PMO
PMO Senior Secretary Tofazzel new Athletics Federation president
Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Senior Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah has been appointed as the new president of the Bangladesh Athletics Federation (BAF).
The Youth and Sports Ministry issued a government gazette notification in this regard signed by Deputy Secretary of the ministry (Additional Charge) Md Fazle Elahi Wednesday.
Tofazzel earlier served at the PMO in different capacities – secretary, director general, and private secretary to the prime minister.
He started his career in Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) in 1991.
Read: Bangladesh Athletics Federation president Ali Kabir passes away
‘No Hawa Bhaban and development wing at PMO to share your profits with’
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina tells businessmen that they should understand the root cause of the ongoing global crisis
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday asked businessmen to place Bangladesh and countrymen before profits.
“There’s no Hawa Bhaban and development wing at PMO to share your profits with,” she said.
The PM made the remarks at a meeting with importers and exporters of consumer goods.
She said that in the last 14 years, during the Awami League rule, businessmen of the country ran their businesses and made profits without hindrance.
She said that at present, businessmen of the country are free from the “pain of Hawa Bhaban and development wing of the PMO.”
“You are not suffering that now. You have to admit that,” she said.
Hasina observed that in the past, the lion share of profits went to Hawa Bhaban and PMO’s so-called development wing.
“…Keep that in mind, and consider the country and its people (first),” she said.
The PM also said that during the Covid-19 pandemic, the government provided stimulus packages to businessmen to run their business smoothly, even though they did not ask for that.
She said that a team was formed through her initiative, and it operated well in running the wheels of the economy.
She also recalled that during the pandemic, many factories and industries of developed countries shut down.
“We said that we will not allow our factories and industries to close down, we have to continue… I ensured workers’ wages, gave the stimulus packages,” she said.
The PM said that when the opposition is holding anti-government protests on the streets some businessmen have become anxious, but there are some others who have started looking for opportunities about how to make profits by opening Hawa Bhaban again.
“Don't know why, suddenly they (businessmen) have started singing a synchronised tune that there is lack of this or that, and this cannot be done or that cannot take place,” she said.
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She said that the government so far managed to keep inflation under control, mentioning that in England the rate of inflation has jumped to 40 percent.
She also said that the whole world is suffering from the crisis.
The PM said that the government is importing LNG with higher prices and providing it at a cheaper rate to the businessmen.
“The crisis is not originated in Bangladesh, it is an international crisis, we must keep that in our mind,” she said.
Hasina said that to procure soybean and sugar, a team led by the Commerce Secretary will go to Brazil to negotiate directly for the TCB (Trading Corporation of Bangladesh).
“They (Brazil) want to sell directly, and we have to procure those (sugar and soybean) directly, no other means they will allow, it is their system,” she said adding that this system has to be followed to procure items from there.
Meanwhile, as per the PM’s Press Wing press release the PM urged the consumer goods importers and exporters to supply essential items including edible oil and sugar at appropriate price to all citizens of the country.
Talking about the foreign currency reserves, she said that during the COVID-19 pandemic people could not travel overseas resulting in high deposit of foreign currency.
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She also said that expatriate Bangladeshis send all their money through banking channel.
“We did not have any expenditure, as a result the reserve reached $48 billion,” she said.
The Prime Minister said that when travels and other business activities resumed and imports started, naturally the expenditure increased.
“The import expenditures were made for capital machinery. Whenever those (machinery) will be used we will surely get our return…this is the reality,” she said.
Regarding food security, she said that the government is working round the clock to increase food production in the country.
The PM mentioned that after the Russia-Ukraine war began she warned of the famine like situation in the world.
“What I had told then, everyone is telling that now,” she said.
She also said that she repeatedly asked everyone to utilise their lands for produce something. “As per my directives, Army, BGB, police and other agencies started production,” she added.
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She said that she always talks about whatever she apprehends and there is nothing to hide.
“People voted us to take office, if they do not vote we will not be in power,” she said.
Talking about the electricity and load shedding situation, she said that European countries are suffering from energy crisis.
“England has increased electricity prices by up to 80 percent,” she said.
She also said that the United States, which never used their own oil reserves, started using for the first time.
“We all have to understand the root of the crisis,” she said.
PM’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, Principal Secretary Ahmad Kaikaus, PMO Senior Secretary Md. Tofazzel Hossain Miah, President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Md Jashim Uddin also attended the meeting.
Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque, Awami League Secretary of Commerce and Industries Md. Siddiqur Rahman, Director General (Additional Secretary) of Directorate of National Consumers' Right Protection Of Ministry of Commerce A.H.M. Shafiquzzaman
Basundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, T.K Group Managing Director Mohammad Mustafa Haider, City Sugar Industries Ltd. Adviser Amitava Chakraborty, City Edible Oil Ltd Director Biswajit Saha, S. Alam Group Senior General Manager Kazi Salahuddin Ahammad, Deshbandhu Group Managing Director Golam Rahman, Meghna Group Managing Director Mostafa Kamal and ACI Limited Managing Director Dr. Arif Dowla.
PMO counting on success of upcoming food security programs
The Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday gave the necessary directives to the field-level administration to make a success of two upcoming food security-related programs, including the open market sale (OMS) of rice.
The OMS of rice starts Thursday, September 1.
The directives were given via video conference held with PMO senior secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah in the chair, said PM’s Assistant Press Secretary Emrul Kayas.
Read: Bangladesh now holds highest-ever food stock: Minister
The meeting discussed the implementation of the food security programs, and coordination between the OMS and the program of the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).
The government will start the OMS of rice at Tk 15 per kg from September 1 (Thursday) for over 5 million (50 lakh 10 thousand 509) listed families through its dealers across the country. Each listed member will be able to purchase a maximum 30kg of rice at Tk 15 per kg.
Unlisted consumers can purchase a maximum of 5 kg rice at Tk 30 per kg from 2,363 centres throughout the country from September 1.
Similarly, 10 million TCB card holders will get the scope to buy 5 kg at Tk 30 per kg every 15 days from the dealers.
The senior secretary of the Commerce Ministry and the secretary to the Food Ministry were also present virtually at the meeting, said an official of the PMO.
Milad, doa mahfil at PMO marking the 47th martyrdom anniversary of Bangabandhu
A milad and doa mahfil was held at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Tuesday marking the 47th martyrdom anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the National Mourning Day.
A special munajat was offered seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of Bangabandhu and other martyrs of August 15, 1975 carnage and continued peace, progress and prosperity of the nation.
Prime Minister’s Economic Affairs Adviser Dr Mashiur Rahman and Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman spoke on the occasion highlighting the life and works of the Father of the Nation.
PM's Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus presided over the function.
Read:PM Hasina remembers Bangabandhu at Tungipara on National Mourning Day
Principal Coordinator of the SDG Affairs Zuena Aziz, PMO Senior Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah, Executive Chairman (Senior Secretary) of the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) Shaikh Yusuf Harun and Director General (DG) of the Special Security Force (SSF) Major General Md Majibur Rahman, among others, took part in the discussion.
PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim was present.
Officials and employees of the PMO also joined the milad and doa mahfil.
Military Secretary Major General Kabir Ahammad was also present.
Seven agencies sign performance agreements with PMO
The annual performance agreements (APAs) 2022-23 were signed between the prime minister's office and its attached seven agencies including Ashrayan-2 project on Thursday.
PMO senior secretary Tofazzel Hossain Miah and the heads of the agencies inked the agreements on behalf of their respective sides at the PMO.
In the APAs, the seven agencies made different commitments over their performances for the fiscal year of 2022-23.
Also read: Increase oxygen supply, Corona beds: PMO
Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Ahmad Kaikaus and Principal Coordinator for SDG Affairs at the PMO Zuena Aziz spoke at the signing event presided over by Tofazzel Hossain Miah.
The seven agencies are Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (BEZA), Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority (BEPZA), National Skills Development Authority (NSDA), Public Private Partnership (PPP) Authority, NGO Affairs Bureau and Ashrayan-2 Project.
The APA is a result-based working plan to reach the desired goal through increasing the efficiency and accountability of the public servant.
In the 2014-15 fiscal year, the Awami League government introduced the APA method in a bid to get better performance from all the ministries and divisions.
In the process, all the subordinate departments, agencies or offices also sign the APAs with their respective ministries, divisions or higher offices.
PM to hold a news conference on Wednesday: PMO
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hold a press conference at 11 am on Wednesday, her office said.According to a release from PMO Press Wing on Monday, the news conference will be held at her office (PMO).
But it did not mention the subject of press meet to be held a day after her visit to the flood-affected districts, including hardest-hit Sylhet and Sunamganj.
Read: Padma Bridge: China lauds PM Hasina’s leadership amid enormous difficulties
The premier is scheduled to visit the flood-ravaged areas on Tuesday.According to the PMO sources, the premier is likely to speak on the recent flood situation in the country and the June 25 inauguration of the Padma Bridge.
2nd doses to be administered under mass vaccination on 3 days in cities, 1 day outside cities: PMO
The government will administer the 2nd doses of Covid-19 vaccine on three days in all the cities and one day outside the cities under the mass inoculation campaign.
The second doses will be given on September 7-9 in the city areas and only on September 7 outside the city areas.
The decision came from a videoconference held with PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus in the chair to discuss the countrywide Covid-19 mass vaccination campaign ahead of the administration of the second doses.
Increase oxygen supply, Corona beds: PMO
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Thursday directed the authorities concerned to increase oxygen supply and corona beds in hospitals across the country to ensure the treatment of Covid-19 patients.
Read:4 Covid patients die in Pabna hospital amid oxygen crisis
The PMO also urged those who are showing Covid-19 symptoms to stay home and directed the local administration to make sure that the patients with corona symptoms are kept in isolation.
The directives came from an urgent meeting held virtually with divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners to work out measures to protect the public health and ensure coordination in the ongoing government activities to check the transmission of coronavirus in the country.
Read: Quader sees no oxygen crisis
The PMO issued the directives at a time when Bangladesh is struggling with a catastrophic second wave of the Coronavirus leaving hospitals across the country overwhelmed with Covid-19 patients.
PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus joined the meeting from the PMO end and presided over it.
Read:Oxygen crisis: Probe committee gets more time to investigate deaths at Satkhira hospital
Senior Secretary of Health Services Division Lokman Hossain Miah and PMO Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah, among others, attended the meeting.
PMO inks performance agreement with 6 agencies, 1 project
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Wednesday signed Annual Performance Agreements (APAs) of 2021-22 fiscal year with its six agencies and Ashrayan-2 Project.
PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus signed the agreements at a ceremony held at Karobi Hall in the PMO.
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PMO Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah on behalf of the PMO and the chief executives of the six agencies and Project Director of Ashrayan-2 on behalf of their respective sides inked the annual performance agreements.
The six agencies are Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA), Public Private Partnership Authority (PPPA), National Skills Development Authority (NSDA) and NGO Affairs Bureau.
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Principal Coordinator (SDG Affairs) Zuena Aziz, BIDA executive chairman Md Sirazul Islam, BEZA executive chairman Paban chowdhury, CEO of PPPA Sultana Afroz, BEPZA executive chairman Major General Md Nazrul Islam, NSDA executive chairman Dulal Krishna Saha, NGO Affairs Bureau’s Director General KM Tariqul Islam and Project Director of Ashrayan-2 Md Mahbub Hossain were present.
HC issues rule on bail for staff arrested over PMO doc forgery
The High Court on Tuesday issued a rule seeking explanation on why Fatema Khatun, a staffer suspended over a case of document forgery in the Prime Minister’s Office, should not get bail.
The bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Sardar Md Rashed Jahangir issued the rule during a hearing on the defendant’s bail petition.
Advocate Momatajuddin Ahmed represented the defendant during the hearing.
Defendant’s advocate prayed for bail mentioning Fatema Khatun’s health condition worsening after staying a year in jail.
The High Court disagreed to grant bail to Fatema for bringing disrepute to PMO’s image and rather agreed to issue a rule.
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On May 5, 2020, PM office director-7 Md. Rafiqul Alam filed a case against three individuals.
Later police submitted charge sheet of the case accusing six people including Fatema Khatun and Chhatra League central committee leader Tariqul Islam.
Others accused in the case are Nazim Uddin, Rubel, Farhad Hossain, a student of North South University, and former treasurer of Bangladesh University of Professionals , retired air commodore M Abdus Salam Azad.
The accused were working to have Abdus Salam Azad appointed to the post of treasurer of North South University.
According to the charge sheet, the names of the chairman of history department of NSU Professor M Enamul Haque, Professor of architecture department of BUET Md Abdur Rauf, and M Abdus Salam Azad were put forward in an Education Ministry document, from which one was to be chosen for the post of NSU treasurer by the PM.
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Working as the office assistant at PMO, Fatema got the document in hand after the PM made her choice and disclosed the confidential information that Abdus Salam had not been chosen to BCL leader Tariqul.
On March 1, the same year Fatema handed over the document to accused Farhad for Tk 20,000.
Later, the accused tampered with the document to showing M Abdus Salam Azad approved for the post, and had it sent to the president’s office from the PMO for final approval, said the charge sheet.