Dhaka, Sept 16 (UNB) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday stressed the need for having an accommodative attitude towards relations among neighbouring countries for the sake of mutual development.

“It’s very natural to have problems among neighbouring countries.  If there’s a supportive attitude towards the relations among them, it’ll be very easy to achieve prosperity in the countries,” she said.

The Prime Minister made the remarks when she received the Dr Kalam Smriti International Excellence Awards-2019.

Chief Adviser of the Dr Kalam Smriti International Advisory Council ambassador T.P. Sreenivasan handed over the award at a ceremony at the Prime Minister’s Office in the afternoon.

The award, constituted to disseminate the ideals and teachings of aerospace scientist and former Indian President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, was conferred upon Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in recognition of her commitment to a close and mutually satisfying India-Bangladesh relations, welfare of her people, particularly women and children, and international peace and cooperation.

Sheikh Hasina said bilateral problems can solved through negotiations, and the countries can work together so that the people of the neigbouring nations can be benefited.

“We always take measures so that people can get benefits as well,” she added.

Hasina said Bangladesh always gives importance towards building friendly relations with neighbouring countries.

About Bangladesh-India ties, she said, “The relations of Bangladesh and India have reached a height that is marked by mutual trust and goodwill over the last one decade.” 

Recalling the contributions of India to Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War, Hasina said India had provided shelter to over 10 million people from Bangladesh and helped it emerge as an independent country and building the war-ravaged nation as well.

The Prime Minister said Bangladesh and India solved land boundary problem peacefully as Indian Parliament unanimously passed a historic bill to implement the Land Boundary Agreement.

“Bangladesh and India have set an example for the world exchanging enclaves between the two countries in a festive mood,” she said.

Hasina said Bangladesh has adopted the Agenda 2030, along with the international community, after experiencing a high degree of success in achieving the MDGs.  “We’ve been taking measures in such a way that we can attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well.” 

Alongside taking plans in line with the SDGs, Bangladesh also adopted some specific plans for the uplift of its people’s socio-economic status before the celebration of the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation and the Golden Jubilee of the country’s independence, she said.

Referring to her government’s development activities, the Prime Minister said the per capita income in Bangladesh has surged to US$ 1909 in 2019 from US$ 543 in 2006.

“Over the last one decade, our GDP has been growing at a rate of over 6.5 percent per annum, and it is 8.1 percent in 2018-2019,” she said.

“Our commitment is to achieve a growth rate of 10 percent by Fiscal Year 2023-24,” she said adding that the poverty has dropped to 21 percent in 2019 from 41.5 percent in 2006.

Hasina said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had told journalists on many occasions that he loves the people of Bangladesh more than his family members. 

“I’m really proud of hearing this as my father dedicated his entire life to the people of Bangladesh,” Hasina said.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen was present at the dais.
 

Cox’s Bazar, Sept 16 (UNB) – A court here on Monday placed a Rohingya youth, who was arrested along with a foreign pistol from a camp in Ukhiya upazila on Sunday night, was placed on a five-day remand.

The judge of the Ukhiya Judicial Magistrate Court passed the order after police produced Sabbir Ahmed, 25, son of Dil Mohammad of Balukhali Camp-2, before his court seeking a five-day remand.

Police arrested Sabbir with the foreign pistol from the camp around 11pm on Sunday, said Mohammad Abul Mansur, officer-in-charge of Ukhiya Police Station.
 

Islamic University, Sept 16 (UNB) - A seminar on mosquito born disease ‘Dengue’ was held at Islamic University (IU) in Kushtia on Monday.

IU Biomedical Engineering department organised the seminar at Poromanu Biggani MA Wazed Miah Science building around 12 pm.

IU vice-chancellor Professor M Harun-Ur-Rashid Askari addressed the seminar as the chief guest where Jahangirnagar University’s Microbiology department Professor also the treasurer of Pabna University of Science and Technology, M Anowar Khasru Parvez was the chief discussant.

IU pro-vice-chancellor Professor M Shahinoor Rahman, Treasurer Professor M Selim Toha and Engineering and Technology faculty dean Professor M Momtazul Islam were also present as special guests of the programme chaired by Biomedical Engineering department chairman Professor Tapon Kumar Goadder.

Rabiul Islam, a lecturer of Biomedical Engineering department, conducted the seminar attended by over two hundred teachers and students of the department.

Dhaka, Sept 16 (UNB)- ACI Pure Flour Ltd has launched ‘Nutrilife Atta Oats Plus’ for health-conscious consumers in an event held at ACI Center here on Monday. 

The 3rd generation healthy ‘Atta’ comes with a unique combination of wheat flour and oats. 

Mr. Syed Alamgir, Managing Director of ACI Consumer Brands unveiled this new product while Anup Kumar Saha, Deputy Executive Director, ACI Pure Flour Ltd. along with Moinur Rahman, Business Manager;   A. S. M. Faizullah, Business Manager, ACI Pure Flour Ltd. and Sales Managers among others were present in the event.

Considering the growing demand for healthy ‘Atta’, ACI Pure Flour Ltd introduced ‘Nutrilife Atta Oats Plus’ for the health-conscious consumers of Bangladesh with a unique combination of wheat flour and oats.

‘Nutrilife Atta Oats Plus’ contains dietary fiber which reduces bad cholesterol; thus, good for heart. It also contains anti-oxidants that controls blood pressure and it is very helpful for diabetic patent by controlling blood sugar. 

Syed Alamgir, Managing Director of ACI Consumer brands said, “Consumers in Bangladesh are very health conscious these days. As a responsible consumer brand, we have introduced this healthy ‘Nutrilife Atta Oats Plus’ for conscious consumers.”

‘Nutrilife Atta Oats Plus’ 1kg pack will be available at Tk 50 in all the superstores and wet markets in Dhaka. 

Dhaka, Sep 16 (UNB) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday received the Dr Kalam Smriti International Excellence Awards-2019, constituted to disseminate the ideals and teachings of noted scientist and former Indian President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

Chief Adviser of the Dr Kalam Smriti International Advisory Council Ambassador T.P. Sreenivasan handed over the international accolade through a ceremony at the Prime Minister’s Office in the afternoon.

The award is conferred upon Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in recognition of her commitment to a close and mutually satisfying India-Bangladesh relations, welfare of her people, particularly women and children, and international peace and cooperation.

Addressing the function, Sheikh Hasina dedicated the award to the people of Bangladesh. “You’ve honoured me which means you’ve honoured the people of Bangladesh.”

“This award will certainly inspire me and my government to strive for the achievement of greater inclusive development for my people while keeping in mind the need to ensure the conservation and protection of our natural ecosystems,” she said.

The Prime Minister extended her sincere thanks to the organisers for conferring upon her the Dr Kalam Smriti International Award.

She also congratulated to the past recipients   of this award in   recognition   of   their works towards attaining sustainable development for their respective countries and for the globe as a whole.

Chairperson of the Dr Kalam Smriti International Deena Das read out the citation.

The citation reads: “Dr. Kalam Smriti International Excellence Award, instituted in the name of outstanding scientist and visionary statesman Bharat Ratna Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam is presented to Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, an architect of modern Bangladesh rapidly progressing towards being “Sonar Bangla” (Golden Bengal), as envisioned by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.”

The citation further says Dr Abdul Kalam as the President of India and Sheikh Hasina as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh fostered cooperation between India and Bangladesh and worked together for a prosperous world free from poverty, hunger and illiteracy.

“They share a common vision of a peaceful and prosperous South Asia, free of tension, conflicts and terrorism. The common values of freedom from oppression brought the two peoples together in the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971, which guides us even today,” the citation states.

It notes that the award is a testimony to the contribution made by Sheikh Hasina to the common good of mankind, which was a cherished dream of Dr. Abdul Kalam, who said: “Dream is not that which we see while sleeping, it is something that does not let you sleep.”

At the function, the visiting team of Dr Kalam Smriti International presented Kerala traditional saree and ponnada (cloth) as well as Kalam logo to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The Presidents of the Maldives, Ghana and Mauritius earlier received the prestigious award since its introduction in 2015.

Dr Kalam Smriti International Excellence Awards is given to honour presidents, statesmen or leaders, who have shown excellence in their field and have shown great vision to achieve the best for their country.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abul Momen was present at the dais.