Dhaka, Aug 18 (UNB) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said she does not want the protocol that creates an obstacle to her way to get close to people.

"It’s true people have elected me Prime Minister by casting their votes. But I'm the daughter of the Father of the Nation. So, I think I’ve a duty and responsibility towards the country. Being the Prime Minister, I never allow that protocol which creates a barrier, and I don't want to allow this as well," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said this while exchanging Eid greetings with officials at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

"I want to mix with all, know them and work with them. We'll work as a team so that the development of the country is expedited," she further said.

Pointing at the PMO officials, the Prime Minister said anyone can contact her directly, if needed.
 

Dhaka, Nov 13 (UNB) - BNP on Tuesday submitted another list of 1002 ‘fictitious cases’ filed against its leaders and activists to the Prime Ministers’ Office (PMO).

BNP assistant office secretary Taiful Islam Tipu told UNB that the fresh list of ‘fictitious cases’ was submitted to the PMO at 4:50pm and an official, Ruhul Amin, received it.

He said it was a partial list like that of previous one they submitted last week.

The BNP leader said they will send more lists of such cases to the PMO in the days to come. “We’ve so far submitted the list of 2,048 cases.”

Besides, he said, they will submit the same list to Awami League President’s Dhanmondi office.

During a dialogue with Dr Kamal Hosain-led Jatiya Oikyafront on November 1, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked the BNP leaders to submit the list of its arrested leaders and activists to her.

In a letter attached with the list, BNP requested the government to stop the arrest and harassment of its leaders and activists in ‘false’ and ‘fictitious’ cases.

The party also urged the government to withdraw the cases.

Earlier on Nov 7, the party submitted a list of 1,046 such cases against its leaders and activists to the PMO.

Dhaka, Nov 7 (UNB) - A dialogue between the 14-party alliance and 24 political parties began at Ganobhaban over the forthcoming national election at 7:30pm on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is leading a 23-member delegation of the 14-party alliance at the dialogue with the 24 parties.

The parties are the National Democratic Alliance, Bangladesh National Alliance (BNA), Bangladesh Social Development Party (BSDP), Bangladesh Gonotantrik Oikya Front, NAP Bhashani, National People’s Party (NPP), Bangladesh National Democratic Front (NDF), Jukta Front, Gano Front, Prgogotishil Jote, Bangladesh Gonotantrik Mukti Andolan (BGMA), Jatiyo Ganotantrik Jote (NDA), Bangladesh Satyabrata Andolan, Oikya NAP, Okyaboddho Nagorik Andolan, Gonotantrik Bam Oikya, Bangladesh Krishak Shramik Party (KSP), Progotishil Gonotantrik Dal (PDP), Bangladesh Muktojoddha Oikya Jote, Bangladesh Gonotantrik Oikya Jotr, Trinamool Jatiyatabadi Gonotantrik Andolan, Jatiya Swadhinata Party (JSP), Bangladesh Jatiya Party and Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mohajote.  
 

Dhaka, Oct 28 (UNB) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday sought cooperation from the people of Chattogram Hill Tracts in solving their land problems.

“Cooperate with the Land (Dispute Resolution) Commission (of the CHT) so that it can solve the land problems soon,” she said after inaugurating the newly constructed Sheikh Hasina Chattogram Hill Tracts Complex at Bailey Road in the capital.

The Prime Minister said when lands are acquired to implement any development scheme in the CHT areas people do not get compensation due to problems over land ownership there.

She said if the CHT people get the ownership of own lands against their own names according to the law which is effective for (other parts of) the country, they can get compensation in case of land acquisition.
  
Sheikh Hasina suggested not following a separate land law which had been enacted during the British colonial period for the CHT area. The Land Commission faces repeated obstacles whenever it goes to work in this regard, she added.

Noting that now the world is marching forward in a much faster way, she said, “So, I think everyone should live with their own lands and own rights. We want this system to be improved.”  

The Prime Minister said the government has already implemented most clauses of the CHT Peace Accord signed in 1997 and the execution of some others is underway. “Besides, the government is implementing huge schemes for the overall development of the CHT region.” 
She said the government developed the CHT region much making special allocation as the region had completely been neglected for 20 years after 1975.

In this regard, she suggested that the CHT Regional Council propose projects for the overall development of the region so that its people can be more self-reliant economically. “If the CHT Regional Council proposes any project for the development of their respective region, we’ll be able to implement it making special allocation,” Hasina said.

About government jobs for members of small ethnic groups, the Prime Minister said her government is taking steps so that candidates from minority groups living in both hills and plain land get priority in the recruitment process. “Though we’ve cancelled the quota system, I’ve directed the Public Service Commission so that candidates from the CHT region or small ethnic groups always get priority. We’re taking steps and will do, we can give you this word,” she said.

Noting that there will be no development if peace is not maintained, the Prime Minister said, “No more conflict. We signed the peace accord. So, we want peace to prevail in the hills and it will mark progress through this peace.”

Housing and Public Works Minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, Convener of CHT Peace Accord Implementation Committee Abul Hasnat Abdullah, Chairman of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, also known as Santu Larma, and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs Ministry RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury also spoke at the event chaired by State Minister of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Bir Bahadur Ushwe Sing.

CHT Affairs Secretary Md Nurul Amin at his welcome speech said the Sheikh Hasina Chattogram Hill Tracts Complex was constructed on two acres of land spending Tk 194 crore.

Alongside a six-storey administrative building and a six-storey dormitory, there are several other structures under the complex.

An audio-visual documentary was screened focusing the development of the CHT area and lifestyle of its people.
 

Dhaka, Oct 27 (UNB) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday ruled out the possibility of closing down the old airport at Tejgaon in the city saying that it belongs to the Air Force and it must remain under their possession.

“This airport will never be closed down…it belongs to the Air Force and it must remain theirs," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating the newly constructed VVIP Complex of the Tejgaon airport.

She, however, asked the Air Force to remain alert so that this airport must not be grabbed by others.

Sheikh Hasina assured that no one will be able to take away this airport from the Air Force as long as she is there in power.

The Prime Minister asked all to shun the thinking of constructing high-rises beside the first airport of the country. "I want to warn you many people have their greedy eyes on it, the Air Force should use it…it must not be grabbed by others." 

She went on saying, "But when I will be not be there in  power, many may come to grab this airport, I don't want to see this airport getting ruined as Dhaka city badly needs another airport…. we have another one, why should we destroy it." 

Sheikh Hasina put emphasis on the use of the airport and said flights should be operated from there so that all can understand about its use.

The Prime Minister firmly mentioned that the airport land will not be allotted from the Air Force to anyone else as long as Awami League remains in power.

In this context, she said, the Air Force needs more land as the government is further increasing its operational activities and its size.

Hasina went round different sections of the newly constructed VVIP complex of the airport.