PM Hasina
Govt won't let BNP-Jamaat to carry out destructive activities again: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday (July 20, 2023) said the government has no intention to obstruct the political programmes of BNP-Jamaat, but won’t spare them if they repeat any destructive activity.
“We will not obstruct them in doing politics and are not doing so as well. But they won’t get spared if they set fire to rails again or make any damage to the people,” she said, referring to the violence unleashed by the BNP-Jamaat during the 2013-2015 period.
The premier made the warning while opening train movement on the newly constructed 72-km dual-gauge double rail line, which was built under the Akhaura-Laksam Double Track Project.
Also read: Efforts on to bring home money laundered by BNP leaders: PM Hasina
She joined the inaugural function at Laksam in Cumilla through a virtual platform from her official residence Ganabhaban.
With the newly constructed 72-km dual-gauge double track, the entire 321-km Dhaka-Chattogram corridor has turned into a double lined one increasing its operational capacity, which will save travelling time by 30 minutes to one hour on this route.
Hasina said there will be cameras everywhere and the culprits will be identified and punished properly in case of any destructive activity.
Also read: Staying away from corruption can make possible the impossible: PM Hasina tells govt officials
Terming BNP and Jamaat the terrorist parties, Hasina said they know how to destroy but they don’t know how to create anything or serve the people.
“They know how to plunder, commit corruption and make self-gains,” she said.
The prime minister asked the people of the country to remain alert so that they can stay protected from the hands of terrorist BNP-Jamaat.
“We want the country to be protected from their hands,” she said.
Also read: Need to transform education system to build Smart Bangladesh: PM Hasina tells educators
The PM said that BNP-Jamaat set fire to railways in 29 places during their arson violence unleashed to thwart the 2014 general election.
She said many train operations were suspended during the BNP-Jamaat regime, but the AL government took massive steps to improve the sector considering that train journeys are comfortable and cheap for the common people.
PM Hasina said her government formed a separate ministry for railways in order to increase allocation to the sector.
“In the last 14 and a half years, we constructed 740 km new rail lines, converted 280 km meter-gauge rail tracks into dual-gauge ones, and reinstalled or reconstructed 1,308 km rail lines reinstalled,” she said.
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Besides, the AL government constructed 126 new station buildings, reconstructed 223 stations buildings, constructed 732 new railway bridges, reinstalled or reconstructed 774 railway bridges in the time, she added.
The PM said her government collected 111 locomotives, 588 passenger carriages and 516 wagons (for carrying goods) since 2009. “We’ve commissioned 143 new trains on different routes,” she said.
She said the government is implementing several mega projects in order to enhance the regional and local railway communication and networks.
Also read: Reach sewage treatment facilities outside Dhaka too: PM Hasina directs authorities
“We’ve taken initiative to collect 46 new broad-gauge locomotives, 460 new broad-gauge passenger carriages, 150 new meter-gauge passenger carriages, 125 new modern luggage vans, 1,310 new wagons,” said the premier.
Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan chaired the event from Laksam end, while LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Tazul Islam (local MP from Laksam-Monohorgonj) and Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq (local MP from Akhaura-Kashba) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) country director for Bangladesh Edimon Ginting spoke on the occasion.
PMO Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin conducted the function and Railways Secretary Humayun Kabir delivered the welcome speech.
Also read: PM Hasina inaugurates South Asia's largest STP in Dhaka's Dasherkandi
Efforts on to bring home money laundered by BNP leaders: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday (July 19, 2023) said the government is trying to bring back the money siphoned off by BNP leaders to different countries.
“The money of many BNP leaders remains frozen (in foreign banks). We’ve been trying to bring these back gradually,” she said.
Hasina, also president of Bangladesh Awami League (AL), was addressing a meeting of the AL-led 14-party alliance held at her official residence Ganabhaban in the evening.
Also read: Denmark keen to invest in offshore wind energy in Bangladesh: Envoy
Criticising the family of BNP leader Khaleda Zia for ‘their corruption’, she said the World Bank stopped financing during the BNP regime due to corruption in the road sector.
The PM said the corruption committed by Khaleda Zia’s two sons Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko got revealed even before the foreigners and an FBI agent testified against Tarique in a money laundering case.
She said the government was able to return Tk 40 crore from the amount of money they (Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko) laundered to foreign countries. “But the problem is that bringing back the money from the countries where they deposited is a difficult matter. The countries don’t want to release the money,” she added.
Also read: Need to transform education system to build Smart Bangladesh: PM Hasina tells educators
Focusing on her government’s success, the prime minister said Bangladesh has significantly advanced in every sector since 2009 during the regime of her government.
“We can at least claim that Bangladesh has changed a lot in the last 14 and a half years. You can definitely realize it as well,” she said.
Hasina said her government has successfully brought the poverty rate down to 18.6 percent now from 41 percent in 2006, while the extreme poverty rate to 5.7 percent from 25.1 percent.
She said the government has been able to boost the production of foods including crops, fish, meat and vegetable, as well as provided free semi-pucca houses to 600,000 landless families and reached electricity facility to every house by raising power generation capacity significantly.
Also read: Govt is always with you: PM Hasina tells businesspeople
“We’ve achieved the electricity generation capacity to 25,000 megawatts within the 14 and a half years,” she said.
The PM said there is no shortage of rice and other crops in Bangladesh.
Noting that the government is setting up 100 special economic zones to generate employment, the PM said the unemployment rate came down to only 3 percent in the country.
Also read: US visa policy to supplement govt commitment to hold free election: Uzra Zeya tells PM
She said the government continues its steps to create entrepreneurs by providing different stimulus packages and training to the youth to bring down the unemployment rate further.
“We’ve taken and implemented massive works not only for the infrastructural development of Bangladesh but also for its socio-economic upliftment,” she said.
PM Hasina said Bangladesh today is considered as a role model for development throughout the world.
Also read: Staying away from corruption can make possible the impossible: PM Hasina tells govt officials
Denmark keen to invest in offshore wind energy in Bangladesh: Envoy
Denmark wants to invest US$1.3 billion for the generation of offshore wind energy in Bangladesh, the country's outgoing ambassador Winnie Estrup Petersen said on Wednesday (July 19, 2023).
The ambassador made the offer while paying a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina this morning at latter’s office here in the city.
PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.
Danish JV submits proposal to set up 500 MW offshore wind power plant in Bangladesh
The prime minister said Bangladesh needs assistances from the friendly countries for its development. In this regard, she mentioned that Bangladesh is setting up 100 special economic zones across the country where both foreign and domestic investments are required.
Both the premier and the envoy appreciated the 50 years of development partnership between Bangladesh and Denmark, said the press secretary.
Denmark committed to support Bangladesh’s aspirations for climate-oriented economic growth: Danish Minister
During the meeting, the Danish ambassador lauded the leadership of PM Hasina in socioeconomic development of Bangladesh.
Hasina told the envoy that her government has substantially reduced the poverty level in the country.
Referring to the development of women, she said that they have put emphasis on the development of women sports.
Regarding the development of democracy in the country, the PM said “We’ve a history of long struggle for democracy in the country.”
The Danish envoy said that her country is the sixth largest exporter in the ICT sector globally. In this connection, Sheikh Hasina said that ICI sector of Bangladesh is also growing first.
Danish ambassador, IFAD country director visit tulip gardens in PanchagarhAmbassador Petersen said that the two countries can extend cooperation in several fields including human development. “We’ve achieved many things through cooperation,” she added.
The ambassador said that she has spent a good time in Bangladesh living with good friends.
The envoy presented books to the premier marking the 50-year development partnership between the two countries.
PMO Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin was present.
Kalabati saree made from banana plant fibre gifted to PM Hasina
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday (July 17, 2023) received Kalabati sarees and handicrafts made from banana plant fibre.
Bandarban Deputy Commissioner Yasmin Parveen Tibriji handed over three such sarees and two jewellery boxes to the PM at the cabinet room of the Prime Minister's office, according to the PM’s press wing.
The Manipuri design Kalabati sarees, first ever in Bangladesh, have been created by weaver Radhavati Devi of Moulvibazar using the fibre of banana plant.
Read more: Gani’s handicraft on pavement goes on despite pandemic disruptions
Reach sewage treatment facilities outside Dhaka too: PM Hasina directs authorities
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday (July 13, 2023) asked the authorities concerned to introduce water purification and sewage system in all divisional cities, districts, upazilas and union level in phases.
“For this you have to formulate a master plan. And preparing the same model, if we can select the places and start the construction work… we will be able to do that,” she said.
The prime minister said this while formally launching the operation of the Dasherkandi Sewage Treatment Plant, first of its kind in the country, at a function at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.
At the same function, she also laid theh foundation stone of the reconstruction and expansion of the Pagla Sewage Treatment Plant in support with the World Bank (WB) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), having capacity of treating 200 million metric tons of sewage.
PM Hasina inaugurates South Asia's largest STP in Dhaka's Dasherkandi
Hasina said that the government has already announced the My Village, My City where no village will be lag behind, every village will get urban like facilities.
She mentioned that already 98 percent people of the country have came under sanitation.
“We have already started to provide drinking water, and to make that initiative sustainable we have to implement it through a well planned planning,” she said.
She asked the authorities to take quick steps in this regard.
Hasina also asked the people to maintain austerity in using water and electricity.
We are strengthening armed forces to protect independence, not for war: PM Hasina
"Don't use water and electricity unnecessarily, please exercise austrity in using those. You will also be benefitted from it, as the bill of those will be fewer," she said.
The prime minister said that Dhaka Wasa is a service oriented commercial entity.
“For enhancing civic services and implementing development programmes and building skilled management, I am asking Dhaka Wasa to be more active,” she said.
Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam, Local Government Division Secretary Muhammad Ibrahim, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen and Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) Managing Director (MD) Taqsem A Khan spoke at the function.
Now is the time to act together globally to achieve UN SDGs: PM Hasina
US visa policy to supplement govt commitment to hold free election: Uzra Zeya tells PM
Visiting US Department of State's Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights Uzra Zeya on Thursday said her country announced the new visa policy to supplement Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s commitment to hold free, fair and neutral election.
She made the statement while calling on the prime minister at her official residence Ganabhaban, PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim told reporters in a briefing.
“We do not have any bias towards any party, we want a neutral, free and fair election,” Zeya was quoted as telling the PM.
PM Hasina said that it is her commitment to hold free and fair election in the country.
Also read: US seeks worldwide partners' assistance for Rohingyas: Uzra Zeya
“We always fought for free and fair election in the country, we already have held free and fair election,” she said.
She mentioned that Awami League always fought for the rights of the people.
“We always fight for people’s right to choose their representatives,” she said.
She also mentioned that it was BNP who started vote rigging in the country. In this connection, she said that transparent ballot boxes have been introduced for polls.
Hasina recalled the atrocities, terrorism activities and arson attacks of BNP and their allies during 2013-15 that left 500 people killed.
Also read: Uzra Zeya reiterates US' hope for "peaceful, fair" elections process in Bangladesh
She also mentioned about the grenade attack on her rally in Dhaka on August 21 in 2004 that left 24 people killed and over 500 injured. She said she was saved by Awami League leaders and activists who formed a human shield after the attack during BNP-Jamaat rule.
Zeya told the PM that she visited Rohingya camps and talked to the displaced people from Myanmar.
She put emphasis on strengthening coordinated international efforts to ensure reparation of the Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar.
She mentioned that US will provide some USD 74 million for the operational cost in Rohingya camps.
Also read: Legal framework enough to hold free, fair elections: Law secretary to EU mission
She highly appreciated Sheikh Hasina for hosting such a huge number of Rohingyas in Bangladesh.
PM Hasina said that Bangladesh currently is hosting more than one million Ronhigays in two different areas of the country.
She also said that human trafficking and anti-social activities are going on in these camps which are very much alarming for the country’s security.
The under secretary said that her country will cooperate with Bangladesh for its financial and economic development.
She said that the US will help and work together with Bangladesh in labour reforms initiative.
In his connection, Hasina said that she personally pushed the owners of industries to enhance the wages and other facilities for the workers various times.
Prime Minister’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, PMO Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin, Bangladesh Ambassador to United States Mohammad Imran, US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu and US Ambassador Peter Haas were present.
Also read: US Under Secretary Uzra Zeya, Donald Lu visit Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar
PM Hasina inaugurates South Asia's largest STP in Dhaka's Dasherkandi
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday (July 13, 2023) inaugurated the operation of South Asia's largest single sewage treatment plant in Dasherkandi near Dhaka's Aftabnagar.
The Dasherkandi Sewage Treatment Plant is the country's first modern STP and sludge drying-incinerator with capacity to treat 500 million litres sewage.
The inaugural ceremony was held at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC).
The plant will play an enormous role in preventing environment pollution and improving the water quality of Rampura canal, Balu River, Shitalakshya River and other water bodies, the authorities said.
We are strengthening armed forces to protect independence, not for war: PM Hasina
Constructed on the East of Aftabnagar area, the plant is being hailed as a milestone in the country’s sewage treatment.
In the plant, some 45 metric tons of fly ash will be generated from sewage sludge a day, which can be used as raw materials in cement factories.
The Dasherkandi STP will treat sewage coming from a number of the city’s areas, including Tejgaon, Niketan, Badda, Banani, Gulshan (part), Banani, Ramna, Eskaton, Nayatola, Magbazar, Wireless, Mouchak, Outer Circular Road, Mohanagar Housing, Hatirjheel, Kalabagan and Dhanmondi (part).
The Dasherkandi plant will be able to treat 20-25 percent of the 2,000 million litre sewage generated in Dhaka city daily.
Now is the time to act together globally to achieve UN SDGs: PM Hasina
The plant has been built as part of a master plan taken up by WASA to construct five STPs to treat 100 percent of the sewage generated in Dhaka, in a modern and environment-friendly way, Dhaka WASA Managing Director Taqsem A Khan told reporters on Tuesday.
He mentioned that the plant is modern and environment-friendly one. The quality of water treated in the plant is good enough.
The four other modern sewage treatment plants will be constructed in Pagla, Rayerbazar, Uttara and Mirpur aiming to gain the capacity to treat 100 percent sewage of Dhaka city by 2030.
Also on Thursday, the prime minister laid the foundation stone of Pagla sewage treatment plant by renovating the existing one.
Govt planning to upgrade DMCH so that 4,000 patients can be treated at a time: PM
When the Pagla sewage treatment plant is completed, some 40 percent of sewages generated in Dhaka can be treated.
The Dasherkandi STP was implemented on 62 acres of land at the cost of Tk 3,482 crore. Of the cost, Tk 1,106.42 crore came from the government’s fund, while Tk 10 crore from Dhaka WASA, and Tk 2,366 crore from EXIM Bank of China.
The work of the China-funded project started on July 01, 2018. The operation and management of the plant will be run by its contractor, HydroChina Corporation, for one year.
According to the project outline, a waste lifting station on the west side of Rampura Bridge, a five-kilometre trunk sewer line from Rampura to Aftabnagar and Dasherkandi plant and the main treatment plant at Dasherkandi have been constructed.
Bhatara’s sorrow: Living a year amid stagnant sewage and garbage
Govt planning to upgrade DMCH so that 4,000 patients can be treated at a time: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the government has undertaken a new plan to modernize Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) so that 4,000 patients can be treated at a time there.
"We have already prepared a new plan to develop the hospital into a larger, more beautiful, and more modern establishment. We have prepared the plan so that 4,000 patients can receive treatment there at a time," she said.
The PM said this while addressing the celebration ceremony of the 78th Dhaka Medical College Day through a virtual platform from her office in Dhaka.
Criticise for country's welfare, not to damage it: PM Hasina tells journalists
The Dhaka Medical College Alumni Trust arranged the function at the Shaheed Dr Shamsul Alam Khan Auditorium of the college.
Sheikh Hasina put emphasis on the immediate implementation of the new plan. "If this plan for the hospital can be started soon, it will set an example in healthcare services," she said.
The PM asked the physicians and medical experts to pay extensive attention to medical science research, as the number of such studies is still low in Bangladesh.
"Only a handful of people conduct research here. But research is indispensable in this age. You should pay more attention to research," she said.
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The Prime Minister said her government will create all sorts of opportunities for medical research. "We'll provide funds as required," she added.
She lauded the doctors of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital for putting the highest effort into providing treatment.
"Patients are getting the best treatment at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital," she said.
She added that her government has been working to provide healthcare services to every person across the country.
The PM, however, expressed her dismay as no surgery is conducted in several district hospitals due to a lack of anesthesiologists, and many modern medical equipments remain unused there.
Democracy must continue to sustain country's dev momentum: PM Hasina
She asked the physicians to perform their duties properly at the hospitals, particularly in rural areas, by remaining at their workstations.
"Everyone (physician) wants to stay in Dhaka, and no one wants to go out of the city. Discharge your duties properly," she said.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, and President of Bangladesh Medical Association Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, among others, were present at the function presided over by DMC Alumni Trust Chairman Dr Julfiker Rahman Khan.
Criticise for country's welfare, not to damage it: PM Hasina tells journalists
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday (July 10, 2023) asked the media to do constructive criticism for the welfare of the country, not for damaging it.
"The criticism should be for the welfare of the country and not for damaging it," she said while addressing a function at her office here in the city.
In the function, the premier distributed cheques of financial assistance to the families of dead, sick, insolvent and injured journalists.
This year some Tk 3.46 crore were given against 438 journalists as financial assistance from Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust (BJWT) Fund.
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Hasina said the Awami League government has ensured freedom of media in the last 14 years. "None had ever enjoyed so much freedom in the past," she said.
The PM asked the media to do criticism as much as required to correct the government but not to hamper the ongoing progress of the country.
"We don't want that the progress of Bangladesh ti be hampered," she said.
She said the media will have to have the sense of responsibility and dutifulness towards the country and the nation while they enjoy freedom.
The BJWT fund was formed in 2014 with the seed money of Tk 25 crore provided by the prime minister on two occasions.
Read more: Assault on on-duty journalists an unpardonable crime: GM Quader
So far some Tk 40 crore was distributed among 13,510 journalists from the fund.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud presided over the function, while Information Secretary Humayun Kabir Khandaker spoke on the occasion.
The Prime Minister said her government allowed private sector to run television channels when she came to power in 1996 and then gave licenses of many television channels to generate employment.
She said her government is going to bring the private television channels under a wage board.
She called upon the media owners to donate money to the Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust.
Sheikh Hasina said her government can take arrangements so that the journalists can buy lands or flats making payment in installments.
She said they have taken housing projects to bring landless people under the scheme free of costs following the footsteps of the Father of the Nation.
Taking a swipe at critics of quick rental power plants, she said how could Bangladesh witness so much development unless Tk 90,000 crore was not given to the quick rental power plants.
The BJWT fund was formed in 2014 with the seed money of Tk 25 crore provided by the prime minister on two occasions.
So far some Tk 40 crore was distributed among 13,510 journalists from the fund.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud presided over the function, while Information Secretary Humayun Kabir Khandaker spoke on the occasion.
PM to visit Rome later this month to attend UN Food Systems Summit; bilateral deals on energy, migration likely
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to visit Rome, Italy later this month to discuss bilateral issues and attend the UN Food Systems Summit.
The 2023 UN Food Systems Stocktaking Moment will be held in Rome, Italy on July 24-26 at the premises of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
It will be hosted by Italy in collaboration with the Rome-based UN Agencies (FAO, IFAD, WFP), the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, and the wider UN system.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to be in Rome from July 23, said a diplomatic source.
Also read: PM Hasina to visit Japan on April 25-28
She is likely to have a bilateral meeting with her Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni during the visit.
PM Hasina will speak at the Food System Summit in Rome while her Italy visit is likely to see the signing of half a dozen bilateral documents in the areas of energy, migration, ICT and cyber security.
Bangladesh and Italy have been discussing a possible memorandum of understanding (MoU ) on mobility and migration — to encourage regular migration and prevent irregular ones.
“We want to go further in our cooperation on migration issues. In particular, creating and enlarging the existing legal channels or legal pathways for migration while stemming the irregular one,”
Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh Enrico Nunziata told UNB in an interview recently.
Also read: PM leaves Geneva for home ending 3-day visit
The envoy said the two countries have to deepen cooperation for preventing irregular migration, trafficking and so on.
Ambassador Nunziata recalled one of the deliverables during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to Italy in 2020 — reinsertion of Bangladesh in the list of countries whose nationals can benefit from a quota for work.
Talking about collaboration in the defence sector, he said there is possibility of collaboration and transfer of know-how as well on a win-win basis. “So this is another important sector.”
The ambassador said a memorandum of understanding in the cultural sphere for programmes of cultural exchanges is also in the pipeline.
Also read: PM to brief media on the outcome of her Switzerland visit on Wednesday
The Italian ambassador also said they want to collaborate in the shipbuilding industry for the Navy or Coast Guard by sharing know-how and technologies with Bangladesh. “I mean that level of know-how that Bangladesh has not reached in shipbuilding yet. Together we can do more on that in shipbuilding as well as in other sectors.”
The 2023 UN Food Systems Stocktaking Moment will build on the momentum of the 2021 Food Systems Summit and will create a conducive space for countries to review commitments to action that were made during the Summit, share stories of success and early signs of transformation, maintain the momentum for bold acceleration and bold action to further the resilience of food systems, advocate for their adaptation to climate change, ensure they contribute to communities’ resilience to further shocks and crises, and boost the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Read more: PM Hasina leaves for Geneva to attend World of Work Summit