PM Hasina
Kalabati saree made from banana plant fibre gifted to PM Hasina
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday (July 17, 2023) received Kalabati sarees and handicrafts made from banana plant fibre.
Bandarban Deputy Commissioner Yasmin Parveen Tibriji handed over three such sarees and two jewellery boxes to the PM at the cabinet room of the Prime Minister's office, according to the PM’s press wing.
The Manipuri design Kalabati sarees, first ever in Bangladesh, have been created by weaver Radhavati Devi of Moulvibazar using the fibre of banana plant.
Read more: Gani’s handicraft on pavement goes on despite pandemic disruptions
Reach sewage treatment facilities outside Dhaka too: PM Hasina directs authorities
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday (July 13, 2023) asked the authorities concerned to introduce water purification and sewage system in all divisional cities, districts, upazilas and union level in phases.
“For this you have to formulate a master plan. And preparing the same model, if we can select the places and start the construction work… we will be able to do that,” she said.
The prime minister said this while formally launching the operation of the Dasherkandi Sewage Treatment Plant, first of its kind in the country, at a function at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.
At the same function, she also laid theh foundation stone of the reconstruction and expansion of the Pagla Sewage Treatment Plant in support with the World Bank (WB) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), having capacity of treating 200 million metric tons of sewage.
PM Hasina inaugurates South Asia's largest STP in Dhaka's Dasherkandi
Hasina said that the government has already announced the My Village, My City where no village will be lag behind, every village will get urban like facilities.
She mentioned that already 98 percent people of the country have came under sanitation.
“We have already started to provide drinking water, and to make that initiative sustainable we have to implement it through a well planned planning,” she said.
She asked the authorities to take quick steps in this regard.
Hasina also asked the people to maintain austerity in using water and electricity.
We are strengthening armed forces to protect independence, not for war: PM Hasina
"Don't use water and electricity unnecessarily, please exercise austrity in using those. You will also be benefitted from it, as the bill of those will be fewer," she said.
The prime minister said that Dhaka Wasa is a service oriented commercial entity.
“For enhancing civic services and implementing development programmes and building skilled management, I am asking Dhaka Wasa to be more active,” she said.
Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam, Local Government Division Secretary Muhammad Ibrahim, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen and Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) Managing Director (MD) Taqsem A Khan spoke at the function.
Now is the time to act together globally to achieve UN SDGs: PM Hasina
US visa policy to supplement govt commitment to hold free election: Uzra Zeya tells PM
Visiting US Department of State's Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights Uzra Zeya on Thursday said her country announced the new visa policy to supplement Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s commitment to hold free, fair and neutral election.
She made the statement while calling on the prime minister at her official residence Ganabhaban, PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim told reporters in a briefing.
“We do not have any bias towards any party, we want a neutral, free and fair election,” Zeya was quoted as telling the PM.
PM Hasina said that it is her commitment to hold free and fair election in the country.
Also read: US seeks worldwide partners' assistance for Rohingyas: Uzra Zeya
“We always fought for free and fair election in the country, we already have held free and fair election,” she said.
She mentioned that Awami League always fought for the rights of the people.
“We always fight for people’s right to choose their representatives,” she said.
She also mentioned that it was BNP who started vote rigging in the country. In this connection, she said that transparent ballot boxes have been introduced for polls.
Hasina recalled the atrocities, terrorism activities and arson attacks of BNP and their allies during 2013-15 that left 500 people killed.
Also read: Uzra Zeya reiterates US' hope for "peaceful, fair" elections process in Bangladesh
She also mentioned about the grenade attack on her rally in Dhaka on August 21 in 2004 that left 24 people killed and over 500 injured. She said she was saved by Awami League leaders and activists who formed a human shield after the attack during BNP-Jamaat rule.
Zeya told the PM that she visited Rohingya camps and talked to the displaced people from Myanmar.
She put emphasis on strengthening coordinated international efforts to ensure reparation of the Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar.
She mentioned that US will provide some USD 74 million for the operational cost in Rohingya camps.
Also read: Legal framework enough to hold free, fair elections: Law secretary to EU mission
She highly appreciated Sheikh Hasina for hosting such a huge number of Rohingyas in Bangladesh.
PM Hasina said that Bangladesh currently is hosting more than one million Ronhigays in two different areas of the country.
She also said that human trafficking and anti-social activities are going on in these camps which are very much alarming for the country’s security.
The under secretary said that her country will cooperate with Bangladesh for its financial and economic development.
She said that the US will help and work together with Bangladesh in labour reforms initiative.
In his connection, Hasina said that she personally pushed the owners of industries to enhance the wages and other facilities for the workers various times.
Prime Minister’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, PMO Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin, Bangladesh Ambassador to United States Mohammad Imran, US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu and US Ambassador Peter Haas were present.
Also read: US Under Secretary Uzra Zeya, Donald Lu visit Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar
PM Hasina inaugurates South Asia's largest STP in Dhaka's Dasherkandi
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday (July 13, 2023) inaugurated the operation of South Asia's largest single sewage treatment plant in Dasherkandi near Dhaka's Aftabnagar.
The Dasherkandi Sewage Treatment Plant is the country's first modern STP and sludge drying-incinerator with capacity to treat 500 million litres sewage.
The inaugural ceremony was held at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC).
The plant will play an enormous role in preventing environment pollution and improving the water quality of Rampura canal, Balu River, Shitalakshya River and other water bodies, the authorities said.
We are strengthening armed forces to protect independence, not for war: PM Hasina
Constructed on the East of Aftabnagar area, the plant is being hailed as a milestone in the country’s sewage treatment.
In the plant, some 45 metric tons of fly ash will be generated from sewage sludge a day, which can be used as raw materials in cement factories.
The Dasherkandi STP will treat sewage coming from a number of the city’s areas, including Tejgaon, Niketan, Badda, Banani, Gulshan (part), Banani, Ramna, Eskaton, Nayatola, Magbazar, Wireless, Mouchak, Outer Circular Road, Mohanagar Housing, Hatirjheel, Kalabagan and Dhanmondi (part).
The Dasherkandi plant will be able to treat 20-25 percent of the 2,000 million litre sewage generated in Dhaka city daily.
Now is the time to act together globally to achieve UN SDGs: PM Hasina
The plant has been built as part of a master plan taken up by WASA to construct five STPs to treat 100 percent of the sewage generated in Dhaka, in a modern and environment-friendly way, Dhaka WASA Managing Director Taqsem A Khan told reporters on Tuesday.
He mentioned that the plant is modern and environment-friendly one. The quality of water treated in the plant is good enough.
The four other modern sewage treatment plants will be constructed in Pagla, Rayerbazar, Uttara and Mirpur aiming to gain the capacity to treat 100 percent sewage of Dhaka city by 2030.
Also on Thursday, the prime minister laid the foundation stone of Pagla sewage treatment plant by renovating the existing one.
Govt planning to upgrade DMCH so that 4,000 patients can be treated at a time: PM
When the Pagla sewage treatment plant is completed, some 40 percent of sewages generated in Dhaka can be treated.
The Dasherkandi STP was implemented on 62 acres of land at the cost of Tk 3,482 crore. Of the cost, Tk 1,106.42 crore came from the government’s fund, while Tk 10 crore from Dhaka WASA, and Tk 2,366 crore from EXIM Bank of China.
The work of the China-funded project started on July 01, 2018. The operation and management of the plant will be run by its contractor, HydroChina Corporation, for one year.
According to the project outline, a waste lifting station on the west side of Rampura Bridge, a five-kilometre trunk sewer line from Rampura to Aftabnagar and Dasherkandi plant and the main treatment plant at Dasherkandi have been constructed.
Bhatara’s sorrow: Living a year amid stagnant sewage and garbage
Govt planning to upgrade DMCH so that 4,000 patients can be treated at a time: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the government has undertaken a new plan to modernize Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) so that 4,000 patients can be treated at a time there.
"We have already prepared a new plan to develop the hospital into a larger, more beautiful, and more modern establishment. We have prepared the plan so that 4,000 patients can receive treatment there at a time," she said.
The PM said this while addressing the celebration ceremony of the 78th Dhaka Medical College Day through a virtual platform from her office in Dhaka.
Criticise for country's welfare, not to damage it: PM Hasina tells journalists
The Dhaka Medical College Alumni Trust arranged the function at the Shaheed Dr Shamsul Alam Khan Auditorium of the college.
Sheikh Hasina put emphasis on the immediate implementation of the new plan. "If this plan for the hospital can be started soon, it will set an example in healthcare services," she said.
The PM asked the physicians and medical experts to pay extensive attention to medical science research, as the number of such studies is still low in Bangladesh.
"Only a handful of people conduct research here. But research is indispensable in this age. You should pay more attention to research," she said.
PM urges JICA to allow farmers to use wastage of sea water in the desalination project at Matarbari
The Prime Minister said her government will create all sorts of opportunities for medical research. "We'll provide funds as required," she added.
She lauded the doctors of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital for putting the highest effort into providing treatment.
"Patients are getting the best treatment at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital," she said.
She added that her government has been working to provide healthcare services to every person across the country.
The PM, however, expressed her dismay as no surgery is conducted in several district hospitals due to a lack of anesthesiologists, and many modern medical equipments remain unused there.
Democracy must continue to sustain country's dev momentum: PM Hasina
She asked the physicians to perform their duties properly at the hospitals, particularly in rural areas, by remaining at their workstations.
"Everyone (physician) wants to stay in Dhaka, and no one wants to go out of the city. Discharge your duties properly," she said.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, and President of Bangladesh Medical Association Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, among others, were present at the function presided over by DMC Alumni Trust Chairman Dr Julfiker Rahman Khan.
Criticise for country's welfare, not to damage it: PM Hasina tells journalists
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday (July 10, 2023) asked the media to do constructive criticism for the welfare of the country, not for damaging it.
"The criticism should be for the welfare of the country and not for damaging it," she said while addressing a function at her office here in the city.
In the function, the premier distributed cheques of financial assistance to the families of dead, sick, insolvent and injured journalists.
This year some Tk 3.46 crore were given against 438 journalists as financial assistance from Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust (BJWT) Fund.
Read more: Fast-evolving tech may pose ‘unprecedented crises’ if journalists aren’t prepared: World Journalists Conference
Hasina said the Awami League government has ensured freedom of media in the last 14 years. "None had ever enjoyed so much freedom in the past," she said.
The PM asked the media to do criticism as much as required to correct the government but not to hamper the ongoing progress of the country.
"We don't want that the progress of Bangladesh ti be hampered," she said.
She said the media will have to have the sense of responsibility and dutifulness towards the country and the nation while they enjoy freedom.
The BJWT fund was formed in 2014 with the seed money of Tk 25 crore provided by the prime minister on two occasions.
Read more: Assault on on-duty journalists an unpardonable crime: GM Quader
So far some Tk 40 crore was distributed among 13,510 journalists from the fund.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud presided over the function, while Information Secretary Humayun Kabir Khandaker spoke on the occasion.
The Prime Minister said her government allowed private sector to run television channels when she came to power in 1996 and then gave licenses of many television channels to generate employment.
She said her government is going to bring the private television channels under a wage board.
She called upon the media owners to donate money to the Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust.
Sheikh Hasina said her government can take arrangements so that the journalists can buy lands or flats making payment in installments.
She said they have taken housing projects to bring landless people under the scheme free of costs following the footsteps of the Father of the Nation.
Taking a swipe at critics of quick rental power plants, she said how could Bangladesh witness so much development unless Tk 90,000 crore was not given to the quick rental power plants.
The BJWT fund was formed in 2014 with the seed money of Tk 25 crore provided by the prime minister on two occasions.
So far some Tk 40 crore was distributed among 13,510 journalists from the fund.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud presided over the function, while Information Secretary Humayun Kabir Khandaker spoke on the occasion.
PM to visit Rome later this month to attend UN Food Systems Summit; bilateral deals on energy, migration likely
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to visit Rome, Italy later this month to discuss bilateral issues and attend the UN Food Systems Summit.
The 2023 UN Food Systems Stocktaking Moment will be held in Rome, Italy on July 24-26 at the premises of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
It will be hosted by Italy in collaboration with the Rome-based UN Agencies (FAO, IFAD, WFP), the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, and the wider UN system.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to be in Rome from July 23, said a diplomatic source.
Also read: PM Hasina to visit Japan on April 25-28
She is likely to have a bilateral meeting with her Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni during the visit.
PM Hasina will speak at the Food System Summit in Rome while her Italy visit is likely to see the signing of half a dozen bilateral documents in the areas of energy, migration, ICT and cyber security.
Bangladesh and Italy have been discussing a possible memorandum of understanding (MoU ) on mobility and migration — to encourage regular migration and prevent irregular ones.
“We want to go further in our cooperation on migration issues. In particular, creating and enlarging the existing legal channels or legal pathways for migration while stemming the irregular one,”
Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh Enrico Nunziata told UNB in an interview recently.
Also read: PM leaves Geneva for home ending 3-day visit
The envoy said the two countries have to deepen cooperation for preventing irregular migration, trafficking and so on.
Ambassador Nunziata recalled one of the deliverables during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to Italy in 2020 — reinsertion of Bangladesh in the list of countries whose nationals can benefit from a quota for work.
Talking about collaboration in the defence sector, he said there is possibility of collaboration and transfer of know-how as well on a win-win basis. “So this is another important sector.”
The ambassador said a memorandum of understanding in the cultural sphere for programmes of cultural exchanges is also in the pipeline.
Also read: PM to brief media on the outcome of her Switzerland visit on Wednesday
The Italian ambassador also said they want to collaborate in the shipbuilding industry for the Navy or Coast Guard by sharing know-how and technologies with Bangladesh. “I mean that level of know-how that Bangladesh has not reached in shipbuilding yet. Together we can do more on that in shipbuilding as well as in other sectors.”
The 2023 UN Food Systems Stocktaking Moment will build on the momentum of the 2021 Food Systems Summit and will create a conducive space for countries to review commitments to action that were made during the Summit, share stories of success and early signs of transformation, maintain the momentum for bold acceleration and bold action to further the resilience of food systems, advocate for their adaptation to climate change, ensure they contribute to communities’ resilience to further shocks and crises, and boost the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Read more: PM Hasina leaves for Geneva to attend World of Work Summit
Newly elected five city mayors sworn in by PM Hasina
Newly elected mayors of five city corporations —Gazipur, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal and Sylhet – were sworn in on Monday by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The mayors are Jayeda Khatun of Gazipur, AHM Khairuzzaman Liton of Rajshahi, Talukder Abdul Khaleque of Khulna, Abul Khair Abdullah of Barishal and Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury of Sylhet.
The prime minister first administered the oath of office to the new mayors of Gazipur, Khulna and Barishal at a ceremony held at Shapla Hall of her office in the city.
Separately, the PM administered the oath of office to the new mayors of Rajshahi and Sylhet in the same venue.
'You're the man who brought glory for Argentina': PM tells Emiliano Martinez
Besides, some 230 newly elected councillors of general wards and female councillors of the reserved seats of the five city corporations also took oath at two separate events in the same venue.
Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam administered the councillors’ oaths.
The number of councillors is 76 in Gazipur, 41 in Khulna, 40 in Rajshahi, 40 in Barishal and 36 in Sylhet.
Local Government Division Secretary Muhammad Ibrahim conducted the oath-taking ceremonies.
State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Swapan Bhattacharjee was present in the two oath-taking events.
Fulfil needs of people who elected you: PM to newly elected mayors, councillors
On May 25, independent candidate Jayeda Khatun won the Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) polls with 238,934 votes, defeating her nearest rival Awami League-nominated candidate Azmat Ullah Khan who bagged 222,737 votes.
On June 12, Awami League mayoral candidate Abul Khair Abdullah (Khokon Serniabat) won the Barishal City Corporation election with 87,807 votes. His nearest rival Islami Andolon Bangladesh candidate Mufti Syed Mohammad Faizul Karim bagged 33,828 votes.
Awami League mayoral candidate Talukder Abdul Khaleque won the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) election with 1,54,825 votes. His nearest rival Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Md Abdul Awal got 60,064 votes in the polls held on June 12.
My aim is to change fate of the people of Bangladesh: PM Hasina says at Tungipara
On June 21, Awami League’s mayoral candidate AHM Khairuzzaman Liton won the Rajshahi City Corporation election with 160,290 votes defeating his nearest rival Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Md Murshid Alam who bagged 13,483 votes.
On the same day, Awami League mayoral candidate Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury won the Sylhet City Corporation election with 118,614 votes defeating his nearest rival Jatiya Party’s Nazrul Islam Babu who secured 50,321 votes.
'You're the man who brought glory for Argentina': PM tells Emiliano Martinez
Goalkeeper of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 winning Argentine team, Emiliano Martinez, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the latter's office today (July 03, 2023).
During the meeting, the PM appreciated the Argentine footballer for his stellar performance that contributed to Argentina lifting the Football World Cup 2022 trophy.
Martinez presented a signed Argentine jersey to the PM during their meeting.
"You are the man who brought glory for Argentina. I wish you all the success," she was quoted as saying.
Messi mania grips Argentina in 1st match as World Cup champs
PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.
Sheikh Hasina said football is the most popular sport in the world and Bangladeshis are passionate about it.
She mentioned that her family is also a sports-loving one. "My father and grandfather were footballers," she said.
The premier said her government has been constructing upazila-level mini-stadiums across Bangladesh to promote football and other sports.
Read more: Indonesia to Host Argentina In a Friendly Football Match on June 2023
Emiliano Martinez, the Golden Gloves winner of FIFA World Cup 2022, was overwhelmed after learning of Bangladesh's huge fanbase.
"I'm very happy to be here and happy to know about the passion for football among Bangladeshis," he said.
Indian organizer and sports promoter Satadru Dutta and personal manager of Martinez, Santiago Liotta, are among the visiting delegation members.
LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam, PM's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Swapan Bhattacharjee, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam, PM's Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah, Sheikh Helal Uddin MP and Sheikh Tonmoy MP were present at the meeting between PM Hasina and star Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Read more: Messi mania grips Argentina in 1st match as World Cup champs
UN officials praise Bangladeshi peacekeepers during meeting with PM Hasina
United Nations Under-Secretaries General Jean-Pierre Lacroix and Catherine Pollard jointly paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganabhaban on Sunday (June 25, 2023).
In the meeting, they discussed different issues including the UN peacekeeping operations, climate change and women security, PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told reporters.
The UN officials said the world body has successfully completed 75 years of its peacekeeping operation.
Read: Discrimination, sexual abuse have no place in Peacekeeping Missions, Dhaka says
They highly praised the Bangladeshi peacekeepers for their contribution to maintain peace.
In this regard, the prime minister told the UN officials that Bangladesh has been contributing to the UN peacekeeping missions for three decades with dedication and professionalism.
She said Bangladesh is the largest troops contributing country for the UN peacekeeping missions. "Some 7,500 Bangladeshi males and females are employed in nine UN peacekeeping missions around the globe," the press secretary quoted her as saying.
Catherine Pollard thanked the prime minister for Bangladesh's contribution to the trust fund to check sexual exploitation and abuse.
In reply, Hasina said Bangladesh is deeply committed to women security and increasing women's participation in UN peacekeeping.
Read: UN USG for Peace Operations Lacroix to attend 1st peacekeeping ministerial preparatory meeting in Dhaka
She reiterated her government's zero tolerance policy against sexual exploitation and abuse.
She said Bangladesh has taken serious punitive measures against the individuals who were found guilty through investigation in this regard.
Talking about climate change, the PM said Bangladesh is a vulnerable country and her government is implementing mitigation and adaptation programmes with its own funds.
Ambassador-at-Large Mohammad Ziauddin, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Lieutenant General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun and Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the United Nations Muhammad Abdul Muhith were present at the meeting.
Read more: Evolution of UN Peacekeeping into 4th generation will create new challenges for third world countries including Bangladesh: BIPSS president