Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today asked members of Bangladesh Police to take services to people’s doorsteps. “The police services will have to reach the doorsteps of the masses, prioritizing the concept of ‘citizen services’ for modern times, so that police can earn public confidence,” she said. The prime minister was addressing the parade of the 38th BCS Police Batch at Bangladesh Police Academy in Rajshahi’s Sardah. She said that police need to win public trust as cooperation from the people is essential when law enforcers go to tackle any disaster, or contain terrorism and for other work. Sheikh Hasina asked the police to ensure that the people feel safe when seeking help during any danger. “Keeping that in mind, police should gain the confidence of the people with professionalism and sympathy,” she added. Also read: PM to unveil 25 dev projects in Rajshahi on Sunday The prime minister said that Bangladesh has graduated into a developing country and they would further turn it into a developed and prosperous country. “We will develop this country further, upholding the spirit of the Liberation War, taking the benefits of independence to the doorsteps of people,” she said. “You should perform your responsibilities accordingly. None would be able to drag Bangladesh back,” the PM added. Noting that Bangladesh police have shown competency in containing drugs trade, corruption, cybercrimes and other organised crimes, the PM asked the young officers to work accordingly in order to take Bangladesh forward. She extended her sincere thanks to the police for risking their lives to protect people and property from such violence and criminal activities. “Bangladesh police have been playing a very commendable role in containing such bomb attacks, terrorism, militancy, and drugs trade with professionalism and competence,” she said.    The PM handed over awards to five assistant superintendents of police (ASPs) for their outstanding performance – achieving excellence in different fields in the one-year ASP Probationer training course. Shakibul Alam Bhuiyan received the award of ‘Best Probationer’ while Jahangir Kabir got the award of ‘Best Academic Performer’. Russel Rana obtained the award of ‘Best shooter," Sajjadur Rahman won the award of the ‘Best Horsemanship’ and Shuvra Deb received the award of ‘Best In-Field Performer’ from the prime minister. Earlier, Sheikh Hasina reviewed the parade, and received salute of the march-past of a smartly turned out contingents of the police from the saluting dais. On her arrival at the police academy, the PM was received by Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Senior Secretary of Public Security Division Aminul Islam Khan, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun and Principal (Additional IG) of Bangladesh Police Academy Abu Hasan Muhammad Tarique.  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said digital connectivity would be the key to transform Bangladesh into a smart nation in every way. “Digital connectivity will be the key tool to build Smart Bangladesh. Smart citizens, smart economy, smart government and smart society will be developed on the basis of digital connectivity,’’ she said in a video message aired at the inaugural ceremony of the Digital Bangladesh Fair-2023. Posts and Telecommunications Ministry arranged the three-day Digital Bangladesh Fair at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) for showcasing the IT and ITES products and services in the country. She also hoped that the digital goods would play a significant role in investments and exports. Hasina said that Digital Bangladesh is now a reality and the next target is to build Smart Bangladesh and Smart Nation. Also read: PM directs DCs to increase food production, exercise austerity “There is no substitute for using ultra modern technology to achieve the target of building Smart Bangladesh,” she said. The prime minister said her government wants Bangladesh to become prosperous economically, ensuring maximum use of the digital technology that includes artificial intelligence, internet, virtual reality, augmented reality, robotics and big-data. In this connection, she said that 5G services will be ensured at the industrial regions. She mentioned that a revolution has taken place in Bangladesh in terms of digitisation. Also read: Next stop, Smart Bangladesh: PM lays out renewed vision at BASA meet “Young generation is now seeing the dream of building Smart Bangladesh.” The Prime Minister said that her government had launched Bangabandhu Satellite-1 in the orbit in 2018 which has brought a revolutionary change in the broadcasting and telecommunications sectors. She said that Bangladesh is earning a huge amount of foreign currency by using unused frequencies from satellites. PM Hasina said that steps have been taken to install Bangabandhu Satellite-2 with multifaceted working capacity aiming to materialise the target of establishing Smart Bangladesh. She said her government is going to set up a third submarine cable by 2024 as they have already installed the first and second submarine cables, adding that Bangladesh has so far achieved a bandwidth capacity of 3400 GBPS. “The bandwidth capacity will be increased to 7200 GBPS in the middle of this year, while it will be 13200 GBPS after installation of the third submarine cable.” She mentioned that Bangladesh is earning US$4.81 million every year through giving bandwidth leases to Saudi Arabia, France, Malaysia and India. The PM said Bangladesh doesn’t need to depend on foreign satellites any more. She noted that nearly 956298 kilometers optical fibre cables have been set up at union levels across the country while 10 Gigabyte capacity has been ensured in every union which help give high speed internet to the people and the government offices. She said that a total of 8600 post offices across the country have been turned into digital ones using the infrastructure, she said, adding that nowadays 18 crore mobile SIMs are being used while the number of people using the internet is 12 crore.“The digital inequality and prices of broadband internet between the rural and urban areas has been erased due to it,” she added. At the function, the newly introduced Posts and Telecommunication Award was distributed among 22 organisations and individuals in 14 categories in recognition of their praiseworthy works in the telecom sector to build Digital Bangladesh. Education Minister Dipu Moni, Posts and Telecommunications Division Minister Mustafa Jabbar, Posts Telecommunications and Information Technology Ministry's Parliamentary Standing Committee President AKM Rahmatullah, and Secretary of Posts and Telecommunications Division Abu Hena Morshed Zaman spoke at the function.  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has postponed her pre-scheduled programme of Bangladesh Scouts, slated for Saturday in Gazipur, to allow smooth movement of devotees in Bishwa Ijtema.  “The Prime Minister’s pre-scheduled programme of Bangladesh Scouts in Gazipur has been postponed to ensure smooth movement of devotees in Bishwa Ijtema,” said Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Jahid Tusher. The premier was scheduled to attend the 32nd Asia-Pacific and 11th National Scout Jamboree on Saturday at the National Scout Training Centre, Mouchak, Gazipur. But the second phase of Bishwa Ijtema, one of the largest Muslim congregations of the world, began on early Friday on the bank of the Turag River in Tongi, on the outskirts of the capital. Also read: 2nd phase Biswa Ijtema begins Friday    This phase of the 56th edition of Bishwa Ijtema will continue till Sunday. The first phase of the Ijtema took place at the same venue on January 13-15 last.  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said the Awami League government will lend all sorts of cooperation to lessen the sufferings of the people due to the economic recession emerging from the coronavirus pandemic and the Ukraine-Russia war. “The Awami League government will do whatever is needed to ease the pain of the common people,” she said. The Prime Minister said this while giving her introductory speech at the first joint meeting of the newly elected Awami League National Committee, Central Working Committee and Advisory Council. She presided over the meeting that took place at the Tungipara Awami League office in Gopalganj district, the birthplace of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Hasina said that the Awami League government, the party, its leaders and activists are always beside the distressed people. Read: Stay alert against anarchy ahead of next election: PM Hasina to the Nation “Our aim is to ensure a better life for the people of this country, and we will work tirelessly to materialise that aim,” she said. She also said that Awami League and its leaders and activists are pledge-bound for that. The Prime Minister said that Bangladesh is advancing towards socioeconomic development and changes are taking place in the socioeconomic status of the people of Bangladesh.  “We have been able to ensure food for people up to the grassroots level. We are providing homes for the homeless and landless people. No one will be homeless, landless and addressless in the land of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” she said. She said that due to the coronavirus and the Ukraine-Russia war the whole world plunged into an economic recession.  “But by the grace of Almighty we have been able to continue the wheels of the economy till now in the country,” she said. She briefly described various development activities of the government for overall advancement of the country as well as ensuring social safety net programmes.  Read: PM visits places reminiscent of Bangamata Fazilatunnesa in Khulna The Prime Minister said that due to the war the government has to buy various items like edible oil, fuel, sugar, lentils, wheat and corn at higher prices to provide those to the poor, lower income people at fair prices.  She also mentioned that the government is providing various essential food items totally free to the people across the country. “We are spending a huge amount of money in this regard just to lessen the burden of the common people whatever the price of those items in the world market,” she said. She again urged all to utilise their arable lands to produce something no matter whatever the quantity is. “Many countries are suffering from food crisis, many countries want to procure food items from us, we can also provide the food if we can utilise our lands properly,” she said.In this connection she said that the Awami League government will lend all kinds of support to produce foods in the country. The prime minister visited Puber Beel under Patgati Union in the morning to witness how vegetables and other crops are being cultivated on floating beds where she once again asked the countrymen to cultivate all the fallow lands. Hasina was elected President of Bangladesh Awami League for the 10th consecutive term, while Obaidul Qader was re-elected as general secretary for the third time in the 22nd National Council held on December 24 in Dhaka.  

2022 was a year of setting a set of milestones for the country, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ICT Advisor Sajeeb Wazed Joy said Saturday while wishing everyone a happy new year. In a video, posted on his verified Facebook page, Joy also placed a resolve to make "2023 full of new accomplishments under the leadership" of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The video incorporated a list of the biggest achievements of Bangladesh, including the Padma Bridge, metro rail service, and new power plants. Also, it showed the inauguration of 100 bridges recently and roads stretching over 2000km opened to traffic. Amid global headwinds throughout 2022, Bangladesh saw some of its "remarkable" infrastructure undertaking becoming operational. Read more: Joy greets new era of Metrorail    

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said although the government has imposed some austerity measures to save public money amid global crisis due to Coronavirus and Ukraine-Russia War, but it did not compromise on printing free textbooks books for children. “…we did not forget children’s issues, we did not compromise on printing their textbooks, yes, we are trying to save money from other sectors (imposing austerity measures), but we’ve given special attention to printing their (children) books (textbooks),” she said. The Prime Minister came up with the remarks while formally inaugurating the free textbooks distribution programme at her office for 2023. She said due to the Coronavirus and Ukraine- Russia war prices of everything have gone up that forced the government to take some austerity measures in public expenditure, but it did not impose austerity in printing textbooks for children and distributing those on the first day of the new year. She mentioned that the government has defied all obstacles including coronavirus, Ukraine-Russia war and price hike in all commodities. Sheikh Hasina said that to make ‘Smart Bangladesh’ by 2041 the children will be provided with all facilities as they are the driving force in attaining the goal. “We will grow our children in such a way so that they could cope in the coming days which will be technology driven and make them prepared to become skilled manpower for the upcoming fourth Industrial Revolution,” she said. She urged all to give special attention to flourish the hidden talents of children through nourishing their curiosities. “Keeping our eyes towards that we have to build them as worthy citizens of the country for Smart Bangladesh by 2041,” she said. The Prime Minister said that prime aim of the government is to create technically and technologically skilled manpower through providing proper education. “Our full population will be technologically smart, they will not lag behind,” she said. She said if the children of the country can be built up with sincerity then there will be no force in the world that can stop the development and advancement of the country. The Prime Minister said that from the time of Coronavirus outbreak till now, children are studying at homes as the government has taken initiative “my school is in my house” through television.“Academic programmes have been conducted across Bangladesh through Sangsad TV. These have been run through BTV too. I think Sangsad TV can always be used by the Ministry of Education,” she said. She also revealed that the government has a plan to launch a separate terrestrial TV channel for education. Also Read: PM opens distribution of free textbooks Sheikh Hasina said those who came to power after 1975 did not take any measures to free the people of this country from illiteracy. In 1996, Awami League formed government and framed the education commission again, she said.She added that they started implementing a project to increase the literacy rate and learning for aged people was also incorporated in it. She said education is the biggest tool to keep people free from poverty. “So, we took new steps to educate the entire nation and we constituted a new Education Commission.”But, the Awami League government could not implement its 5 years tenure ended before implementation, she added. After BNP-Jamaat came to power in 2001, she said, they pushed the country back into darkness and this is the reality. “In the 2008 election, people voted for boat, we formed the government again. Since then we have again set target how we will free the people of this country from illiteracy and since 2010 we have started distributing free textbooks,” she added. Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Md. Zakir Hossen and Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury also spoke at the programme.

On the eve of launching of country’s first elevated metro rail service, Sajeeb Wazed, ICT affairs advisor to Sheikh Hasina, took to his Twitter, announcing a new era into country’s transportation system. Linking the launching of much awaited metro service as “new era”, Sajeeb Wazed wrote “initially ten set trains with six coaches will run from Uttara to Agargaon.” With prime minister Sheikh Hasina set to inaugurate the service taking the first ride by herself, netizens on social  media, mainly city dwellers surrounding the areas that fall under the coverage, hailed the move. Read more: New Year: Joy wishes nation from Padma Bridge In 2022, the country witnessed some of its biggest engineering marvels become operational including the biggest infrastructure undertaking — Padma Multipurpose Bridge, a testimony according to netizens testifies to Sheikh Hasina’s unparalleled leadership capabilities.

Government-sponsored 100 economic zones in Bangladesh are attracting more Turkish investment to come with their new investments, said outgoing Turkish ambassador Mustafa Osman Turan on Tuesday. He came up with the remark while calling on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office in the morning on Tuesday. PM’s speech writer M Nazrul Islam briefed the reporters after the meeting. He said that the Turkish Ambassador mentioned that already two companies of his country invested $850 million this year in the economic zones. “The unprecedented infrastructural development of Bangladesh, especially the establishment of 100 economic zones, is attracting Turkish investors in Bangladesh,” the envoy was quoted as saying by Nazrul. The Prime Minister requested the outgoing ambassador to encourage more Turkish investment in Bangladesh to further cement the excellent bilateral relations between the two friendly countries.  “We have historical and cultural ties,” she said.  She also said that both countries could establish cooperation in the defence sector apart from economic and social cooperation.  She emphasises on holding the Joint Economic Commission meeting in Bangladesh to hold dialogue about the enhancement of business and trade between the two countries.   The last Commission meeting was held in Istanbul (Turkey) in 2019.  The Turkish envoy mentioned that his country is interested to cooperate in the defence sector.  The Prime Minister requested Turkey to put pressure on Myanmar for taking back Rohingya as more than 1 million Rohingya have become a serious burden for Bangladesh. In reply, the ambassador assured the PM of his country’s continuous support. Ambassador at Large M Ziauddin and Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah were present during the meeting. Hasina said Bangladesh wants more Turkish cooperation including in investment and business areas to face the challenges ahead as the country is in the process of graduating from the LDC status in 2026. The envoy sought a suitable place in Bangladesh for establishing a super specialised hospital. In response, the Prime Minister said it could be in Purbachal or somewhere near the Padma Bridge to ensure improved health care services for the people of the country’s southern region. The Turkish Ambassador highly praised the idea of the Prime Minister on establishing a Smart Bangladesh. He said that Turkey will extend its cooperation in this regard, and the idea will also be subscribed in Turkey.  He further said that there are more areas like tourism and education where cooperation between Bangladesh and Turkey could be further expanded. Turan hoped that Hasina will form the government again after being re-elected in the next general election.          

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said her government would not allow anyone to play ducks and drakes with the fate of the people of the country anymore. “It is our only goal so that none can play ducks and drakes with the fortune of the people of this country,” she said. Sheikh Hasina, also the President of Bangladesh Awami League, was addressing a meeting of her party’s presidium committee at her official residence Ganobhaban in the city. She said the people of Bangladesh once had to suffer a lot. “But they won’t need to suffer any in future. My only goal is to ensure a decent, improved and prosperous life for them. We want to do this,” she said.   Talking about the AL’s new committee formed through its recent national council, she said the members of the committee will be elected against the vacant posts as per the party’s charter. Describing Awami League as a strong organisation, the AL chief said her government has successfully tackled any disaster and troubles including terrorism, militancy, pandemic and other problems as there is a strong organisation, it’s every leader and activist is active and stands beside the people. She asked her party men to keep in mind that this organisation, Awami League, is a great strength for them. “If the party remains strong as well as the public trust and confidence can be gained, it isn't a very tough job to govern the country and make the development of the country,” she said. The PM said the people were exploited and tortured as well as deprived of knowing the true history of the Liberation War and the country including the historic 7th March speech during the period of 1975-1996. She said the people had been able to know true history only when AL came in power. The people were kept in the dark regarding invaluable assets like historic 7th March speech, she added. “It is the Awami League that showed (the nation) the way of light. Today's development, whatever the country achieved, came through with the hands of Awami League during the periods of 1996-2001 and 2009-2022,” she said. The premier said her government has ensured five basic rights of the people, which are stated in the constitution. She said her government made a massive infrastructural development in the last 14 years, including construction of Padma Bridge, implementation of metro-rail project and Karnaphuli tunnel. Besides, Bangladesh could attain food autarky, saw massive development in education and health sectors in the time, she added. Read more: Anti-liberation forces and killers of Bangabandhu are always trying to make Bangladesh a ‘failed state’: PM to AL activists  Noting that once Bangladesh was neglected in the international arena, Sheikh Hasina said now Bangladesh gets dignity everywhere in the world as the Awami League government did a massive development spree for the country. “We’ve done huge works for the development of the country after forming the government. Whatever we work, we do in very planned ways,” she said. Read more: Zia, Ershad and Khaleda Zia turned Bangladesh into a ‘nation of beggars’: PM 

Zia, Ershad and Khaleda Zia turned Bangladesh into a “nation of beggars” after 1975, PM Sheikh Hasina said today. Sheikh Hasina said this during her closing remarks while exchanging greetings with party leaders and activists at Ganabhaban after she was reelected AL President for the 10th consecutive term. When AL came to power, Bangladesh was free of “monga”  (famine-like situation), she said. “Today we have achieved self-sufficiency in food production.” Sheikh Hasina said Awami League is an organization formed by the hands of the Father of the Nation and the party was born through movements for establishing rights of the people. AL must continue that tradition, she told party leaders and activists. Read more: Anti-liberation forces and killers of Bangabandhu are always trying to make Bangladesh a ‘failed state’: PM to AL activists The AL chief asked her party's affluent members to come forward in helping the dedicated but insolvent workers in their respective areas. She said there are many insolvent activists in AL who are dedicated to politics, even if it means selling off their ancestral land, but never desired anything. Sheikh Hasina said many, including Ayub Khan, Zia, Ershad and Khaleda Zia, wanted to destroy AL but could not as the party has so many dedicated activists. Talking about the global economic downturn, she said her government is trying its best to continue keeping the economy vibrant and is exercising austerity in undertaking and implementing development projects. "We're putting importance on the projects which are very essential. And we are completing the implementation of the projects quickly which would ensure benefits for the people,"  she said. Read more: Accepted leadership of the party considering the volatile global economy: PM Hasina The premier said now her government's goal is to make Bangladesh a developed and prosperous country — turning it into 'Smart Bangladesh' by 2041. She said every community up to the grassroots level of the country would turn into a smart community by using digital devices and online platforms.  "Everyone will be adept at using computers and technology," said the PM, adding that smart and digital devices will be used in every sector including economic activities, healthcare services, education and agriculture.