Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday (September 13, 2023) invited investors from the Commonwealth countries to come to Bangladesh in a bigger way. “Geographically, Bangladesh is at the center of a market of 3 billion people. We have 170 million people of our own. By 2030, the affluent population of Bangladesh will stand at 35 million. Therefore, Bangladesh will become the third largest market globally, leaving behind Germany and the United Kingdom,” she said. The prime minister said this while addressing the two-day "Commonwealth trade and investment forum Bangladesh-2023" at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC). The Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, which is the Commonwealth's accredited business network, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Zi Foundation, a family-run foundation that offers support to vulnerable people, jointly organised the event. End the Ukraine war thru negotiations: PM Hasina tells Russian foreign minister The aim is to promote innovation, trade, investment and economic growth, enhance partnerships and explore ways towards sustainable and inclusive economic development for Bangladesh. The PM said that Bangladesh needs development partners for reaching its goal. “We need more high-quality and sustainable investment to accelerate the economic progress of Bangladesh,” she said. She mentioned that as a prerequisite for Biniyog Bikash, or investment promotion, her government has prioritised organisational reforms, the formation of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), which offering attractive facilities for investors, and ensuring post-investment services. Hasina said that almost all sectors are open for investment in Bangladesh. ‘Why would you call yourselves minority?’: PM to Hindu community But among those, she said, more investment is encouraged in agricultural goods and food processing, leather and leather goods processing, medical equipment, automobiles and shipbuilding, and ICT. “There are promising investment facilities in these sectors, including the easy process of taking back dividends or benefits to your home country,” she said. The premier said that some 70 percent of Bangladesh's foreign direct investment comes from reinvestment, which is a proof of the excellent investment environment that Bangladesh offers to investors. She mentioned that BIDA has started a one-stop fast-track delivery service to facilitate investors with the services of various departments of the government and through this one-stop service, 78 services from 26 departments can be received through one platform. PM Hasina offers land to Japanese businesses to set up industries Mentioning that the pre-requisite for investment is the development of infrastructure, she said that the government has established 100 economic zones, 109 hi-tech and software technology parks, and IT training and incubation centres across the country with attractive incentive packages to promote foreign investors. “We are developing our land, rail, and air connectivity. Almost all highways in the country have been elevated to four or more lanes,” she said. In this connection, she said that the Padma Bridge has connected 21 south-western districts of Bangladesh directly with Dhaka and other parts of the country. “There will be rail connectivity through the Padma Bridge between Dhaka and Khulna soon," she said. Read more: Dhaka, London plan to sign MoUs on economic cooperation, cyber security She said that soon the government will inaugurate the Karnaphuli underwater tunnel, the first such infrastructure not only in Bangladesh but in South Asia. “Work on establishing rail link between Chattogram and tourism town Cox’s Bazar is progressing fast.” Sheikh Hasina said that after winning the election in 2008 and forming the government in 2009, the government has started building the country based on short-, middle-, and long-term programmes. “A democratic environment, political stability, continuity of government, and, above all, structured development programs have helped in the quick socio-economic development of Bangladesh," she stated The prime minister said that the government is working to build a Smart Bangladesh, which will be realised by building the pillars of smart government, smart citizens, a smart economy, and a smart society. “Our goal now is to become a knowledge-based and Developed Smart Country by 2041 and a Prosperous Delta by 2100. We are working relentlessly towards that goal through the Perspective Plan, the Five-Year Plan, and the Delta Plan 2100.” Prime minister's private industry and investment adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Lokman Hossain Miah, Strategic Advisor (Bangladesh) Of CWEIC Zillur Hussain And Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) Chairman Lord Marland also spoke at the programme. PM Hasina also handed over Commonwealth Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Green Investment Award to Eco Brixs from Uganda. A video documentary was screened in the programme. Read more: Russian foreign minister’s recent comment in Dhaka is ‘not the most self-aware’: US State Dept Spokesperson

Tomorrow's (July 28, 2023) rally of Awami League's associate organisations -- Chhatra League, Jubo League and Swechchasebak League -- will be held at the south gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, instead of the old trade fair ground in Agargaon, said Afzalur Rahman Babu, general secretary of Swechchasebak League. "The rally cannot be held at the old trade fair ground as there is a scheduled programme of the president at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) next to the ground," he told reporters in Dhaka's Agargaon today. Also read: BNP must take responsibility if public safety is disturbed during movement: Quader A press conference regarding the rally will be held at the Chhatra League office on Bangabandhu Avenue at 5 pm today. Also read: AL’s associate organisations to hold rally on Friday too Yesterday, the three associate organisations of AL announced that their youth rally, that was scheduled for today, will be held on Friday. Also read: BNP defers tomorrow’s grand rally to Friday at Dhaka’s Nayapaltan The decision came after BNP decided to hold its rally on Friday, instead of Thursday.

Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (February 14, 2023) said that despite being an environment-friendly agricultural product, jute did not get the expected attention and incentives like the RMG (readymade garments) industry of the country. “The way we give incentives to garment industries… being an agricultural product, jute is not getting that opportunity. Jute urgently needs that scope. I have already given my directives in that regard,” she said. The Prime Minister said this while addressing a programme marking National Textiles Day and inaugurated six new textile engineering colleges. The programme was held at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC), while the PM joined virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban. Read More: Govt giving Tk 8 crore incentives to 4 lakh jute farmers to boost production The theme of National Textiles Day is ‘Let’s use local textile products, build golden Bangla’. Sheikh Hasina said that once upon a time, jute brought foreign currencies for the country and now that scope has emerged again as climate change has made people acutely conscious about the environment. “Jute is an environment-friendly product. It is possible to produce numerous products from jute,” she said. She also said that researchers of the country are working hard on this and have been able to invent various types of products. Read More: 64 percent land of Jute Corporation lost to grabbers, Parliamentary Standing Committee told “We should put more importance on jute” she said. The Prime Minister said that along with traditional items, new creative ideas are needed for better outcome. She called on RMG entrepreneurs to look for and identify new markets around the world, alongside producing new variations of products.  “We do not want to remain import-dependent, we want to export more,” she said. Read More: Export of jute products a boon for Satkhira women In this connection, she said that ICT is playing a big role. She put emphasis on value-addition to the export items of the country, so that those can bring in more foreign curreny for the country.  Sheikh Hasina said that this is the "digital era" and Bangladesh has become digital.  "If we look at industrial revolutions around the world, we will see one after another concept coming out. Now, the fourth industrial revolution is underway where digital devices will be used the most," she added. Read More: Jute sticks: A new source of income for Faridpur farmers For that, she said the government has taken steps to develop human resources in Bangladesh as worthy manpower ready for that industrial revolution.  In this regard, she said that the government has undertaken steps to provide technical training in every upazila. “Creating skilled manpower is our main goal; in Bangladesh the youths are quite bright,” she said. Textiles and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) acting president Md. Shahidullah Azim, and Textiles and Jute Secretary Md. Abdur Rauf also spoke at the event. Read More: All closed jute mills under BJMC to be reopened within this year: Minister A documentary was also screened at the programme. Textiles and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi, on behalf of the Prime Minister, handed over honorary commemorative to ten institutions and organisations for their contribution in development of the textile sector. Textiles and Jute Ministry established six new textile engineering colleges in different districts across the country. The colleges are: Sheikh Rehana Textile Engineering College in Gopalganj, Shaheed Abdur Rob Serniabat Textile Institute at Gournadi of Barishal, Shaheed Kamaruzzaman Textile Institute in Naogaon, Begum Amina Mansoor Textile Engineering Institute in Sirajganj, Bhola Textile Institute in Bhola, and Sheikh Russel Textile Institute in Jamalpur. Read More: Jute growers paying for drought that resulted in discoloured fibre Currently, there are six government textile engineering colleges located in Chattogram, Pabna, Noakhali, Jhenaidah, Barishal, and Rangpur. These are affiliated with the Bangladesh Textile University and managed by the Directorate of Textiles under the Ministry of Textiles and Jute.

The National SME Product Fair will kick off tomorrow (Thursday) to promote small and medium entrepreneurs’ products which are manufactured using local raw materials. The SME Foundation is organising the 10-day fair with the sponsorship of the Ministry of Industries at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC). Minister of industries Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun will open the 10th SME Product Fair as chief guest at 10:30 am at the fair venue. State Minister Kamal Ahmed Mojumder, Secretary Zakia Sultana, FBCCI president Md Jasim Uddin, SME Foundation’s Chairperson Professor Dr. Md. Masudur Rahman will also be present at the opening program. Around 325 entrepreneurs will set up 350 stalls to display their products. Read more: SME Foundation to hold fair in 6 divisions to promote local products “All foreign-made products are prohibited at the fair this year to encourage domestic industries,” said Dr. Md. Mafizur Rahman, Managing Director of SME Foundation. He said, “This year, 60 percent of the total stalls are by women entrepreneurs, as we are giving priorities to women in small and medium industries sector.” Most of the 130 entrepreneurs participating in the event are from the apparel sector. Apart from this, 45 are food/agricultural processing product producer, 38 in the handicraft industry, 36 companies in the leather goods sector, 35 in jute products, 8 companies in ICT products and services, 6 companies in light engineering products, 3 companies of electrical and electronics sector, 5 companies involved with plastic products are participating in the fair. Besides the 10-day fair, 5 seminars on easy financing for SME entrepreneurs, women entrepreneurs, technology, ICT and cluster-based product development will be organised at the event premises. Among the seminars, CMSMEs’ access to finance in Bangladesh: Scope for alternative financing options will be held on November 27, cluster-based SME development and potentiality of cross border e-commerce on November 29, regional and global network for women entrepreneurs, and applying modern technology and ICT in SMEs will be held on November 30. Read more: BB revises cluster credit guidelines to boost small enterprises The SME Foundation set targets for this fair to promote, disseminate, sell and market expansion of products produced by small and medium-scale entrepreneurs at local and international levels; assist in developing relationships, communication, and bridging of SME entrepreneurs; connect consumers and SME entrepreneurs.  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday distributed the National Film Awards among 33 recipients under 26 categories for the year 2019. 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will distribute the prestigious National Film Awards among its recipients on Sunday in 26 categories for the year 2019.

Prime Minister's International Affairs Advisor Dr Gowher Rizvi on Wednesday said the government is the guarantor of social justice and governance is an indispensable element to ensure the equitable share of people's access and opportunity.

The introduction of e-Passport will brighten the image of Bangladesh further in the digital world, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said on Wednesday.

Bangladesh entered e-Passport era as the first country in South Asia with the formal opening of the electronic passport services on Wednesday morning.

Electronic passports or e-passports will formally be issued from three offices of the Department of Immigration and Passport in capital Dhaka on Wednesday, said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan.