PM Hasina
Perpetrators of 1977 massacre and BNP-Jamaat arsonists face punishment: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said that those who were involved in the killings of hundreds of Bangladesh Air Force members through illegal court martial in 1977 are getting punishment for their crimes.
Punishment is also being meted out to the perpetrators of arson violence and terrorism carried out in the name of movement launched by BNP and Jamaat during 2013-15, she said.
“Those who were involved in injustice got punishment, getting punishment and will get punishment,” she said at an event at her official residence Ganobhavan.
The prime minister was talking to the family members of Bangladesh Air Force personnel who had been sentenced to death through illegal court martial in 1977 during the regime of then military ruler General Ziaur Rahman.
Also Read: 2002 attack on Hasina's motorcade: 4 get life imprisonment, 44 others 7 years’ jail
Victims and relatives of arson terrorism by BNP-Jamaat nexus in 2013, 2014 and 2015 were also present there.
Hasina said that she is empathetic to the family members of the victims as she and her younger sister lost father, mother, brothers, sister-in-laws and other family members in a day on August 15 in 1975 when Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated.
She said Bangabandhu endured life-long sufferings for Bangladesh and its people.
“My only aim is to ensure that people of this country remain in good shape,” she said.
She regretted that arson terrorism and fire incidents at market places are taking place causing immense miseries to the innocent people at a time the country is moving towards economic prosperity.
“Those who are doing this are incurring hatred of the whole nation. I think that Allah will also not tolerate this,” she said.
She said that BNP-Jamaat’s activities had been as barbaric as was done by Pakistani military.
“Ziaur Rahman used to write the verdict of capital punishment while smiling,” she said.
She said that after that Zia’s wife and then their sons resorted to arson terrorism as they do not want any good for the country and its people.
She mentioned that she can understand the pain of the family members and relatives of the victims. “I am always beside you, I share your pain,” she said.
Nurunnahar Begum, wife of victim Sargent Delwar Hossain, and Maksuda Parvin, daughter of Sargent Morshedul Alam, also spoke at the programme.
A heart-rending situation prevailed while the relatives spoke. A visibly moved PM consoled them with motherly affection.
Victim of arson terrorism Sub Inspector Moqbul Hossain and Mohammad Salauddin Bhuiyan expressed their feelings in the programme.
Two separate documentaries on these subjects were also screened at the programme.
The prime minister presented Eid gifts to the victims and relatives.
PM Hasina allocates Tk 9 crore as Eid gift for Bangabazar fire victims
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has allocated Tk nine crore as Eid gift for the shop workers, traders and owners at Bangabazar who have been affected in a devastating fire incident recently.
The money has already been sent to their mobile phone, said Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah.
Read More: Traders of Bangabazar set up around 800 temporary shops at the site.
PM Hasina's Ashrayan project is enabling Bangladesh’s inclusive growth, India Today writes
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ‘Ashrayan Project’ under which homes are built for homeless and displaced people in Bangladesh, has played a key role in achieving the goals of poverty eradication, hunger eradication, gender equality and women's empowerment, among others, India’s leading English-language magazine India Today writes.
Her innovative Shelter Scheme, to transform Bangladesh into a developed and prosperous country by 2041, has been able to bring about positive changes in inclusive development by aiming to provide houses for landless, homeless, and marginalized people in 64 districts of the country, writes the magazine in its April 15 issue.
Whereas examples of low-interest loans for land purchase are found in several countries around the world, Bangladesh becomes the first country to offer free land ownership with houses to its marginalized citizens in order to bring its backward communities into the mainstream, India Today notes.
Read: 4 lakh coastal people took refuge at Ashrayan homes during Sitrang: PMO
“Beneficiaries under this scheme are not only provided with accommodation, but they are also provided with various training, daily allowances during training, and loans after training to make them economically self-reliant,” the report states.
“The scheme includes empowering women by giving them half ownership of land and houses, providing free electricity connection, providing clean water by installing one shallow tube well for every 10 families, and providing food assistance under three months of VGF to the resettled families initially,” it reads.
The India Today report also lauded PM Hasina’s development, known as the "Sheikh Hasina model".
The 'Ashrayan Project' is a unique example of how a house can be a major tool for overall family welfare and social development.
Read: Ashrayan Project: Govt thoroughly scrutinizing “irregularities”
In its report, India Today highlighted the experience of two beneficiaries of the project.
For 30 long years, Moksedul, a brick kiln labourer, waited for a house that he could call his own.
His long-held desire has been granted, as he has been assigned a semi-furnished house in his own name.
Moksedul told India Today that he can live very well with his family now.
Meanwhile, sixty-five-year-old Piara Begum is a resident of Patharghata in Barguna who lost her family home to the river thirty years ago.
Read: No laxity in costruction of Ashrayan houses to be tolerated: Project Director
She used to live with her husband on the banks of the river until he died of cancer 16 years ago.
“Finally, Piara Begum's misery has come to an end after she is allotted a house built by the Bangladesh government on the occasion of ‘Mujib centenary’ under the ‘Ashrayan' scheme.” India Today writes.
“I have been suffering all my life. I never dreamed of a house. Now, I have got a semi-furnished house with land. The prime minister has given me a house. I am very happy. As long as I live, I will pray for the prime minister,” she told India Today.
The “Ashrayan” project was undertaken in 1997 under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. And since its inception, approximately 5,07,244 landless and homeless families have been rehabilitated at various stages under this shelter initiative.
Read More: I’m everyone’s PM irrespective of party affiliation, says Hasina
Through this initiative, the society's backward community has been given access to semi-finished housing and two decimals of land.
Not up to us to decide who will go to heaven and who will go to hell: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged all religious-minded people, including Aleem and Ulema, to remain vigilant so that no one could tarnish the image of Islam.
“Let’s ensure that our sacred religion is not tarnished through various means. Aleem, Ulema and religious-minded people must keep an eye on this issue,” she said.
The prime minister said this while inaugurating 50 more model mosques and Islamic cultural centres across the country – in the fourth phase – joining virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban.
She said that Islam is the religion of peace, and those engaged in terrorism and militancy are tarnishing the image of this religion of peace.
“They are on the wrong path. All of us have to pay special attention to this matter,” she said.
The PM said that the last judgement will be made by the Almighty Allah.
“Who believes in Islam and who does not, we cannot decide that. It is very regrettable that sometimes we see some people unnecessarily trying to undermine other religions or different mazhab (sects) of Islam,” Sheikh Hasina said.
She said that this is against the lessons of Islam and ideology of the Prophet (PBUH). “This kind of attitude is not acceptable. Allah will judge everyone and everything… Allah will decide who will go to heaven and who will go to hell.”
Everyone will perform rituals of their own religion, and it is stated in the constitution of Bangladesh, she said.
“One cannot go to heaven by killing people. Killing innocent people will lead one to land in the fire of hell… People must be aware of this,” the PM said.
She said that all, irrespective of religion and background, gave their blood to attain the independence of the country.
“Everyone will perform their religious rituals, maintaining communal harmony. We run our country keeping faith in Allah. Everyone has equal rights and we believe that,” she said.
Terming militancy and terrorism as menaces of society, she said that these take away lives and misguide people. “Steps must be taken to keep people away from these menaces.”
She urged Aleems, Ulemas and Khatibs to be vigilant as sometimes quarters with vested interest misguide impressionable children to the wrong path.
“We cannot let children get involved in terrorism. Islam’s messages of peace and values must be ingrained in them,” she said.
She also asked all to remain alert regarding rumours, corruption, and repression of the weak. In this connection, she requested the imams to deliver special Khutba during Jummah prayers.
Regarding the establishment of model mosques, the prime minister said that her government has constructed the mosques so that people can follow the right path of Islam, and can learn more and understand the true essence of Islam.
Mentioning that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was dedicated to the religion, she highlighted different actions taken by him for the cause of Islam, such as establishing Islamic Foundation, buying a ship named “Hizbul Hagar” for transportation of Hajj pilgrims, taking measures to organise Bishwa Ijtema in Bangladesh and allocating land in Tongi for it, giving land for Kakrail Mosque and Baitul Muqarram National Mosque, introducing recitation from Quran on BTV and Bangladesh Betar, and introduced holiday on Eid-e-Miladunnabi etc.
Earlier at Ganabhaban, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina released commemorative postage stamps and a first day cover inscribed with the picture of model mosques on the occasion of the construction of a total 564 model mosques and Islamic cultural centers, covering all districts and upazilas of the country.
A documentary on the model mosques and Islamic cultural centres was screened at the function.
Regarding the establishment of model mosques, the prime minister said that her government has constructed the mosques so that people can follow the right path of Islam, and could know and understand the essence of Islam accurately.
Saying that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was dedicated to the religion, she highlighted his government's steps in promotion of Islam.
She mentioned the establishment of Islamic Foundation, purchase of a ship named “Hijbul Hagar” for transportation of Hajj pilgrims, took measure to organise Bishwa Ijtema in Bangladesh and allocated land in Tongi for it, gave land to Kakrail Mosque and Baitul Muqarram National Mosque, introduced Quaran Telwat in BTV and Betar, introduced holiday on Eid-e-Miladunnabi.
Earlier at Ganabhaban, PM Hasina released commemorative postage stamps and first day cover inscribed with the picture of model mosques on the occasion of the construction of a total of 564 model mosques and Islamic cultural centers in each district and upazila of the country.
A video-documentary on the model mosques and Islamic cultural centres was screened at the function.
With State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan in the chair, secretary of the ministry Kazi Enamul Hassan delivered welcome address at the function.
Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah moderated the programme.
With State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan in the chair, secretary of the ministry Kazi Enamul Hassan delivered welcome address at the function.
Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah moderated the programme.
PM Hasina unveils 50 more model mosques across Bangladesh
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday inaugurated 50 more model mosques and Islamic cultural centres across the country in the fourth phase joining virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban.
With the new ones, she has so far inaugurated 200 mosques out of 564 being built at a cost of Taka 9,435 crore all over the country.
The construction of the remaining mosques and Islamic cultural centres is scheduled to be completed by June, 2024
Earlier, she opened 50 mosques each in the first phase on June 10, 2021, in the second phase on January 16 this year and the third phase on March 16.
The model mosques and Islamic cultural centres include separate places for ablution and namaj along with air-condition system.
Also Read: Mujibnagar Day: PM pays tribute to Bangabandhu
Besides, there will 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, boarding facility for local and foreign guests along with the mosques.
Being imbued with the spirit of Islam and following the footsteps of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the prime minister has come up with the idea of constructing 564 model mosques across the country.
The purpose of the project is to publicise Islamic brotherhood and its values as well as disseminate the essence of Islam against extremism and militancy as the religion never supports those.
Also Read: Protect overseas job seekers from frauds, middlemen: PM Hasina
It would also put concentration on creating awareness against terrorism and violence against women along with disseminating development activities of the government.
Under category A, some 69 four-storey mosques having the elevator facility and a floor space of 2,360.09 square metres each are being constructed in 64 districts and city corporation areas.
Under category B, 475 mosques are being built with a floor space of 1680.14 square metres each, while 16 mosques under C category in coastal areas will have a floor space of 2,052.12 square metres each.
Tungipara Upazila in Gopalganj district and Bishwanath Upazila of Sylhet district were also connected to the programme where the local lawmakers, public representatives, political parties' leaders, government officers, alem-ulama and common people were present.
Also Read: US Congress introduces resolution commending Bangladesh, its socioeconomic progress
A video-documentary on the model mosques and Islamic cultural centres was screened at the function.
With State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan in the chair, secretary of the ministry Kazi Enamul Hassan delivered welcome address at the function.
Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah moderated the programme.
Investigate if BNP-Jamaat are behind recent fire incidents to cripple economy: PM Hasina asks authorities
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday asked the authorities concerned to investigate whether opposition BNP and Jamaat, who had unleashed a campaign of terror and arson attacks during 2013-14, are involved in the recent fire incidents in the country.
“It should be investigated whether they (BNP-Jamaat) are taking a different path by causing incidents like fire and cripple the economy,” she said.
The prime minister said this while speaking at the Awami League Local Government Nomination Board meeting held at her official residence Ganabhaban.
Her call came even as another massive fire broke out in Dhaka's New Super Market gutting scores of shops early Saturday.
Also read: Intelligence agencies urged to probe if sabotage is behind frequent fire incidents: Fire Service DG
Hasina, also the president of Awami League, asked to investigate whether the fire incidents in various markets were conspiracy or sabotage to hurt the economy.
She asked to increase surveillance in important markets across the country.
“Everyone should be more aware. Everyone has to make arrangements on their own initiative to guard (their establishments). All efforts by the government will continue,” she said.
She also said that unwanted crowds must not be allowed to gather during the fire fighters' battle to control the blaze and strict action will be taken in case of any obstruction regarding this matter.
The PM said that when the first fire incident occurred it was thought to be an accident.
“But after the couple of other fire incidents at the same time of the first one… the fire incidents are taking place after 6am. Surveillance should be increased and other markets have to remain alert,” she said.
She also mentioned that it has been noticed that when the fire service comes they face obstacles by some people.
“Why will they face obstacles and while they tried to douse the fire some people with sticks and blunt instruments attacked the fire fighters. Who are these people?, " she wondered.
She said that a careful study of the four recent fire incidents at shopping malls in the city suggests these have been either planned or manipulated.
“We know that some political parties are there to wage movement after Eid, cripple the economy and oust the government. Yes, you can oust the government, but what are the faults of these common people and businessmen,” she asked.
She said that businesspeople have been the worst sufferers as fire incidents hit them at a time when they looked for brisk business.
“This will not be spared easily, and we have increased our surveillance in this matter,” she said.
She also urged the people to remain alert.
Recalling the arson terrorism by the BNP-Jamaat clique in the recent past, she suspected that they might resort to another path aimed at hurting the economy.
"It should be properly investigated," she asserted.
“In the past they burnt the common people and now wonder whether they have taken a different path to cripple the economy. We have to unearth this mystery,” she said.
She requested all to remain alert regarding BNP-Jamaat’s change of strategy of taking to arson terrorism in another form.
“We have to keep this under watch,” she added.
Prothom Alo is enemy of AL, democracy and people: PM Hasina tells parliament
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday came down heavily on the Prothom Alo saying that the Bengali language daily is the enemy of her ruling Awami League party, democracy and the people of the country.
“The name of the paper is Prothom Alo (first light), but it lives in darkness. Prothom Alo is the enemy of Awami League, democracy and the people of the country,” she told the parliament.
The premier made the remarks, joining the discussion on a motion placed by her in the House, marking the 50 years (Golden Jubilee) of the Bangladesh National Parliament. This was also her valedictory speech in the 22nd session of the current parliament.
She said the newspaper asked a 7-year old child to tell a lie, handing him Tk 10. They recorded his remark –-‘We want freedom of rice, fish and meat’--- and published it.
“I am very sorry to say that they never want the stability to remain in this country,” she said.
Hasina said the newspaper was very glad in 2007 when the emergency was declared and two newspapers got engaged wholeheartedly.
In an obvious reference to Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus, she said, “A loan shark was with them (the newspapers). He is very a favourite person of the USA.”
The PM said the USA never raised the question how this person, who was the managing director of Grameen Bank, a statutory firm, got millions of dollars.
“He (Dr Yunus) runs social business in a place like the USA and makes investments at home and abroad. Did they (the USA) ever want to know from where the MD, who used to draw salary from the government, got millions of dollars? They didn’t” she said.
“Now we have to hear words (lesson) from them about corruption and the fight against corruption. And about human rights,” she said.
These people (Dr Yunus and others) tried to destroy democracy in this country and played ducks and drakes with the fate of the people.
The PM criticised the USA saying that the country talks against corruption, but they’ve been advocating for convicted persons in graft charges.
“They want to bring such a government here, scraping democracy, which would have no democratic existence –-- (that means) undemocratic trend,” she said, adding that “some local (so-called) intellectuals who live on selling their intellects obey them.”
She said the USA has been sheltering Bangabandhu’s convicted killer Rashed Chowdhury ignoring requests from Bangladesh on many occasions for deporting him.
Talking about the Article 70 of the Constitution that prevents floor crossing by an MP, the prime minister said this has created the scope for a government to complete its tenure in the country.
“Many people raise objections to Article 70. Those who raise this objection probably lack experience. But this article 70 has helped stability of the government in our country. As a result, the country has been able to witness development,” she said.
She said the Jukta Front government of 1954 did not survive due to floor crossing by elected representatives. Earlier the same game was played in 1946.
The PM said she believes and the people of the country also believe that the AL government has been able to change the fate of the people as it has been in power for 14 years in a row.
“Now the difference between villages and cities has reduced…..We are providing civic amenities to every village,” she said.
The premier raised a comparative scenario regarding the socio-economic development in many indicators between 2006 (at the fag-end of BNP-Jamaat regime) and 2022.
She said the per capita income rose to US$ 2,824 in 2022 from only US$ 543 in 2006, while the size of GDP to Tk 4600,000 crore from Tk 415,072 crore, the size of budget to Tk 678,064 crore from Tk 61,000 crore, the size of annual development programme to Tk 227,566 crore from Tk 21,500 crore, the reserve of foreign currencies to US$ 32.63 billion from US$ 0.74 billion, the export income to US$ 52.97 billion from US$ 10.05 billion, the remittance inflow to US$ 21.03 billion from US$ 4.8 billion, the allocation against the social safety sector to Tk 113,576 crore from Tk 2,505 crore, the life expectancy to 73 years from 59 years, the access to drinking water to 98.7 percent from 55 percent, the electricity generation to 25,227 megawatt from 3,882 megawatt, the beneficiary of electricity in the country to 100 percent from 28 percent, the literacy rate to 75.6 percent from 45 percent.
The PM said the economic growth was 5.40 percent in 2006 which rose to 7.50 percent in 2022, the inflation was at 10 percent in 2006 which came down to 5.5 percent in 2019 and 8.57 percent in 2022
She said the poverty rate declined to 20.5 percent in 2022 from 41.51 percent in 2006, the extreme poverty rate to 10 percent from 25.1 percent, the child mortality rate per thousand births to 21 persons from 84, the mother mortality rate per 100 thousand births to 161 from 370.
PM Hasina also highlighted the massive development of Bangladesh in the digital arena.
Govt to assist Bangabazar businesses to recover from fire damages: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday (April 05, 2023) said the government will assist the Bangabazar businesspeople as much as possible after estimating the damages caused by Tuesday’s fire.
“I’ve already assured that we will help them as much as we can. We’ll assess who incurred how much loss,” she said addressing an event at her official residence Ganabhaban.
The event was arranged to receive Tk 316.91 crore as first and second installments of the loan provided by the government for construction of Padma Bridge.
Road Transport and Bridge Minister Obaidul Quader handed over a cheque of Tk 316,90,97,049 to the Prime Minister as the first and second installments of the loan taken from Bangladesh Bank at a low interest rate under an agreement signed between the Finance Division and the Bangladesh Bridge Authority.
Read More: Repayment of Padma Bridge loan starts with Tk 316.91 crore given to govt
Terming the fire as a very tragic incident, Hasina said it is too much to bear the suffering and crying of so many businesspeople ahead of the Eid-ul Fitr.
She said the government undertook a project to construct a planned market there following the fire incidents in 1995 and 2018. But a good number of people obstructed it and filed a writ petition and then the High Court stayed the project.
“Hadn’t it (the project) been stayed at that time, we could have built a good market and then such a terrible accident would not have happened,” she said.
The premier, however, lambasted a number of unruly people who attacked nearby the headquarters of the fire service. Their behavior has angered her, she said.
Read More: Bangabazar blaze: DSCC forms probe committee
The firefighters rushed to the spot soon after fire broke out to extinguish the blaze.
The PM said she asked to identify the attackers and take proper action against them. “Proper action will be taken against them. Case will be filed against them,” she said.
She said if anyone attacks the members or vehicles of the fire service or other public property in future, they won’t be spared.
PM Hasina hails Bangladesh’s progress in medical science
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said that doctors in Bangladesh are now capable of performing critical operations, including kidney transplant as the country has advanced in healthcare.
"Bangladesh has made a huge progress in medical treatment. Doctors are now capable of carrying out many critical operations, including kidney transplant," she said.
The prime minister said this when a delegation of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) led by its vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Sharafuddin Ahmed paid a courtesy call on her at the latter's official residence Ganabhaban.
PM's Deputy Press Secretary KM Shakhawat Moon briefed reporters after the meeting.
Hasina said her government has reached healthcare services to every doorstep following the footsteps of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
She said her government has given topmost priority in extending healthcare services to the people.
Also read: PM on forex reserves: Better to spend on people's welfare than keep it idle
The physicians who have recently performed the first successful transplantation of organs from brain-dead patient Sara Islam were present at the meeting along with Sara’s mother. Also present were Shamima Akhter and Shabnam Sultana, who successfully received the kidneys donated by Sara.
The successful kidney transplantation was done on January 19 by a team of physicians led by Prof Dr Habibur Rahman Dulal at BSMMU hospital.
It was the first cadaveric kidney transplant performed in the country.
They took the kidneys from Sara Islam, a 20-year-old patient at the intensive care unit who was declared clinically dead in the afternoon of January 18, after her mother gave her consent for the operation.
Kidney transplantation from living donors began in the country in 1982. But taking a kidney from a clinically dead patient was legally restricted until it was amended in 2018 allowing collection of organs from the clinically dead with consent from relatives.
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Nur-E-Alam’s contribution to establishing independent Bangladesh will be remembered: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today expressed deep shock at the death of Nur-E-Alam Siddiqui, one of the organizers of the Liberation War, former president of Chhatra League and also former lawmaker from Jhenaidah-2 constituency.
In a condolence message, she said Nur-E-Alam Siddiqui, one of the leaders of the All-Party Chhatra Sangram Parishad, remained steadfast to the ideals of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and played an important role in the anti-Ayub movement, the six-point movement and the 1970 election.
Also read: Former MP Nur E Alam Siddique passes away
The premier said he had served as an organizer of the Liberation War. “The contribution of this brave son of the nation in the establishment of independent Bangladesh will be remembered with reverence forever by the next generations,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and expressed profound sympathy to the bereaved family members.
Nur-E-Alam Siddiqui, 82, passed away early today while undergoing treatment at United Hospital in the city.