PM
Take up fish farming as livelihood, Prime Minister tells youths
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday urged the youths to take up fish farming as their livelihood to exploit the huge scope of employment in this sector."There is a huge opportunity of employment in the sector and this should be utilised," she said in a pre-recorded video message to the 18th founding anniversary programme of Awami Matsyajibi League here.
"We have taken measures to improve fish production through expansion of pisciculture and research," she said.
Also read: PM Hasina for harnessing potential of youths
Reiterating her government’s goal of making Bangladesh economically self-sufficient, the prime minster said the country will march ahead following the ideals and principles of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman."On the 50th anniversary of our Independence and birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman our pledge will be to make the country developed and prosperous,” she said.
“We will build Golden Bangladesh of the Father of the Nation," she said.Hasina said the government is providing training to the youths on fish farming to they can make the country more advanced in fish production. She said that Karmasangthan Bank is providing collateral free loan to the youths so that they can stand on their own feet.Hasina said instead of running after office jobs on completion of studies the educated young people can engage in fish production as a means of their livelihood.She said that the government is establishing 100 economic zones across the country where food processing industries can be set up to create opportunities for marketing.In this regard she asked Awami Matsyajibi League leaders to strengthen its organisational capacity to supplement government's effort to increase fish production.
Also read: Developing Bangladesh: PM says the glory came through strugglesShe said in 1996, the Awami League government made the country self-sufficient in food-grains production and after forming the government in 2009 it focused on increasing nutrition along with the food.
In this connection she said that the per capita fish consumption at the country is now 62 grams.She said that due to the government's initiative to ensure nutrition, the citizens no longer suffer from malnutrition.
The Prime Minister said that to increase the fish production further, which is now around 50 lakh metric tonnes a year, the government is renovating the ponds, excavating canals, beels and rivers.
She also said that the government has taken up special measures to improve Hilsha production, in which Bangladesh is number one now."To stop Hilsha catching during the breeding season the government is distributing free food among the fishermen (temporarily jobless)," she said.
PM suspended Khaleda's sentence out of humanity
Regarding various statements made by BNP leaders about Begum Khaleda Zia's illness, Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader said Sheikh Hasina had suspended Begum Zia's sentence because of her humanity.
He said this while addressing a discussion meeting organized by Dhaka Metropolitan North Awami League on the occasion of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Homecoming Day on Bangabandhu Avenue this morning.
He questioned the BNP leaders and said it is not humanity?
Also read: Khaleda still suffering from post-Covid complications: Doctor
Obaidul Quader further said that the BNP leaders did not even appreciate this humanity.
Obaidul Quader said the BNP has become a world champion in the politics of revenge with observance of Khaleda Zia's fake birthday by cutting a cake on the day of Bangabandhu's assassination on August 15.
Quader also said that there is no one else who has created this record.
He remarked that Bangladesh will be able to move forward at a relentless pace in the quest for development and prosperity by tackling the Corona crisis.
Referring to Sheikh Hasina as the most honest, courageous and humane leader in post-75 Bangladesh, Obaidul Quader said Bangabandhu's Bangladesh is a wonder of the world today under the farsighted leadership of Sheikh Hasina.
Mentioning that Sheikh Hasina has been successfully leading the party for the last four decades as a symbol of unity of the Awami League, the General Secretary of the Awami League said that Sheikh Hasina has come a long way and stood on the rubble and repeatedly triumphed over life.
Also read: ‘Vindictive politics’ behind govt’s negative decision on Khaleda: BNP
Noting that Bangladesh has evolved from a least developed country to a developing country today with the return of Sheikh Hasina, Obaidul Quader said it is another golden feather in the crown of Sheikh Hasina's success.
Dhaka Metropolitan North Awami League President Sadek Khan presided over the meeting at Bangabandhu Avenue while Awami League presidium member Jahangir Kabir Nanak, joint secretary Mahbubul Haque Hanif, organisational secretary Mirza Azam also spoke among others.
Developing Bangladesh: PM says the glory came through struggles
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said Bangladesh has established itself as a developing country, defying numerous challenges and obstacles both from home and abroad.
“We’ve got established ourselves as a developing country. We’ve reached here overcoming so many hurdles both from home and abroad,” she said.
The Prime Minister said this in her introductory speech at the weekly Cabinet meeting held at Bangladesh Secretariat. She joined it virtually from her official residence Ganobahban.
She vowed to build Bangladesh as ‘Golden Bangladesh’ as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“Bangladesh is now independent, and it’ll remain independent. We’ll build it as Golden Bangladesh of the Father of the Nation,” she reaffirmed.
Sheikh Hasina hoped that Bangladesh will advance further in the coming days from where it is now standing.
Talking about her 40th homecoming day, the Prime Minister said she returned to her homeland defying all the odds and obstacles.
“There were many restrictions…the then government wouldn’t allow me to return in any way, there’re various conspiracies against me,” she recalled.
Hasina said the war criminals, the trial of whom was started by Bangabandhu, was stopped and they were released, and even they were in power as the killers were given the indemnity. “I didn’t think anything…I just returned.”
Also read: Don’t let Covid to spike with unguarded Eid celebrations: PM Hasina
Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League president, said it crossed her mind at that time that the country’s independence must not be allowed to go in vain. “It has to be made meaningful. It’s also there in Sheikh Rehana’s mind.”
She expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the activists and leaders of the then Awami League who made her president in her absence.
Talking about the distortion of the country’s history, the Prime Minister said the real history was totally erased and distorted completely. “Now there’s a confidence no one will be able to temper the country’s history and erase it anymore.”
She expressed gratitude to the people of the country as well the leaders and activists of Awami League for this.
Today is the 40th homecoming day of Awami League President. On May 17, 1981, she returned home after a long exile.
Also read: 2-day exhibition marking Sheikh Hasina’s homecoming begins in city
Boarding an aircraft of Indian Airlines, Awami League President Sheikh Hasina reached the then Kurmitola Airport here from the Indian capital of New Delhi via Kolkata at 4.30pm on the day.
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was brutally killed along with most of his family members on August 15 in 1975 and his two daughters – Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana – luckily escaped it as they were abroad.
In a national council session of the Awami League on February 14-16, 1981, Sheikh Hasina was elected party president, giving the party a much-sought impetus.
PM to address nation Thursday evening
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will address the nation on Thursday evening ahead of Eid-ul- Fitr.
"The Prime Minister will address the nation at 7:15 pm on the occasion of Holy Eid-ul Fitr," PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said.
Also read: Eid-ul-Fitr on Friday as Shawwal moon not sighted
State-owned Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television will simultaneously broadcast the Prime Minister’s address.
Also read: Celebrate Eid where you are: PM Hasina
Private television channels and radio stations will also air the speech.
PM denounces attacks at Al Aqsa mosque compound
Denouncing the recent attacks of terrorist nature and violence unleashed by Israeli occupation forces, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the international community to take sustainable measures to end such acts anywhere and everywhere in the world, including Palestine.
“I, on behalf of the people and the government of Bangladesh, express my deep sadness and concern about the recent attacks of terrorist nature and violence unleashed on the innocent devotees and civilians at the Al Aqsa mosque compound,” she said in a letter sent to Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday.
Also read: Israel, Hamas escalate heavy fighting with no end in sight
She said the evictions of Palestinian families in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood and transfer of civilian population into occupied territories by the Israeli occupation forces exposed the severe violation of human rights, international laws, and accords which have immensely triggered civic feelings across the world.
“While expressing our deep condolences to the victims and sympathies to our Palestinian brothers, we unequivocally denounce such acts of terror and violence and urge the international community to take sustainable measurers to end such kinds of acts anywhere and everywhere in the world including Palestine.”
Also read: Israeli police, Palestinians clash at Jerusalem holy site
Sheikh Hasina also reiterated Bangladesh’s unflinching commitment to realising the inalienable rights of the brotherly people of Palestine for an independent homeland and a sovereign and viable State of Palestine based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
“May Almighty Allah give the government and the brotherly people of Palestine to strength to achieve the goal,” she added.
Also read: Gaza militants, children among 24 dead as Israel hits Hamas
Cabinet clears draft law for private medical, dental colleges
The cabinet on Monday gave the final approval to the draft of Private Medical College and Dental College Act, 2021 to ensure discipline in private medical and dental colleges by bringing those under a law from two separate guidelines.
The approval was given at the weekly cabinet meeting held with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Also Read: Cabinet approves one-man company provision
The Prime Minister virtually joined the meeting, held at the Bangladesh Secretariat, from her official residence Ganobhaban.
The private medical and dental colleges in Bangladesh are now operated under the Private Medical College Establishment and Operation Guidelines 2011 and Private Dental College Establishment and Operation Guidelines 2009.
While briefing reporters after the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said a medical or dental college must have at least 50 students while its teacher-student ratio will have to be 1:10 as per the proposed law.
A medical college needs to have at least two acres of land in any metropolitan area while the land requirement for the dental college is one acre, he said.
For setting up a medical college outside any metropolitan area, the land requirement is four acres and it is two acres for a dental college, said Anwarul Islam.
For a medical college, an amount of Tk 3 crore will have to be deposited with any commercial bank and Tk 2 crore for any dental college as reserve funds.
Also Read: New Cabinet took 36 decisions, implemented 24
The proposed law says any medical college must have one lakh square feet of space for academic purposes and another one lakh square feet of space for hospital purposes. For a dental college, the hospital space has to be 50,000 square feet each.
The cabinet secretary said the authorities concerned will inspect such colleges and hospitals from time to time.
He also said medical and dental colleges will have to be affiliated with any public university.
Anwarul Islam said the government will fix the academic fees for medical and dental colleges.
Besides, he said, private medical college or dental college authorities will have dispose of their wastes in a scientific manner.
In the case of violation of the law, the Cabinet Secretary said, the maximum punishment will two years of imprisonment or a fine of Tk 10 lakh or both.
Currently, there are some 70 private medical colleges and 26 private dental colleges in the country.
The cabinet also gave the final approval to the draft of Territorial Waters and Maritime Zones (Amendment) Act, 2021 to make it a more time-befitting one.
The cabinet secretary said that the old law, which was enacted in 1974, has to be amended amid the evolving situation.
The cabinet also approved in principle the Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Resources Act, 2021 for scrapping two ordinances in this regard that were promulgated in the military regimes in 1976 and 1986.
There will be a corporation for which the authorised capital will be Tk 5000 crore while the paid-up capital Tk 200 crore. The corporation will have a chairman.
As per the proposed law, it can form a company, too.
Nagad begins disbursing PM's gift to 14.97 lakh families
Nagad, the mobile financial service arm of Postal Department, has started disbursing the Prime Minister's financial assistance to 14.97 lakh families who lost their livelihood amid the Covid-19 crisis as Eid gift.Each family listed by the government will receive Tk 2,500 with the cash-out charge under the G2P process. Nagad will complete the disbursement before Eid, according to a press release.On Sunday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina launched the programme from Ganobhaban, her official residence, by sending financial assistance to 15 families in Chattogram, Bhola and Jaipurhat.
Also read: 86,452 primary students get stipend, allowance through Nagad in phase 1
The programme was conducted via video conferencing where deputy commissioners of the concerned districts participated along with the beneficiaries. Prime Minister's Principal Secretary Ahmad Kaikaus hosted the event.In the current phase, the Prime Minister is providing financial assistance to 33.39 lakh beneficiaries with the help of two other MFS providers beside Nagad. The state carrier will disburse 45 percent of the total funds of this phase while rest of the amount will be disbursed by the two other MFS providers. On the opening day, around 11,000 beneficiaries received funds through their Nagad account.Beneficiaries do not have to bear any additional cost for cash out since the government is paying the charge. However, Nagad users will get the full cash out amount which is Tk 37.35.Tanvir A Mishuk, managing director of Nagad, thanked the Prime Minister for trusting Nagad once again with the task of distributing the largest portion of the fund.“We promise that the assistance will be delivered to all beneficiaries in the list given by the government in the most transparent manner. Nagad always operates in accordance with the rules of Bangladesh Bank and will continue to maintain that,” Mishuk said.
Also read: Three clients joining Nagad network each secondLast year before Eid the Prime Minister directed to distribute Tk 2,500 government assistance to each family and at that time Nagad also got the biggest chunk of 17 lakh beneficiaries for allocation.Currently there are 4.1 crore Nagad users and daily transactions crossed to Tk 400 crore on daily basis.
Covid-19: PM Hasina provides Tk 10cr for journalists
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday (April 27, 2021) donated Tk 10 crore for providing assistance to the country’s journalists during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The Prime Minister has donated Tk 10 crore to Bangladesh Journalists’ Welfare Trust for extending assistance to journalists across the country at this tough time of Covid-19 pandemic,” PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told UNB.
Read OCAB forms new convening committee
Also read Govt, WB ink $250 mn deal to help Bangladesh create more jobs
Over 1mn Covid-affected families to get PM’s Eid gift through bKash
bKash will distribute the cash aid of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to 10,50,000 low-income group families affected by COVID-19.
In a unique initiative of the Prime Minister to stand by families who have lost their livelihood, financial aid of Tk 2,500 will be provided to each of them before the Eid, bKash said in a media release on Wednesday.
The money is being disbursed digitally with transparency, swiftness and security to the real victims through verification of NID cards, it said.
Also read: Covid-19 in Bangladesh: PM allocates Tk 10.50cr for affected poor
Through MFS, the cash aid of Tk 2,500 is going to be distributed to 3.4 million affected families.
The 10,50,000 low-income families will receive this cash aid through bKash.
During the month of Ramadan and the Eid festival, this money will bring relief to the families and help them greatly in case of emergency, bKash said.
Also read: bKash offers 1 pc cash bonus on receiving remittance
The beneficiary will not need to bear any Cash Out charge.
The government will pay Tk 15 from the total Cash Out charge, while the remaining Tk 31.25 will be borne by bKash.
bKash says it has taken all arrangements to enable the family members to Cash Out the money without any hassle.
Also read: Stipends from PM’s education fund disbursed through bKash
With the far-sighted decision of the government, bKash said, it is becoming possible to disburse financial aid conveniently among the affected families amid such a critical situation.
This is a significant step towards building Digital Bangladesh, it said.
Last year too, bKash successfully distributed the cash aid of the Prime Minister to nearly 1 million families.
Read Financial aid for all mosques, 7,000 more Qawmi Madrasas before Eid: PM
PM to provide cash support to families affected by Covid, natural disasters
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will provide financial assistance to some 36 lakh families who have been hit hard by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and recent natural disasters.
The 36 families include 35 lakh low income ones engaged in different occupations but hit hard by the current coronavirus situation and the rest one lakh are farmers affected by recent natural disasters.
Tk 2,500 will be provided as cash support to 35 lakh families, while Tk 5,000 each will be given to one lakh farmer families, said PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim.
The government will spend total Tk 930 crore to disburse cash money among some 36 lakh families as the allocation for Covid-hit low-income families is Tk 880 crore and for disaster-affected farmers is Tk 50 crore.
Also read: COVID-19 Fallout: Govt’s response to ensure financial stability
Out of 30,94,249 hectares of crop land in 36 districts, 10,301 hectares of cropland was completely destroyed and 59,327 hectares of cropland was partially damaged due to strong winds, hailstorms and cyclones on April 4, 2021. Some 100,000 farmers were directly affected due to the recent disaster, according to the data of the Department of Agricultural Extension.
In this context, the Ministry of Agriculture has recommended to provide Tk 5,000 to each farmer as they are affected by double blows – natural calamity and Covid-19 pandemic.
The Ministry has already started enlisting the one lakh farmers incorporating their names, national identity card number and mobile number in the list. The actual allocation for the farmers can be more or less depending on the number of farmers in the final list.
In the 2019-20 fiscal year, the government disbursed Tk 2,500 as cash aid to each 35 lakh families scrutinizing a list of 50 lakh families hit hard by the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. The allocation for providing cash support to the poor families was Tk 1257.50 crore.
Also read: PM provides financial support to families of N’ganj blast victims
The Prime Minister in May 2020 inaugurated the disbursement of cash support through G2P (Government-to-Person) through mobile financial services (MFSs).
In the wake of the 2nd wave of coronavirus, the government has been enforcing Covid-19 lockdown since April 14 last in order to prevent the spread of the virus.
In this context, the ministry concerned recommended providing Tk 2,500 as cash aid to each 35 lakh families this time.