abroad while 606 got long term training.
She mentioned that Coronavirus pandemic and the Ukraine-Russia war caused setback for the whole world.
“We have been able to continue our development pace despite the problems. I know that there will be obstacles and adverse situation time and again,” she stated.
She regretted that there is one section of people in the country who did not participate in the Liberation War and don’t believe in independence.
Read more: Sheikh Hasina now a world leader: Speaker
“They always hold a negative attitude about the country, and we have to move further overcoming these hurdles. Obstacles will come, but we have to find our way to move forward.”
Stressing the need for training of manpower she asked the NTC to prepare a curriculum which will supplement government’s initiative to make Smart Bangladesh.
“We want to advance step by step keeping no one behind,” she asserted.
She said that her government’s aim is to reduce further the number of ultra-poor which now account for five per cent of the country’s population.
PM Hasina to visit Japan on April 25-28
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be on an official visit to Japan from April 25 to 28, at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio.
A number of memorandums of cooperation are expected to be signed during the PM's official visit.
Both the governments of Bangladesh and Japan hope that this visit will further strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries.
Japan wants to elevate the bilateral ties with Bangladesh to a "strategic" level, adding more elements like defence and security areas to the growing relations.
Read: 5th Japan-Bangladesh Public-Pvt Joint Economic Dialogue held online with calls for more investment
The two countries now have a comprehensive partnership and Japan intends to elevate it.
This will be the sixth visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Japan.
Earlier, she visited Japan in 1997, 2010, 2014, 2016 and 2019.
During her stay in Japan, the Prime Minister will be received by the Emperor of Japan.
Prime Minister Fumio will hold a summit meeting with the Bangladesh Prime Minister and then host a working dinner in her honour.
Read: Bangladesh to play vital role in Japan's vision for Free and Open Indo-Pacific: Ambassador
During the visit, the PM is scheduled to attend an investment summit and a community reception along with a few bilateral meetings.
She will also hand over the “Friends of Liberation War Honour” to a few Japanese nationals, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Prime Minister is likely to visit the US and UK after wrapping up her Japan visit but there is no official announcement yet regarding the US and UK visits.
The Prime Minister has been invited to attend the coronation of UK's King Charles III, to be hosted by the Buckingham Palace on May 6.
Read More: Pranay Verma highlights “deep bonds of friendship, cooperation” with Bangladesh
She is likely to travel to Washington DC to attend a programme on May 1 to celebrate 50 years of partnership between Bangladesh and the World Bank.
Repayment of Padma Bridge loan starts with Tk 316.91 crore given to govt
The repayment of the loan taken for construction of Padma Bridge started with Tk 316.91 crore paid to the government in the first two installments on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received a cheque of Tk 316,90,97,049 as the first and second installments of the loan.
Road Transport and Bridge Minister Obaidul Quader handed over the cheque to the premier at her official residence Ganabhaban.
The loan was taken from Bangladesh Bank at a low interest rate under an agreement signed between the Finance Division and the Bangladesh Bridge Authority.
Speaking on the occasion, the prime minister said the country will continue to march ahead overcoming any barrier and disaster.
“Bangladesh will continue to march forward, maintaining the current pace of its development journey, no matter how many obstacles come,“ she said.
The PM sought cooperation from the whole nation to face any disaster, accident, the brunt of the war or inflation as the people in cities and villages did during the construction of the Padma Bridge.
"I believe we can move forward overcoming any hurdle if the people stand beside us. Construction of the Padma Bridge with the own finance is the best example of it," she said.
She said the government had to overcome a strong obstacle nationally and internationally during the construction of the iconic bridge.
PM Hasina said she didn’t get support from a number of people regarding the construction of the country’s longest bridge with own finance. It was said that it would never be possible, she said.
She said different heads of the state and government during talks told her that it would be a tough work since the World Bank withdrew its finance from the project. But only Malaysia supported with then Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak saying that it would be possible with own finance, she noted.
Describing the Padma Bridge as the sign of the country’s pride, she said Bangladesh has been able to show its capacity to the world with the construction of the bridge with own finance.
“I think it’s not only a bridge, but also a symbol of pride and capacity of the Bengali nation,” she said, adding that the trial run of train through the Padma Bridge also started from Tuesday last.
On June 25, 2022, the prime minister opened the country’s largest bridge – 6.15-km Padma Bridge- over the mighty Padma River.
The 6.15-km bridge connected directly the country’s 21 south and south-western districts with the capital, and it is expected to accelerate the GDP growth by 1.23 per cent and make an outstanding contribution to socio-economic development by alleviating poverty.
The total allocation was Tk 30,193.39 crore, but the allocation for the main bridge was Tk 12,133.39 crore (including Tk 1,000 crore for installation of 400-kv electricity transmission line and gas line).
Besides, the Tk 9,400 crore was allocated for river training works, Tk 1,907.68 crore for approach roads (including two toll plazas, construction of two buildings for police stations and three service areas), Tk 1,515 crore for the rehabilitation of the displaced people (caused by the project) and Tk 2698.73 crore for land acquisition.
The Padma Bridge is expected to last more than 100 years, but its construction cost will be recovered in the next 35 years.
PM’s Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah conducted the cheque handing-over event, while former Cabinet Secretary and Bridge Division Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam spoke on the occasion.
Governor of Bangladesh Bank Abdur Rouf Talukder, Finance Senior Secretary Fatima Yasmin, Bridge Division Secretary Md. Monjur Hossain were present at the event.
ECNEC nods 11 projects with estimated cost of Tk 4,252.66 crore
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved a total of 11 projects involving an overall estimated cost of Tk 4,252.66 crore.
Of the total project cost, Tk 3,645.21 crore will come from the government fund while the rest of Taka 607.45 crore as project assistance.
The approval came at the weekly ECNEC meeting held at the NEC Conference Room in the capital's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Planning Minister MA Mannan while briefing reporters after the ECNEC meeting said that of the approved 11 projects, six are new while five are revised projects.
The approved projects are: Establishment of cancer centre at Dhaka CMH (2nd phase) with Tk 246 crore, Establishment of 10 secondary schools adjacent to Dhaka, 1st revised with an additional cost of Tk 76.94 crore, Secondary education sector investment Programme, 3rd revised, without any additional cost.
Read more: Ecnec nods 6 projects worth Tk 7,018 crore
The other projects are— construction of Swadhinata Tower at Suhrawardy Uddyan in Dhaka, 3rd phase, 1st revised with an additional cost of Tk 131.91 crore, nutrition development through production of fruits round the year, 2nd revised with an additional cost of Tk 211.32 crore and flood reconstruction emergency assistance project with Tk 300 crore.
The rest of the projects are— infrastructural development of Jamalpur district with Tk 1,125 crore, WASH Sector Strengthening and Sanitation Market System (SanMarks) Development Project in Bangladesh with Tk 156.25 crore, climate resilient sustainable water supply, sanitation, and hygiene project in Bangladesh with Tk 274.48 crore, Dredging at inner bar at Mongla Port channel, 1st revised with an additional cost of Tk 198.54 crore and road widening and development on Bhulta-Araihazar-Bancharampur-Nabinagar-Shibpur-Radhika regional highway with Tk 1,532.22 crore.
Protect overseas job seekers from frauds, middlemen: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday stressed the need for ensuring that seekers of jobs abroad must not fall prey to the frauds and middlemen.
“So we always have to consider that these people could go abroad through proper channel and get appropriate job. It is very important for us to ensure that these people must not fall prey to fraudulent people and middlemen,” she said.
The prime minister was delivering her introductory speech at the second meeting of the Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Affairs National Steering Committee at her official residence Ganabhaban.
She asked the authorities concerned to find new destinations for sending manpower alongside making them skilled through giving appropriate training on different trades.
“We have manpower in different countries, but we have to find more destinations,” said the PM.
Hasina said that the government has started sending manpower to some new places. “But, we have to send skilled manpower. We have taken initiatives to provide training,” she said.
She asked the authorities concerned to figure out which country needs what kinds of skilled manpower. “We will provide training to them.”
Read More: 11 Bangladeshi auto mechanics get jobs in Japan
The PM mentioned that sometimes it is seen that people are selling their houses and lands to pay the unscrupulous middlemen and fraudulent persons for a job abroad.
She put emphasis on creating public awareness against going abroad for jobs through middlemen.
During the heavy pressure on the economy forcoronavirus pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war, the income of the expatriates contributed a lot in the country's reserve and overall development, said the prime minister.
She said the Awami League government has established Expatriates’ Welfare Bank to provide loans to the overseas jobseekers.
Hasina also praised the freelancers of the country for earning foreign exchange. “Our freelancers are also earning foreign currencies. We have given them certificates after bringing them under registration process.”
She also requested the expatriates to send their money through legal channels. “We have given special stimulus of 2.5 percent for sending money through legal channel.”
The prime minister asked the authorities concerned to take necessary measures so that dreams of the expatriate Bangladeshis do not turn into nightmare due to misuse of their hard earned money sent through illegal channels.
Read More: Job Circular: 9th Grade Jobs in Ministry of Defence
She directed the authorities of the Probashi Kallyan Bank to introduce agent banking in working places of the expatriate Bangladeshis to reach the legal money sending services at their doorsteps.
“Necessary steps have been taken to ease process of sending money from abroad through legal and banking channels.”
She said that many of the expatriate workers send money through illegal channels and fraud brokers which ultimately make them losers.
She said that at present there are sufficient employment opportunities in the country and people are earning more.
She mentioned that a day labourer who used to earn Tk 200-300 per day in the past, now can earn Tk 600-1000 per day depending on the nature of work. The minimum earning is Tk 500-600.
Earning in the rural areas is higher than this amount, she said adding that during the paddy harvesting season the amount is Tk 700-800 with three meals a day.
Read More: RMG giant Pacific to invest big in CEPZ, creating 5000 jobs
“The rural economy has improved a lot. If anyone goes to rural areas it will be seen that the standard of living in the rural areas has improved a lot,”
Sometimes scarcity of labour is also seen as people are becoming solvent, she added.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Planning Minister MA Mannan, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Minister for Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Empowerment Imran Ahmed were present among others.
Agriculture to be mechanised through multipurpose cooperatives: PM Hasina
Prime Minister sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said the government will mechanise the agriculture through multipurpose rural cooperatives to boost production of food and other crops.
“We are taking an initiative to mechanise the agriculture through multipurpose rural cooperatives system which was initially taken up by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib,” she said.
The prime minister was addressing the three-day first-ever National Land Conference 2023 along with launching seven initiatives of the land ministry.
The programme was held at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) with Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury in the chair.
The conference (March 29-31) will focus on the role of the land ministry in building a smart Bangladesh and to find out the future challenges of digitization of land services.
Other objectives of the conference include informing citizens, government agencies, and stakeholders about the steps taken by the land ministry, creating awareness among them about land management, and giving an idea about the existing laws and regulations related to land.
One of the 7 initiatives that the prime minister is set to inaugurate is the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Monument and the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Guchchagram Complex.
The remaining 6 initiatives include Registration-Mutation Interconnection, Smart Land Map, Smart Land Records, Smart Land Pedia, Smart Land Service Center, and Union Land Office.
Hasina said that under the planned cooperatives system one portion of the harvest will go to the owners of the lands, one portion to the engaged labourers while one portion to the government.
She mentioned that the government will utilise its portion for the land preservation and maintenance.
“Already, the cooperatives ministry has been instructed to make a policy regarding this matter. We want that,” she said.
She also said that there will be no demarcation separating one plot of land from another. But there will be no problem regarding the ownership of the lands as digital mapping will specify the ownership.
Read more: Boost research on agriculture to increase production: PM Hasina tells scientists
“Although there will be no demarcation, all lands will be cultivated collectively, as there will be digital map, ownership will be specifically indicated, owners will get their share as per their lands’ proportion,” she narrated.
The PM said that if this system is established the people of Bangladesh will never be poor and hungry and they will not suffer from food scarcity.
“We will not need to beg to anyone for foods, rather we will be able to help others,” she said.
Hasina said that from Pahela Boishakh 1430 (April 14, 2023) the land development tax across the country will be fully collected through online.
She said that Awami League is the servant of the people as it emerged from the struggle to materialise the rights of the people.
“From the very beginning Awami League is continuing its struggle to establish the rights of the people. And while in power we are doing our job with the motto of serving the people,” she said.
She mentioned that the government has taken steps to remove the land-related hassles that created problems among the family members.
“Our aim is to ensure the welfare of the people. Many people face many problems while taking land related services, Inshallah in the digital and smart Bangladesh people will not suffer anymore. We want that all sorts of irregularities will be removed from Bangladesh.”
Recalling the arson attacks of BNP and its allies during 2013-15 period that killed many innocent people in the name of anti-government movement, she said that they burnt down 60 public offices, including six land offices.
Later the government built around 400 land offices across the country and in every upazila there is now modern land office with record preservation system.
“Their (BNP and Jamaat) job is to demolish while Awami League’s is to create for the welfare of the people. And our prime aim is to serve the people,” she said.
The prime minister put emphasis on the proper sharing of wealth and lands among the successors to avoid future complexities.
“The shares of the successors can be specified through digital means solving many family problems,” she said.
Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Anisul Haq, Law secretary Md. Golam Sarwar, Land secretary Md Mustafizur Rahman and Assistant Land Commissioner Rajbari Noor Jahan Alther Sathi also spoke at the programme.
Four seminars/panel discussions on various topics related to land management have been scheduled to take place during the afternoons of the day of inauguration ceremony and the following two days, according to the press release.
The second and third day events of the conference will be held at BIAM Foundation in the capital.
PM Hasina expresses shock at bus crash in Saudi Arabia
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the horrific bus crash that killed around 24 omrah hajj pilgrims and injured around 23 people at the southwestern region of Saudi Arabia on Monday.
But it was not clear how many Bangladeshis were among the dead. Authorities said they were trying to figure out that.
In a condolence message, she prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed souls and quick recovery of the injured persons.
The bus was carrying pilgrims to the holy city Makkah. Reportedly, many of the passengers were Bangladeshis. The accident occurred at about 4.00 pm at Agabat Shaar in Asir province.
Read more: Tremor in Turkey and Syria: PM Sheikh Hasina expresses shock
She asked the Foreign Ministry officials and the Saudi Mission personnel to take necessary actions for recovering the bodies of Bangladeshi nationals and ensure proper treatment for the injured.
According to the preliminary report, due to the malfunction of the brake system the bus lost control and collided with a car, rolled over, and caught fire.
The passengers could not get off the bus and around 24 passengers were killed on the spot.