Bangladesh
Murder suspect killed in Chattogram ‘gunfight’
A youth was killed in a reported gunfight with police at Majher Ghona of Bayazid Bostami area on early Friday, several hours after his arrest.
3 killed in Nilphamari road accident
Three people were killed and eight others were injured when a microbus carrying a body collided head-on with a bus in Obiler Bazar area of Kishoreganj upazila on Friday.
Rab arrests ‘drug dealer’ with phensedyl in Dhaka
A suspected drug dealer was arrested by the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) from Dhaka’s Uttara area on Friday morning.
Minor girl ‘raped’ in Savar
An 11-year-old girl was reportedly raped by an unidentified youth in Ambagan area near Jahangirnagar University on Thursday, a day after her family had moved there from Kishoreganj.
Trees become victims of ‘personal feud’ in Magura
A man has accused his rivals of cutting down 250 banana and Mehagni trees in Derua village in Magura Sadar Upazila on early Thursday.
25 dengue patients being treated at hospitals
Twenty five people, including 20 in the capital, are being treated at hospitals across the country for dengue.
Lighter ship stuck in Bay of Bengal, 14 sailors, crew rescued
A fertiliser-laden lighter ship got stuck on a hidden shoal in MeherAlir Char area of the Bay of Bengal early Saturday and Coast Guard rescued its 14 sailors and crew.
Cold-related diseases affect 5,732 people in 24 hrs
Various cold-related diseases have affected 5,732 people across the country in the last 24 hours, the government said on Friday.
A well-organised party a great strength for govt: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday said a government having a well-organised party behind it can develop a country fast.
"A government can work successfully when there’ll be a well-organised party behind it…a well-organised party is a great strength for a government…this strength works most in developing a country, and I feel that," she said.
The Prime Minister made the remarks in her introductory speech at the first joint meeting of the newly-formed Awami League Central Working Committee and Advisory Council at its Bangabandhu Avenue central office.
Sheikh Hasina dedicated this first meeting to late AL general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam as today is his first death anniversary.
On January 3, 2019, Syed Ashraf, also the then Public Administration Minister, died at the age of 68 while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Bangkok. He had been suffering from lung cancer.
Hasina said she always put highest importance to her party and instructed that different district, upazila, union and ward-level AL units which are yet to hold their councils have to do that quickly for having a stronger party across the country. "We’ve to build the entire party in a stronger way."
She also put emphasis on holding the councils of various associate organisations of Awami League.
Sheikh Hasina, also the AL chief, said those who came to power after the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975 never believed in the liberation of the country. "That’s why they had tried hard to make the country a failed state and that was their main intention."
On the contrary, she said, the aim of Awami League is to prove meaningful the country’s hard-earned independence that comes after the struggle of 24 years under the leadership of Bangabandhu and that must not go in vain.
Hasina also said the killing of Bangabandhu along other AL leaders was to keep AL away from power. "They had wanted to make it sure that AL can never come to power."
Terming 2020 a very important year for Bangladesh, the Prime Minister said this year the country will celebrate ‘Mujib Borsho’.
"With a new spirit, we’ll make the independence that was given by the Father of the Nation more meaningful, we’ll make Bangladesh a developed country so that people can roam around the world keeping their heads high, and that’s our promise," she said.
Briefly describing conspiracies and propaganda against Awami League after 1975, the Prime Minister said the conspirators had often said that AL leaders are not smart, modern and educated ones.
"Those who had come to power claiming themselves as smart got indulged in looting, money laundering and corruption. Their smartness was to make money for themselves," she said.
Hasina said that AL has proved that only this party can develop the country and make it a prosperous one and advance it.
After returning to power, the Prime Minister said she now can see that Awami League gained the trust and confidence of people in the last 11 years. "The people of Bangladesh know that only AL can ensure the development of the country."
She said Awami League grassroots leaders and activists always took the right decisions and devoted themselves to the organisation sacrificing their lives.
"Today, AL is a strong political party in Bangladesh. Since its establishment in 1949, it has been working for people and we’ve to upholding this tradition," she said.
Deer poacher held in Sundarbans
Forest Department officials on Thursday arrested a deer poacher along with a deer catching trap from Nandabala area in Mongla upazila.