Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said her government has mobilised enough resources to tackle the ongoing flood fury and reduce sufferings of the affected people. "This time the fury (of the flood) is little bit intense. It may continue for sometime, may stay till September," she told Japanese Ambassador Naoki ITO who called on her at her Sangsad Bhaban office. PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the call on. The PM said that the government is mobilising everything to reduce the sufferings of the people in the flood affected areas. "We have to live with the nature, we are mobilising our resources to provide all types of assistance to the flood victims," she said. Also Read: All citizens aged 18-50 can join universal pension scheme: Cabinet clears a draft law PM Hasina said that since the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971 Japan has been giving support in various fields of development. She also mentioned that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the great admirer of Japan for its huge socioeconomic and technological development. Talking about the democratic process of the country, she said that it was confined to the cantonment for long time. "Overtly or covertly they (military rulers) ruled. From there we have restored the democracy," she said. She also said that press in the country is free. There are 33 TV channels  operating in Bangladesh. "Before that only state-run Bangladesh Television was functioning," she said. Regarding the Padma Bridge, she said that she first laid the foundation stone of the bridge on July 4, 2001. Later the works did not progress until her AL government returned to power to complete the construction. The prime minister said that her government wanted to develop Cox's Bazar for tourism as it has the longest natural sea beach in the world. Ambassador Naoki ITO Invited the PM to his country saying that Japan will be happy if she can pay a visit sometime in November this year. He also said that Japan will continue to extend its support to Bangladesh's development works. In this connection, the ambassador said that he is eagerly waiting for the inauguration of Metro Rail. He also mentioned that hopefully Japanese companies will start work in the Araihazar special economic zone from next year. Referring to World Refugee Day being observed today he said, Japan wants an early repatriation of the Rohingya refugees. He said that Bangladeshi products got 98 per cent duty free quota free access in Japan. Hasina, in this connection said that said that the government has provided better facilities for Rohingyas in Bhashanchar.  The ambassador handed over a photo album titled, A visit to Japan by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1973, which was published on the occasion of the 50 years of diplomatic ties with Japan. Principal Secretary Ahmad Kaikaus was present in the meeting.

Ihsanul Karim has got another two-year extension as Press Secretary to the Prime Minister. The Public Administration Ministry issued a notification in this regard on Sunday. It said the service contract of Ihsanul Karim has been extended by two years from June 18, 2022 or the date of his re-joining. READ: Ihsanul Karim gets another 3-yr extension as PM’s Press Secretary   Ihsanul Karim, former press secretary to the President, was first appointed as the Press Secretary to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on June 15, 2015 and then he got three-year extension on June 16, 2016 and June 18, 2019. Earlier, he was the Managing Director and the Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).