Dhaka, May 20 (UNB) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said the government wants to attain economic development keeping the country free from terrorism and militancy.

"It’s very much regretful that terrorism and militancy have now become a global problem. Actually, those who’re involved in militancy are just militants, they’ve no religion, country and border….They’re just militants... this is the fact. We want to keep Bangladesh free from these [menaces] and free it from poverty." she said.

The Prime Minister said this while speaking at a programme when leaders of the Buddhist community greeted her on the occasion of Buddha Purnima at her official residence Ganobhaban.

Sheikh Hasina said now she can say the country is free from hunger. "We’ve to free the country from poverty. Currently, we’ve  21 percent poverty, the rate of ultra poor is 11 percent, we want to free the country from this ultra-poor, we’ll build the country as a poverty-free one, the government is working keeping that in mind," she said.

The Prime Minister said the government wants the development of all irrespective of religions and castes. "That's our duty and that’s our political ideology." 

The government believes in communal harmony, she said adding, "In Bangladesh, people celebrate together the festival of any religion," she said.

Hasina said the responsibility of the state is to make sure that the people of all religions could perform their religious rituals peacefully and independently. "That’s secularism and non-communalism." 

She also said, “The Creator will decide what is good or bad, and what is right or wrong. The Almighty didn’t give that responsibility to human being." 

The Prime Minister said the government will ensure so that the people of Bangladesh can perform their religious rituals with dignity and sincerity. "This tolerance and brotherhood will prevail, and that’s our aim, we’re working to that end."

She also urged all irrespective of their religious identities not to feel neglected. 

Former Industries Minister Dilip Barua also spoke at the programme while special assistant to the Prime Minister Barrister Biplab Barua conducted it.

Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT) Affairs Minister Bir Bahadur Ushwe Singh, State Minister for Religious Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, Dipangkar Talukder MP, Bandarban Zila Parishad Chairman Kyaw Shwe Hla, Rangamati Zila Parishad Chairman Dhumketu Chakma, Khagrachhari Zila Prishad Chairman Kongjuri Marma, Bangladesh Buddha Kristi Prochar Songha President Sanghanayak Shuddhananda Mohathero, International Buddha Bihar Principal Dhormamitra Mohathero, Shakkyamoni Buddha Bihar Principal Proggyananda Mohathero, Nobo Shalbon Bihar Principal Shilvodro Mohathero, Bangladesh Buddhist Federation General Secretary Sunanda Priyo Bhikkhu and BSMMU VC Prof Dr Kanak Kanti Barua were present.

Natore, May 20 (UNB) – Members of Rapid Action Battalion arrested four people along with 2,100 liters stolen oil of Bangladesh Railway from Abdulpur Railway Junction area in Lalpur upazila early Monday.

The arrestees are- Hafizul Islam Rajib, Lalon, Akkas Ali and Makhon.

On secret information a team of Rab-5 conducted a drive and arrested the four thieves along the oil, said Rab sources.

The gang had long been involved in stealing oil, said the sources.

Keraniganj, May 20 (UNB) – The body of a schoolboy, who reportedly jumped into the Buriganga river after being rebuked by his father on Saturday night, was recovered from the river on Monday morning.

The deceased was identified as Asif Khan, 15, a class X student of a local school and son of Habibur Rahman of Hasnabad area.

Shah Jaman, officer-in-charge of Dakhshin Keraniganj Police Station, said Asif jumped into the river from Postogola bridge in a huff after his father refused to buy him a mobile phone and scolded him.

Locals spotted the floating body around 9 am and informed police.

On information, police recovered the body and sent it to Mitford Hospital for  autopsy.

Dhaka, May 20 (UNB) - Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Hiroyasu Izumi on Monday assured Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of his country’s continued support to Bangladesh in its efforts for economic prosperity.

The Japanese envoy came up with the assurance when he met Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganobhaban.

PM's press secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.

He said the Japanese envoy informed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that during her upcoming visit to Japan, the USD 2.5 billion 40th Official Development Assistance (ODA) agreement will be signed, which will be 35 percent higher than the last year.

He also said Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe is eagerly waiting to receive his Bangladeshi counterpart in Japan during her coming Japan visit.

Congratulating her on reelection in the last parliamentary elections, Hiroyasu Izumi said the next five years will be very much important for Bangladesh as the economy of the country will take off for further progress.

The Japanese Ambassador was apprised of the progress of the coal-fired 1200 MW Matarbari Power Plant project in Maheshkhali upazila of Cox's Bazar district.

Mentioning that Japan is a great friend of Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said she is also eagerly waiting to meet Shinzō Abe.

She also recalled the contributions of Japan to the economic development of the country and its to construct Rupsha Bridge during Bangabandhu’s regime after Bangladesh’s independence.

Principal Secretary M Nojibur Rahman, Principal Coordinator on SDG Affairs of Prime Minister’s office Md Abul Kalam Azad and PMO Secretary Sajjadul Hassan were present during the meeting.

Rangpur, May 20 (UNB)- Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR) authorities have formed a three-member committee to settle the issues of seniority, promotion and seven years’ salary of Mahmudul Haque, who was recently appointed as a teacher of the university following a court verdict.

The committee was formed at the 61st syndicate meeting held in BRUR liaisonoffice in Dhaka on Wednesday with its Vice-chancellor Prof DrMajor Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullahin the chair,said sources who attended the meeting.

The committee members are BRUR Registrar Abu Hena Mostofa Kamal, Rangpur Divisional Commissioner Mohammad Joynul Bari and Dhaka University Professor Dr Shuchita Sharmin.

The committee was formed following a letter submitted by Mahmudul who joined the Mass Communication and Journalism department at the university as its teacher on March 10 last after a legal battle for seven years.

In the letter written on May 14, Mahmudul demanded seniority, promotion to associate professor, chairmanshipof the department,salary and benefits to be effective from the date of 21st syndicate meeting and compensation for the long legal battle.

On October 15, 2017 the High Court directed the university authorities to appoint MahmudulHaqueas a teacher following the recommendations of the selection board made on January 13, 2012 and approved by the 21st and 22nd syndicate meetings.

Later, the university authorities filed a leave-to-appeal petition and a review petition with the Appellate Division challenging the HC verdict but the apex court upheldthe HC judgment.