Sheikh Hasina
PM Hasina inaugurates 50 more model mosques
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday inaugurated 50 more model mosques and Islamic cultural centres across the country as part of her government’s programme to spread true message of Islam.
She opened the model mosques and Islamic cultural centres in the sixth phase during the National imam Conference and Prize Giving Ceremony-2023.
Imam of the Masjid Al-Nabawi in Medina Sheikh Dr Abdullah bin Abdur Rahman Al-Bua'Yjan was with the prime minister during the event.
Religious Affairs Ministry organised the function at the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre at Rupganj of Narayanganj. Three pandals have been set up at the venue.
After reaching the venue, the prime minister first visited the pandels along with the imam of the Masjid Al-Nabawi in Medina.
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Both the premier and the imam spoke briefly to the imams gathered at the venue from different parts of the country.
She thanked the imams for coming to join National Imam Council and urged them to pray for wellbeing of the country and its people.
"Pray to Allah that the development of the country being carried out by the government goes on,” she said.
PM Hasina also thanked the custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
Monday’s opening of the mosques raised the number of such model mosques to 300.
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The government has taken up a programme of building 564 model mosques and Islamic centres across the country.
The PM unveiled 50 mosques each in the first phase on 10 June, 2021, in the second phase on 16 January this year, in the third phase on 16 March, in the fourth phase on 17 April and in the fifth phase on July 30.
The construction of the remaining mosques and Islamic cultural centres is scheduled to be completed by June 2024.
The mosques and centres are being built under a programme to spread the true message of Islam following the footsteps of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The model mosques and Islamic cultural centres include separate places for ablution and namaj along with air-conditioning system.
There will also be registration and training arrangements for Hajj pilgrims, imam training centre, research centre and Islamic library, autism corner, ritual system before burial, car parking facility, hifzakhana, pre-primary education and Quran learning arrangement, conference room for Islamic cultural activities and Islamic dawat, Islamic books sale centre and boarding facility for local and foreign guests.
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In 2017, the government has taken a project with Taka 9,435 crore for constructing Islamic Cultural Centres and Model Mosque in every district and upazila as well as municipality of the country.
An audio-visual documentary on the model mosques and Islamic cultural centres was screened at the function.
State Minister for religious affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan chaired the event addressed among others by President of Tarikat Foundation Syed Najibul Bashar Maizbhandari, Maulana Dr. Mohammad Kafiluddin Sarkar Salehi and Maulana Ehsanul Haq Al Mojaddedi.
Secretary for religious affairs ministry Md A Hamid Zamadder delivered the address of welcome.
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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will address a press conference on Tuesday afternoon on the outcome of her recent official visit to Belgium.
The press conference will start at 4 pm at her official residence Ganabhaban, Prime Minister’s Office press wing said.
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PM Hasina returned home on Friday morning after wrapping up her three-day official visit to Belgium.
In Brussels the PM attended the "Global Gateway Forum-2023" on October 25-26 at the invitation of the European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen.
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During her stay in Brussels, PM Hasina had a number of meetings with leaders of European countries, the European Commission (EC), the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Parliament as well as attended a community reception on the sidelines of the Forum.
Make Loss and Damage Fund on climate change fully operational: PM Hasina urges rich nations
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday called upon the authorities concerned to make the Loss and Damage Fund fully operational.
"The loss and damage fund should be operational completely," she said while UNOPS (United Nations Office for Project Services) Under Secretary General and Executive Director Jorge Moreira da Silva paid a courtesy call on her at her official Ganabhaban residence here.
PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed the reporters after the meeting.
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The aim of the Loss and Damage Fund is to provide financial assistance to poorer nations as they deal with the negative consequences that arise from the unavoidable risks of climate change - for example: rising sea levels, extreme heat waves, desertification, forest fires, crop failures.
The prime minister expressed dissatisfaction as the rich countries are not complying with their promises.
"Response from the Loss and Damage Fund from the rich countries have yet to be adequate " she said while UNOPS Under Secretary General has brought the COP28 for discussion.
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The prime minister said her government has taken various measures to make Bangladesh as a climate resilient country that included raising a climate trust fund by its own resources.
She said they have given houses to the climate refugees at Khuruskul in Cox's Bazar under the Ashrayan Prokect-2.
The premier said her government has built green belt, artificial mangrove forest and planted trees in huge numbers alongside giving climate resilient houses to the people along the costal belt.
The UNOPS official highly praised the delopement of Banhladesh particularly the social safety net programmes and micro savings under the dynamic leadership of Sheikh Hasina.
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He apprised the premier that the UNOPS in collaboration with DG of Health Services are constructing medical grade oxygen generating plants for 29 hospitals around Bangladesh.
In response, the PM Hasina said," It will be better if the plants are constructed in all the 64 districts in Bangladesh.
The premier greeted the UNOPS for responding the humanitarian need during the Rohingya influx in Bangladesh from Myanmar in 2017 and also during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
She appreciated the UNOPS expertise of managing projects.
The premier said she believed that UNOPS proven expertise in project management can help improve the project implementation culture in Bangladesh.
Ambassador-at-Large Mohammad Ziauddin and PM's Principal Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah were present at the meeting.
PM condoles death of freedom fighter Badrul Alam Bir Uttam
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of valiant freedom fighter Squadron Leader (retd) Badrul Alam, Bir Uttam.
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In a condolence message, Sheikh Hasina said that contribution of this fearless aviator, of the “Kilo-Flight”, to the Liberation War will be remembered.
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The premier prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the members of the bereaved family.
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Stop wars and save money spent on arms for children's welfare: PM Hasina urges world leaders
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday reiterated her call to the world leaders to come forward to stop the ongoing wars and arm races for the sake of the global welfare.
“The wars and arms race can’t bring the welfare of the people,” she said referring to Russia-Ukraine war and Tuesday’s bombing of a Palestine hospital that caused huge casualties.
The premier made the call while addressing the inauguration of Sheikh Russel Day-2023 and the awarding-ceremony of Sheikh Russel Medal-2023 at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre here in the city.
The event was organised to mark the 60th birthday of Sheikh Russel, the youngest son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Russel was one of the martyrs of the August 15 tragedy when he was just 10 years old.
Hasina said the children and women are the worst victims of the wars. Now Israel has started attack on Palestine. Many children were killed in Tuesday’s bombing attack on a hospital. The bloodstained images of children were seen there. Children were also killed in Israel, she added.
She said they can understand the pain and sufferings of the people who are losing their parents and children in the wars as they --- two sisters Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana--- had to lead such life and stay as refugees in foreign lands after 1975 bloodbath.
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“So, we don’t want war. I call upon ... to stop the war,” said the prime minister.
She said the money spent for arms production and races should be used for ensuring food, healthcare and development of the world's children. “It is our demand. I also demand it,” she added.
“We want peace. Because, peace brings development and war causes destruction. We don’t want destruction, rather want development and peace,” she said, adding that Bangladesh has always been working for peace.
Focusing on her government’s steps for the welfare of children and success, Hasina said they took all necessary measures for the development of children. So, the rates of child mortality and maternal mortality declined as well as food and nutrition security was ensured for them, she said.
She said the government has been working so that the children can be groomed properly by joining sports and cultural practices alongside education from their childhood.
“I’ve built Bangladesh as Digital Bangladesh. We want peace and progress of the country,” she said.
The PM asked the children to pursue their study as well as obey parents and the loved ones. “The education is the main strength for a person,” she said.
PM Hasina said she and her younger sister Rehana told their children that they can't leave nothing like money and assets for them and asked them to pursue education. They (their children) in fact pursued education and obtained the degrees from world-renowned universities, she added.
She said now their children are working behind the screen for the development of the country like building Digital Bangladesh, development of autistic children and various development programmes of the government.
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“They don’t come to the limelight. They’ve been working behind the screen for the country and its interests. They’ve been assisting us for the welfare of the country,” she said.
The premier asked the children to nurture a high aspiration to take the country forward making themselves worthy citizens and staying away from militancy, terrorism and drugs.
Talking about her government’s vision to make the country Smart Bangladesh by 2041, she said today’s children and adolescents would be soldiers of the Smart Bangladesh and would lead the country at that time.
The PM said the government will set up a Sheikh Russel digital lab in every school in phases throughout the country.
State Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Zunaid Ahmed Palak presided over the event, while ICT Division Secretary Md. Shamsul Arefin, acting president of Sheikh Russel Jatiyo Shishu Kishore Parishad Secretary Chowdhury Nafiz Sharafat, its secretary general KM Shahidullah, organizing secretary Fariduddin Ahmed Ratan and child speaker Amira Nayer Chowdhury spoke on the occasion.
A video message from Indian Colonel (retd) Ashok Kumar Tara, who had a good relation with Sheikh Russel, a video documentary on Sheikh Russel and a theme song marking Sheikh Russel Day-2023 were played at the event, moderated by organising secretary of the parishad Barrister Jahangir Hossain Rony.
In the function, the premier opened a number of projects and unveiled the foundation stones of some other projects of the ICT Division by swapping a smart card.
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PM Hasina also unveiled a book titled “Sraroner Aborone Sheikh Russel” featuring his childhood.
The Sheikh Russel Day-2023 is being observed with the theme "Sheikh Russell Diptimoy, Nirvik Nirmal Durjoy” (Sheikh Russel was enlightened, fearless and indomitable).
Russel was born on October 18, 1964, at the historic Bangabandhu Bhaban at Dhanmondi.
At the function, the premier distributed the Sheikh Russel Medal-2023 and Smart Bangladesh Medal-2023, as well as prizes of different painting, sports and cultural completions.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun (on behalf of Bangladesh Police) and deputy commissioners (DCs) of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Dhaka, Panchagarh and Thakugaon districts received the Smart Bangladesh Padak-2023 from the prime minister.
BIWTA to hold boat race marking PM Hasina's birthday
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has organised a boat race on the Turag river, on the occasion of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's birthday.
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The boat race will be held tomorrow (September 28), at the end point of the main road in Mohammadpur's Dhaka Udyan, on the Turag river, at 3:30 pm, said Senior Information Officer of Shipping Ministry, Jahangir Alam Khan.
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State Minister for Shipping, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, will be present as the chief guest, while Haji Mohammad Salim will be present as a special guest along with others. BIWTA Chairman Commodore Arif Ahmed Mostafa will preside over the event.
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Twelve teams named after rivers -- Buriganga, Shitalakhya, Turag, Dhaleshwari, Ichhamoti, Karnaphuli, Surma, Kirtankhola, Arial Kha, Dakatia, Bongshi and Balu -- will participate in different segments of the boat race.
AL launches district and city level training for trainers and field-level campaigners in Mymensingh
The training programme for district and metropolitan city level trainers and field-level campaigners of Bangladesh Awami League was launched on Tuesday in Mymensingh, following the special initiative of the party to disseminate the message of the government’s development programmes and future plans to every voter’s doorstep ahead of the next national election.
A press conference was held at 11 am at Mymensingh city’s Green Point Community Center. After that, a formal inauguration and campaigner training workshop was held at Advocate Tarek Memorial Auditorium at 12 pm.
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Kabir Bin Anwar, Chief Coordinator of AL’s National Election Administration Committee, inaugurated the program. Mymensingh city unit Awami League President and city Mayor Md. Ikramul Haque and General Secretary Mohit Ur Rahman Shanto; Mymensingh district Awami League President Ehteshamul Alam and General Secretary Advocate Moazzem Hossain Babul were present at the programme.
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The training programme was conducted by focal point of “offline campaign”, Sufi Faruq Ibne Abubakar, and assistant focal point Syed Imam Baker.
Awami League had undertaken a special initiative to disseminate the message of the government’s development programmes and future plans to every voter’s doorstep ahead of the next national election. As part of this initiative, Awami League will form a “master trainer” group with university teachers who will go to each upazila and provide training at the upazila-level.
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Navy Chief M Nazmul Hassan promoted to Admiral
Chief of Naval Staff, M Nazmul Hassan, has been promoted to the rank of Admiral.
The navy chief was conferred the new rank in the presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the latter’s official residence Ganabhaban on Sunday, said a press release.
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He was adorned with the new rank badge by Acting Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Ataul Hakim Sarwar Hasan and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan.
PM’s Security Affairs Adviser, Major Gen (rtd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique; PM’s Principal Secretary, M Tofazzel Hossain Miah; Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division, Lt Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman; and Senior Secretary of Defence Ministry, Golam Md Hashibul Alam, were present in the function.
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PM releases special stamp marking 74th birth anniversary of Sheikh Kamal
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday released a special commemorative postage stamp and a first day cover, marking 74th birth anniversary of valiant freedom fighter Shaheed Captain Sheikh Kamal, the eldest son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The Prime Minister unveiled the Tk 10 valued postage stamp, a souvenir sheet comprising three stamps of Tk 40, first day cover of Tk 10, and a five Taka data card at a ceremony at her official residence Ganabhaban.
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Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar, Posts and Telecommunications Secretary Abu Hena Morshed Zaman and Director General of Directorate of Posts Md Harunur Rashid were present on the occasion.
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The postage stamp and the first-day cover will be sold from Philatelic Bureau of Dhaka GPO today and will also be available at other GPOs and head post offices across the country later.
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Bangladesh's upcoming national polls will be under AL govt: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday made it clear that the next general election in Bangladesh will be held under her Awami League government and it will be free and fair.
“So under our government, definitely election will be free and fair,” she told a session titled "In conversation with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina" of the Qatar Economic Forum at the Raffles Hotel here in Doha.
Haslinda Amin, editor-at-large of Qatar Economic Forum anchored the session.
The prime minister is now in Doha on a three-day official visit mainly to take part in the Qatar Economic Forum 2023.
Her assertion came as the opposition BNP and its allies have launched a renewed campaign of street protests asking her government to step down to pave the way for holding the next election under a neutral caretaker administration.
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Bangladesh is due to go to polls by December this year or in the first week of next year.
Responding to a question, she said that after the assassination of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, military dictators jeopardised all election process.
“The election was just a game (then),” she said.
She recalled that when the Awami League elected her as its president back in 1981 in her absence only then she could return to the country.
“Since then we started to struggle for restoring democracy and people’s right to vote. It was our struggle to ensure free and fair election. And we did it during our time in every election,” she said.
Regarding the opposition BNP's demand, Hasina, also the president of ruling Awami League, said that in 2008 election nobody raised any question about it.
“What was the result then? The party (BNP) which is raising the question now got only 29 out of 300 seats in the Parliament,” she said.
Sounding firm the prime minister said that she is here to ensure people’s voting right, Because people should decide who will run the country.
“It is people’s power, I want to ensure people’s power. I am here not to grab power. Rather I want to empower our people that they should have their right to choose their government,” she said.
Replying to a question, Hasina mentioned that now some parties said they will not participate.
“How will they participate? Because during their time the country suffered a lot. Our people suffered. At their time terrorist activities increased. Everywhere there was corruption, nepotism and exploitation. They never bothered about the people. It was very difficult for our people to get one meal per day. That was the situation,” she said. She said that after the Awami League came to power it has ensured everything for the people.
“It's the people’s right to vote in election. What we have done now the people understand that. If they vote for us I am here, if they don't, ok fine,” she said clearly.
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The PM said that during her tenure there had been many by-elections, local government elections, which were free and fair.
“You can see, who is creating problem. We are not. But in every election some incidents may take place,” she said.
She also mentioned that the government has asked everybody to send election observers to Bangladesh for the next voting.
“So I can tell you I am here to ensure my people’s democratic right, voting right and it is our struggle," she stated.
She said that she is here to serve the country and its people so they could live a better and prosperous life.
“Bangladesh should be a developed country, that is my aim. Why should I try to jeopardise people’s right that we have established. Definitely election will be free and fair.”
She also termed BNP as a party of criminals and killers.
“They (BNP) may not feel comfortable. But, there are other parties, those parties will participate in the election," she said.
Replying to a question IMF's recent loan to Bangladesh, PM Hasina said the IMF assists only the country that can repay the loan. In providing the loan, the IMF considered whether the country can pay it back or not, she said
"We'll definitely be able to pay it back," said the PM.
The premier said Bangladesh has successfully overcome the fallout of COVID-19 pandemic due to her government's pragmatic plans and steps.