prime minister
Sylhet JCD leader arrested over alleged derogatory comment on PM
Police arrested a leader of Companyganj upazila Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) in Sylhet for alleged derogatory remarks on the prime minister on social media. The arrestee was identified as Emdadur Rahman Inzad, Joint Convener of JCD Companyganj committee.
Also read: Youth held for making ‘derogatory comments’ against PM in N’ganj
He was arrested Saturday night from his residence following a case filed by Ahmed Reza Rubel, president of Telikhal Union Bangladesh Chhatra league committee, said Sukanta Chakraborty, Officer-in-Charge of Companyganj police station. According to the case complaint, on May 22 the accused posted a status on his Facebook profile degrading the PM over State Minister for Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Imran Ahmed distributing relief among the flood affected people at Companyganj. He wrote, “If vote stealing PM Sheikh Hasina can say popular PM Begum Khaleda Zia should be drowned in the Padma River then we can also say that Hasina should be dropped off from without Hasina's flight after it takes off from Zia International Airport. Thus the country and its people will be freed from vengeful Sheikh Hasina.”
Also read: GD filed for making ‘derogatory comments’ on Bangabandhu, PM On May 31, Rubel filed the case under the ICT Act against four people including Inzad and two more anonymous people at Companyganj police station.
Sri Lanka leader vows to shed powers, appoint prime minister
Sri Lanka’s president on Wednesday promised to appoint a new prime minister, empower the Parliament and abolish the all-powerful executive presidential system as reforms to stabilize the country engulfed in a political crisis and violence triggered by the worst economic crises in memory.
In a televised address, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that he without partisanship condemns attacks on peaceful protesters by mobs who came to support his brother and former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who resigned Monday.
“I am taking steps to appoint within this week a new prime minister who has the trust of a majority in Parliament, who can win over the confidence of the people and a new Cabinet to control the current situation, to stop the country from falling into anarchy and to continue the government’s functions that are at a standstill,” Gotabaya Rajapaksa said.
“I will make way for the new prime minister to present a new program of work and implement it.”
Gotabaya Rajapaksa said he will also give away much of his powers to Parliament and when some normalcy returns, take steps to abolish the country’s powerful executive presidential system.
The president’s speech came as authorities deployed armored vehicles and troops in the streets of the capital Wednesday, two days after pro-government mobs attacked peaceful protesters, triggering a wave of violence across the country.
Security forces have been ordered to shoot those deemed to be participating in the violence, as sporadic acts of arson and vandalism continued despite a strict nationwide curfew that began Monday evening.
Also read: Sri Lanka deploys troops in capital after violence, protests
Anti-government protesters have been demanding the resignations of President Rajapaksa and his brother, over a debt crisis that has nearly bankrupted Sri Lanka and left its people facing severe shortages of fuel, food and other essentials. In the past few days, nine people have died and more than 200 have been injured in violent attacks in which mobs set fire to buildings and vehicles.
Armored trucks with soldiers riding on top rolled into some areas of Colombo. Defying the curfew, some protesters regrouped opposite the president’s office to continue demonstrations that began over a month ago. Police announced over loudspeakers that it is illegal to stay in public places during the curfew.
Videos posted on social media showed lines of military trucks moving out of the capital, along with soldiers riding on motorbikes and setting up checkpoints across the country amid fears that a political vacuum could pave the way for a military takeover.
The Defense Ministry’s top official, Kamal Gunaratne, denied speculation of a military takeover at a news conference held with the country’s army and navy chiefs.
“None of our officers has a desire to take over the government. It has never happened in our country, and it is not easy to do it here,” Gunaratne said. President Rajapaksa is a former top army officer and remains the country’s official defense minister.
Gunaratne said the army will return to its barracks once the security situation normalizes.
The U.S. State Department expressed concern over the military deployment, with spokesman Ned Price saying it was “closely monitoring” the situation.
The prime minister’s departure has created an administrative vacuum with no Cabinet, which dissolved automatically with his resignation.
Navy commander Nishantha Ulugetenne said the former prime minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, is being protected at a naval base in Trincomalee on the northeastern coast.
After Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned, he and his family were evacuated from his official residence through thousands of protesters trying to break into the heavily guarded colonial-era building.
The Indian Embassy denied social media speculation that “certain political persons and their families have fled to India,” and also rejected speculation that India was sending troops to Sri Lanka.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs affirmed its support for Sri Lanka on Tuesday, saying it had extended $3.5 billion to help overcome the economic crisis and had sent essential items such as food and medicine.
On Monday, supporters gathered at the prime minister’s official residence to urge Mahinda Rajapaksa to stay in office. After the meeting, mobs backing the government beat peaceful protesters who had camped out near the prime minister’s residence and president’s office demanding their resignations, as police watched and did little to stop them. Across the country, angry citizens responded by attacking government supporters and ruling party politicians.
Nine people including a ruling party lawmaker and two police officers were killed and 219 were injured in the violence, the defense ministry said. In addition, 104 buildings and 60 vehicles were burned.
Pro-government mobs were chased, beaten and stripped. Homes of government supporters were attacked, and some businesses were set on fire.
Pope Francis in a Tweet called for peace in Sri Lanka.
“I address a special thought to the people of Sri Lanka, especially the young,” he said.
“I urge everyone to maintain a peaceful approach, without giving in to violence. I appeal to all those with responsibility to listen to the aspirations of the people, respecting human and civil rights.”
The European Union called on the authorities to initiate an investigation into the events and hold accountable those who instigated and carried out the violence.
Sri Lanka is nearing bankruptcy and has suspended payments on $7 billion in foreign loans due this year out of $25 billion due by 2026. Its total foreign debt is $51 billion.
The Central Bank on Wednesday urged the president and Parliament to quickly restore political stability, warning the economy faces a threat of further collapse within days.
“Even for us to make progress on debt restructuring, we need a stable kind of a government. A Cabinet, a Parliament, a prime minister, a finance minister are all needed,” Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said.
“Without that kind of an administration, it is very difficult for us make any progress.”
No one to stay homeless in Bangladesh, PM declares after providing homes to about 33,000 destitute families
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday vowed to ensure houses for all the homeless people at a programme marking the handing over about 33,000 government-built homes to another batch of extremely poor families as her Eid gift.
“We’ve been able to ensure electricity for 100 per cent people. Now 100 per cent (homeless) people will get the houses. None will remain landless and shelter-less in Bangladesh,” she said.
The prime minister was addressing the house distribution function among 32,904 homeless and landless families across the country under the third phase of the Ashrayan-2 Project.
She inaugurated the distribution of semi-pucca abodes, joining a virtual function from her official residence Ganobhaban in the morning.
Sheikh Hasina exchanged views with beneficiaries from the four cluster housing places at Nagarkanda Upazila in Faridpur, Barguna Sadar Upazila, Sirajganj Sadar Upazila and Anwara Upazila in Chattogram through a videoconference.
The PM said she doesn’t know whether such a housing initiative was taken in any other country across the world.
“To me, power is to serve the people and work for the people. So, today I’ve been working so that not a single person will remain homeless or shelter-less in Bangladesh,” she asserted.
Also read:Ashrayan-2: About 33, 000 homeless families get homes as PM's Eid gift
Dams needed to boost Australia's flood resilience: PM
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called for more dams to be built to boost the country's flood resilience on Sunday, acknowledging the role of climate change in flooding that has hit Australia's northeast.
However, he said that instead of focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, more needed to be done to mitigate the impacts of future floods and fires.
At least 20 people have died and thousands of buildings have been destroyed in floods that began late in February when parts of Queensland and New South Wales received a year's worth of rain in a matter of days.
"Dealing with climate change isn't just about getting emissions down, it's about resilience and adaptation," he told Nine Network television.
"You want to deal with resilience on bushfires, you have to do fuel load management," he said. "You want to deal with floods, you have to build dams."
READ: Major floods swamp Australia's east coast, claiming 7 lives
The federal government has been criticized for failing to immediately deploy resources including the Australian Defense Force (ADF) to the flood zone.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Thursday rejected federal assistance, saying it was offered too late and criticizing Morrison for funding only three of the 20 flood mitigation measures she has proposed since November 2020.
In response, Morrison said the federal government deployed resources as quickly as it could.
Govt wants to build knowledge-based society: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said the government wants to build a developed and prosperous nation imbued with modern and technological knowledge.
“We want to build a nation imbued with modern and technological knowledge to make Bangladesh developed and prosperous,” she said while inaugurating newly constructed Rangpur Divisional Headquarters complex building.
The programme was held at the Multipurpose Hall of the building while the Prime Minister joined it virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.
READ: Hasina stresses need for research in health sector
She mentioned that due to the pragmatic and time-befitting steps of the government the country has advanced in the last 12 years.
“We have to go more, we want to build hunger and poverty-free Bangladesh which was the dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, our aim is the country will no longer see ‘monga’ and famine and people will never face sufferings, ” she said.
“Rural people will live in their villages and get all facilities of the urban areas, people will no longer need to rush to the capital as employment opportunities will be created in the villages,” she said.
She asked all concerned to implement the development programmes properly.
Sheikh Hasina said that the government is setting up one hundred economic zones across the country to expedite industrialisation for meeting local demand and boost export.
She also asked the owners of industries to set up agricultural products processing plants considering those products that grow in their respective areas.
She also said that the government has set up testing laboratory that is needed for exporting food items and gradually all divisional headquarters will get such laboratory so that products could be sent from there directly.
“Our aim is to make Bangladesh developed and prosperous one by 2041, InshAllah this will also be achieved, no one will not able to stop the forward march of Bangladesh,” she said.
She said that the future generation will get a congenial atmosphere for living.
Talking about the massive development of Rangpur Division in the last 12 years, the Prime Minister said that the government has taken numerous development programmes for this division.
“By the grace of Allah, no ‘Monga’ or famine was seen in this region after AL came to power,” she said.
READ: Schools must assign staff to help students cross roads safely: Hasina
She also mentioned that Rangpur region is now a food surplus area and employment opportunities have been created for its people.
Public Administration senior secretary KM Ali Azam and Rangpur Divisional Commissioner M Abdul Wahab Bhuiyan also spoke at the programme.
A video on the development of Rangpur division was screened at the programme.
Bangladesh to be governed with Bangabandhu’s political ideology: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said Bangladesh will be governed as per the ideological speech of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman that he had delivered on his historic Homecoming Day in 1972.
“The Father of the Nation on his Homecoming Day on January 10, 1972 delivered his policymaking speech and ideological directives for governing the country. We’ve to go ahead with that ideology; we’ve to advance the country with that. And the pace of development in Bangladesh must not be stalled, no matter what,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said this while addressing a discussion meeting here, marking the historic Homecoming Day of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Awami League arranged the discussion at its Bangabandhu Avenue central office.
AL President Sheikh Hasina presided over the discussion, joining it from her official residence Ganobhaban.
Get vaccinated without fear: Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday urged all to get vaccinated without unnecessary fear to fight off the Coronavirus and its new variants.
“I request all, please get vaccinated… do not fear. This vaccine will at least save your lives. Maybe you will suffer for a few days (if infected by the virus), but your life will be saved. That’s why my request to all that don't fear and take jabs,” Hasina said.
She made the call while addressing a programme marking the laying the foundation stone of 460-bed integrated cancer, kidney and heart units at medical colleges in eight divisional cities of the country.
Held at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium, the Prime Minister joined the programme virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.
The Prime Minister said the government has managed some 31 crore coronavirus jabs for the people of the country. “No one will be left unvaccinated,” she said.
Hasina said many are unwilling to take vaccines fearing the pain caused by the injection needle in addition to various negative propaganda against vaccination. “Our target is to put 80 percent of the total population, except minors, under the vaccination coverage to save them from the Coronavirus and the new variant Omicron.”
READ: Focus on quality products to boost exports: Hasina
As the new variant is also infecting children, the government has started vaccinating the 12-above children, she said adding, “Whenever WHO will announce the age of children for taking jabs, we’ll start vaccinating them as per its guideline. By the time we’ve given more than 13 crore doses, including double doses. We’ve started giving booster doses as well as I want the people of the country to remain safe.”
Hasina called upon all to strictly follow the health guidelines as the Omicron variant of the Coronavirus is spreading fast across the world very fast. “Please use masks and avoid mass gatherings.”
DAP finalised; gazette after PM’s approval: Minister
The Detailed Area Plan (DAP), 2016-35 has been finalised and a gazette notification will be published upon approval from the Prime Minister, said Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Minister Md Tajul Islam on Thursday.
“DAP has been finalised and it’ll be sent to the Prime Minister for approval. The gazette will be published after the Prime Minister’s approval,” he said while talking to reporters after a review meeting on DAP at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
Read: Nationwide safe drinking water supply grid is under works: LGRD Minister
“We finalised DAP today keeping the scope to amend it further if we get any complaint of injustice to someone. We haven’t approved it to harm anyone intentionally,” he said.
DAP has been finalised taking everything under consideration, including ensuring the lives and livelihoods of the residents of Dhaka, he added.
Replying to a question on the objection of Real Estate & Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB), the minister said, “We’ve taken opinions from all concerned. We didn’t say people won’t be allowed to construct over six-storey buildings as we welcome those who’ll build 50-storey, 50-storey or 100-storey buildings.”
But high-rises must have all civic amenities, said Tajul. “We want to develop new residential areas in that way so that each area may have a school.”
Read:Dengue cases likely to come down within a month: LGRD Minister
He also thanked REHAB authorities for their contributions to the rehabilitation sector. The minister also urged the REHAB members to construct buildings in undeveloped areas.
Talking about the Bus Bay, Tajul said, “It’s needed in any modern city and there’re many limitations in implementing it in Dhaka city.”
What is DAP?
Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) draft DAP (Detailed Area Plan) to reshape sprawling Dhaka and its suburban areas better habitable with adequate civic amenities as the national capital has turned out to be one of the worst cities of the world.
Get vaccinated, PM renews her call to all
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday reiterated her call to all to get vaccinated against Covid-19 as the government is going to take the vaccination drive to the grassroots level.
“We’ve already decided to continue the vaccination programme through every community clinic and health centre so that rural people can take jabs soon. No one should remain unvaccinated. All must avail of it,” she said, adding that many people still show reluctance to receive the vaccine.
The Prime Minister said this while addressing a function at the city’s Bangabandhu International Conference Centre, joining it virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.
READ: Vaccination progamme for Ctg prisoners kicks off, 800 get vaccinated on day 1
At the function, she published the results of Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and its equivalent examinations-2021 and inaugurated the distribution of free textbooks among students up to the secondary level for the academic year of 2022.
Hasina said since the Covid-19 jabs will be given through community clinics or other health centres, all of those who have not yet received the vaccine will have to take it.
Noting that the government has already vaccinated the teachers of educational institutes, she said now the jabs are being given to students.
The PM directed the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education to be sincere so that all the students receive vaccines.
Pointing at the guardians of students, Hasina said not only the parents but also their children will have to take vaccines.
Sheikh Hasina directed the Education Ministry to continue their online education programmes as the Corona infection rate goes up and down.
Mentioning that it was noticed that the outbreak of this pandemic witnessed a surge immediately after the winter season, she said the Education Ministry will have to take preparations from right now to continue the online education programmes in the case of possible surge in Covid-19 infections.
“Since it would not be possible to keep schools open in case of a fresh outbreak of Covid-19, you’ll have to take measures to ensure the access of online teaching to every house,” she said.
READ: Over 1.6 lakh EPZ workers vaccinated: BEPZA
She also urged guardians to assist students over online education.
Focusing on the Awami League government’s development measures for the education sector, the PM said her government gives importance to two issues --nutrition and mental health awareness—of the students.
Hasina said the government started a school feeding programme. But parents or guardians also have to pay attention to the nutrition of their kids, she added.
She said one lakh teachers and officials have been given training on nutrition issues while two lakh teachers on mental health issues.
Noting that many of this country are not aware about their children’s mental health, the PM said sometimes many kids cannot concentrate on their education and classroom teaching, which is one type of disability and a different type of syndrome.
Govt never interfered with judicial process: Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said the government never interfered with the country’s judicial process as it upholds the rule of law.
“We never interfered with the judicial process, never gave anyone any scope to do that. We’ve cleared the path so that everyone could walk in the way of justice,” Hasina said.
She said this while unveiling Mujib memorial books titled ‘Bangabandhu ebong Bichar Bibhag’, ‘Bangabandhu and the Judiciary’ and Mujib Borsho Souvenir ‘Nyay Kantha’ (Voice of the Justice) published by the Bangladesh Supreme Court on the occasion of Mujib Borsho (Mujib Year).
All the cases filed against Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and their verdicts alongside the laws enacted by the Bangabandhu government were incorporated in the books ‘Bangabandhu ebong Bichar Bibhag’, and ‘Bangabandhu and the Judiciary’.
The launching ceremony was held at the Supreme Court premises and the PM joined it from her official residence Ganobhaban.
Hasina said the country will always be there in the world keeping its head ever high. “We’re taking those steps,” she said.
READ: Inferno on-board MV Abhijan: 5 admitted to Sheikh Hasina Burn Institute
Regarding the miserable days after the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she said Awami League had to come to power to file the case as the right to seek justice was snapped.
“Where were the guardians of democracy, basic rights and human rights at that time? Had we not survived or been able to come to power, this trial would not have completed ever…this is the reality, and the culture of impunity would continue.
Talking about giving shelter to two self-proclaimed killers of Bangabandhu in the USA and Canada, the Prime Minister alleged that America, which is very much vocal about democracy, voting rights and human rights, is giving shelter to killer Rashed.
“After coming to power, I wrote to all the presidents of the USA requesting them to deport the convicted criminal. I don’t know why America, which is very vocal about democracy, is giving shelter to a killer!” she wondered.
She also said Canada is giving shelter to another self-proclaimed killer -- Major Noor.
“It’s surprising that we have to take lessons from them on the rule of law, democracy and justice,” she added.
Regarding the formation of Bakshal (Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Janata League) by Bangbandhu in 1974, Hasina said, “It wasn’t done to grab power or establish monarchy… it was to establish the rights of the mass people.”
She claimed that after the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, it is she of this soil who has taken state power outside the cantonment and returned it to the mass people.
The Prime Minister also said she has one more job to be done regarding the assassination of the Father of the Nation. “And that’s to find out those who are behind-the-scenes conspiracies. This will be dug out one day…there’s no doubt about it,” she added.
Law Minister Anisul Huq also spoke at the programme held with Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain in the chair.
READ: Govt to address Bangladesh expats’ problems in Maldives: Hasina
In the beginning of the programme, guests observed a one-minute silence in honour of all the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in August 15 assassination, Language Movement and Liberation War in 1971.