prime minister
PM to return home from USA Friday
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will return home on Friday night wrapping up her two-week official tour to attend the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
She is scheduled to leave Washington DC Thursday afternoon (local time) by a VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airline for Helsinki, the Finish capital, PM’s Assistant Press Secretary MM Emrul Kayas told UNB.
Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA M Shahidul Islam and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations Rabab Fatima will see off her at the airport in Washington.
The aircraft carrying the Prime Minister will reach Helsinki-Vantaa Airport on Friday morning (local time) and then the flight will depart the airport for Dhaka after a two-hour stopover there.
Read: Bangladesh’s UNGA participation shows its stronger presence in multilateral forum: Officials
The aircraft is scheduled to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 10:15 pm on Friday.
On September 17, the Prime Minister left Dhaka to attend the 76th UNGA. She reached New York on September 19 after a two-day stopover in Finland.
During her stay in New York from September 19 to 24, Sheikh Hasina addressed the UNGA general debate (September 24), attended high-level events and bilateral talks with heads of governments, states and organisations.
She also planted a honey locust tree and unveiled a bench at the UN gardens dedicating these to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the occasion of his birth centenary.
Read: PM opens Bangladesh House in Maryland, USA
Later, the Prime Minister went to Washington DC on September 25.
During her stay in Washington, Sheikh Hasina opened the newly constructed ‘Bangladesh House’ and planted a fringe tree on its premise.
Bangladesh’s UNGA participation shows its stronger presence in multilateral forum: Officials
Bangladesh has once again demonstrated its “stronger and diversified” presence in multilateral forum through in-person participation during the 76th UN General Assembly (UNGA), officials said.
“Bangladesh’s participation at the UNGA led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has further elevated the country’s stronger and vibrant presence in multilateral forum,” said a senior official.
UN General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid closed the UN High-Level session, crediting “sound mitigation measures” and high vaccination rates for its success.
Earlier, the UNGA President invited Bangladesh's Permanent Representative (PR) to the United Nations Ambassador Rabab Fatima to chair part of the general debate of the UN General Assembly’s 76th session.
Japan ex-diplomat Kishida wins party vote, to become new PM
Japan’s former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida won the governing party leadership election on Wednesday and is set to become the next prime minister, facing the imminent task of addressing a pandemic-hit economy and ensuring a strong alliance with Washington to counter growing regional security risks.
Kishida replaces outgoing party leader Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who is stepping down after serving only one year since taking office last September.
Read:Japan’s ex-top diplomat Kishida to become new PM
As new leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, Kishida is certain to be elected the next prime minister on Monday in parliament, where his party and coalition partner control the house.
Kishida beat popular vaccinations minister Taro Kono in a runoff after finishing only one vote ahead of him in the first round where none of the four candidates, including two women, was able to win a majority.
Results showed Kishida had more support from party heavyweights who apparently chose stability over change advocated by Kono, who is known as something of a maverick.
The new leader is under pressure to change the party's high-handed reputation worsened by Suga, who angered the public over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and insistence on holding the Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Read: Japan's PM Suga steps down
The long-ruling conservative Liberal Democratic Party desperately needs to quickly turn around plunging public support ahead of lower house elections coming within two months.
Kishida called for growth and distribution under his “new capitalism,” saying that the economy under Japan's longest-serving Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had only benefited big companies.
Overall, little change is expected in key diplomatic and security policies under the new leader, said Yu Uchiyama, a political science professor at the University of Tokyo.
All of the candidates support close Japan-U.S. security ties and partnerships with other like-minded democracies in Asia and Europe, in part to counter China’s growing influence and a threat from nuclear-armed North Korea.
Wednesday’s vote was seen as a test of whether the party can move out of Abe’s shadow. His influence in government and party affairs has largely muzzled diverse views and shifted the party to the right.
Read: Japan suspends 1.63M doses of Moderna over contamination
Kishida is also seen as a choice who could prolong an era of unusual political stability amid fears that Japan could return to “revolving door” leadership.
“Concern is not about individuals but stability of Japanese politics," Michael Green, senior vice president for Asia at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told a telephone briefing ahead of the vote. “It's about whether or not we are entering a period in Japanese politics of instability and short-term prime ministership,” he said. “It makes it very hard to move forward on agenda."
Suga is leaving only a year after taking office as a pinch hitter for Abe, who suddenly resigned over health problems, ending his nearly eight-year leadership, the longest in Japan’s constitutional history.
Shilpakala Academy celebrates PM Hasina's 75th birthday
Observing the 75th birthday of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) organized a handful of programmes including exhibitions and cultural events on Tuesday.
The celebrations began with a national children's painting competition, which BSA hosted across the country.
Hundreds of children and teens from various educational institutions in Dhakaparticip ated in the painting competition at the National Art Gallery.
A month-long special exhibition based on the exclusive art camp titled “Sheikh Hasina: Bishwajoyi Nondito Neta'' which was participated by 75 renowned female painters and artists of the country featuring the life and works of PM Sheikh Hasina, was inaugurated by BSA Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky at 5 pm at the National Art Gallery.
Read: Bangladesh celebrates Hasina’s 75th birthday
The month-long exhibition is open for everyone from 11 am to 8 pm till October 27. Visitors can explore the exhibition maintaining adequate health guidelines.
A book-launching ceremony was organized at the National Theatre Hall auditorium at 6:30 pm, as part of the celebration programmes. BSA DG Lucky unveiled the publication of the book titled “Manobotar Jononi Sheikh Hasina: Nibedito Pongktimala”, which contains 75 selected poems written by 75 noted poets of the country.
Following the book-launching event, a special cultural night was held at the venue participated by renowned artists and performers. Singers Sabbir Zaman, Homayra Bashir, Ronti Das, Abu Bakar Siddiqui, Romana Islam, Shafi Mandal and BSA Baul team performed songs at the event.
BSA dance artistes showcased special dance performances and its acrobatic team enthralled the audiences with game shows, while poet Tarik Sujat and Jharna Rahman recited special poems dedicated to the Prime Minister.
Read: Hasina’s birthday celebrated amid mass vaccination campaign
Earlier, a 7-day online event including discussions and cultural programme was organized from September 20-26 at BSA’s Facebook page and YouTube channel, featuring the life and activities of the Prime Minister.
Marking her birthday, more than 600 children and cultural activists across the country made a one-minute greeting video each, of which 75 videos have been posted on the academy's Facebook page and the rest will be phased out on the academy's Facebook page and YouTube channel, according to its Public Relations Officer Hasan Mahmud.
Modi wishes Hasina on her birthday
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has greeted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on her 75th birthday.
"Warmest good wishes on your 75th birthday! Wish you many more years of health and success in service to the people of Bangladesh," reads the message shared by the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.
Read: Bangladesh celebrates Hasina’s 75th birthday
The Chinese Embassy in Dhaka also greeted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
"Our warmest wishes to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on her birthday! Wishing her a long and prosperous life with continued success in taking Bangladesh to great heights!," said the Embassy in a message shared on its verified page.
Read: Hasina’s birthday celebrated amid mass vaccination campaign
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's birthday was celebrated on Tuesday.
Hasina’s birthday celebrated amid mass vaccination campaign
The 75th birthday of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also the president of Bangladesh Awami League, now in the USA, was celebrated across the country amid a special mass vaccination on Tuesday.
Hasina, the eldest among the five children of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, was born at Tungipara in Gopalganj on September 28, 1947.
The ruling Awami League and its affiliated organisations celebrated the day by holding various programmes, highlighting her life and achievements.
Various programmes like discussions, doa and milad-mahfil, special prayers and photo exhibitions were organised in the capital and elsewhere across the country marking her birthday.
More importantly, a nationwide mass vaccination campaign was conducted on the day targeting to inoculate 80 lakh people on the occasion of Hasina's birthday.
As part of the AL central programmes, a discussion was held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the capital in the morning.
At the function, AL general secretary Obaidul Quader said Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Hasina was born for the cause of history, and now she herself is history.
Besides, doa and milad-mahfil were arranged at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque and all other mosques throughout the country after Zahr prayers.
Read: PM Hasina’s 75th birthday to be celebrated Tuesday
PM shocked at principal Abdur Rashid’s death
Prime Minister and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of principal Abdur Rashid, eminent educationist and father-in-law of State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury.
She prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family.
Read: PM mourns death of freedom fighter Miaz Uddin
Principal Rashid breathed his last this afternoon at a city hospital. He was 86. He left behind three sons, three daughters and a host of relatives and well wishers.
Meanwhile, Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader also expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Principal Abdur Rashid.
Read: PM mourns death of Abdul Monem
PM’s US visit has ‘no success’, says BNP
Stating that the Prime Minister’s visit to the USA has ‘no success’, BNP on Sunday alleged that the government wants to take international advantage by keeping the Rohingya problem alive.
“I didn't find any outcome from her (PM’s) visit. Even, she couldn’t come up with a solution to the Rohingya problem,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Read: Govt agencies active to divide opposition forces: Fakhrul
He said their party thinks Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government have failed to play any effective role in resolving the crisis.
“In fact, they (gov) want to take international advantage, especially from the Western countries, by keeping this issue alive,” the BNP leader said.
He made the remarks while talking to reporters after placing wreaths at BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave together with the members of the newly formed committee members of Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal.
Fakhrul said the Prime Minister could not yet reach out to the main stakeholders by visiting the countries like China and India with an aim to have a salutation to the Rohingya problem.
Read:Get organized, Fakhrul to farmers
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina went to the USA last week to attend the 76th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Fakhrul alleged that the Prime Minister made “indecent remarks” about BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia while refuting various reports published in the media about her visit. “We strongly condemn and protest it.”
He alleged that Sheikh Hasina in her address to the UNGA resorted to lies about the country’s situation. “This is her only achievement (from her visit).”
The BNP leader said there is no democracy in the country while a fascist governing system has been established here by snatching people’s rights, destroying the Election Commission and politicising the state institutions.
Read:Govt restricting Khaleda from going abroad out of ‘fear’: Fakhrul
“But the Prime Minister didn’t mention in her speech how she’ll overcome this situation, restore democratic governing system, democratise the electoral system and remove people’s sufferings,” he observed.
Fakhrul hoped that good sense will prevail upon the government to give democracy an institutional shape and restore people’s right to vote and their freedom of expression.
He urged the government to take steps for holding the next election under a neutral election-time administration to establish a truly representative government and parliament.
NDB membership to open new avenue of foreign financing: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has termed Bangladesh's membership in the New Development Bank as a time-befitting achievement that will open a new avenue of foreign financing for the country.
She said it will play a supportive role in achieving the country's development goals.
Bangladesh has joined the New Development Bank (NDB), a multilateral development bank set up by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS), as a member state.
The joining was confirmed after the country submitted its "Instrument of Accession" to the Brazilian government on September 16, said the Bangladesh Permanent Mission at UN Saturday.
Read: PM arrives in New York to attend UNGA
Hasina arrives in Washington
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in Washington, D.C. on Saturday.
A VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, carrying the Prime Minister, landed at Dulles International Airport at 10:03am (local time), said PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim.
Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA M Shahidul Islam received her at the airport.
Read: PM joins opening session of 76th UNGA general debate
Earlier, Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York Rabab Fatima saw her off at the airport in New York at 9:15 am (local time).
The Prime Minister will stay in Washington till September 30.
Read: PM arrives in New York to attend UNGA
Hasina is scheduled to leave Washington for Dhaka on September 30 and return home on October 1, after a short stopover in Finland.