Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday questioned if opposition BNP wants to come to power by giving guarantee to sell Saint Martin’s island.  “BNP came to power in 2001 by giving undertaking to sell gas. Now they want to sell the country. Or do they want to come to power by undertaking to sell St. Martin’s island?” she said. The premier was addressing a press conference arranged at her official residence Ganabhaban over the outcomes of her recent visits to Switzerland and Qatar.  Hasina said she is the daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and doesn’t want to come to power by selling any resource of this country. “Now if I say that I will lease out St. Martin’s island or our country, there will also be no problem for me to stay in power. I know that,” she said. Read: PM says recent visits to Switzerland, Qatar will accelerate multi-dimensional relations But the PM said she would not allow anyone to play ducks and drakes with the fate of the people of Bangladesh. “We’ll not allow any act like carrying out terrorist activities in any place or attacking anyone by using the land of my country,” she added. “We believe in peace. We believe in peaceful cooperation,” said PM Hasina, adding that Bangladesh didn’t engage in quarrels with Myanmar even after some 11 lakh Myanmar refugees took shelter in Bangladesh. Bangladesh continues negotiation with Myanmar on the issue, she said, adding that her government believes in the policy ‘Friendship to all and Malice towards none.’ “We didn’t go for engaging in fights or quarrels with them (Myanmar),” said the prime minister. Hasina visited Qatar from May 22 to 25 to attend the Qatar Economic Forum-2023 and visited Switzerland from June 13 to 16 to join the "World of Work Summit: Social Justice for All," a summit of ILO.  Read: Coast Guard to be built as a modern force: PM Hasina Replying to a question on election-time government, the prime minister said there is no constitutional scope to hand over power to an unelected government. She said there is a judgment of the higher court that an elected head of government shall be replaced by another elected head of government. And the constitution was also amended accordingly, she added. “Everybody knows it. Why are they trying to create a constitutional crisis even after knowing it? What is the motive? It means to destroy the democratic process,” said the premier. She said the motive to create a constitutional crisis is to destroy the ongoing democratic process and socio-economic progress, which has been continuing for the last 14 years. Now it is up to the people of the country whether they want the continuation of democratic trend, economic development and the welfare of the people or they want again the situation Bangladesh faced during the last caretaker government, she said. Noting that the BNP and some other parties have taken to the streets, the PM wondered what their problem is and where the sources of their finance. She said the upcoming general election will be held on time as per the Constitution and the electoral laws. In reply to another question, Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh will join BRICS in order to reduce dependency on a single bloc in the international stage. Read: DSCC Mayor Taposh urges all to complete animal sacrifice within 2 days of Eid-ul-Azha “We’ll join BRICS as we’ve been engaged since the preparation of its formation. But we could not be a founding member of it. Now we’ve sought to be its member. We want so as we won’t remain dependent on any single one in the international stage,” she said. She said Bangladesh doesn’t want to remain dependent only on dollars, rather it wants to carry out purchasing goods with other currencies as well. Responding to a question regarding inflation and illegal hoarding of goods, the PM said the government is trying to contain inflation to ease the sufferings of the people. She said the government is taking actions against those who are engaged in illegal hoarding of goods, which led to the price-hike of commodities. Answering a question, PM Hasina said the government has taken a decision to provide free foods to 10 million people ahead of the Eid-ul Azha. In reply to a question regarding a campaign over repression toward monitories, the PM said a propaganda started in this regard, which may increase further ahead of the next election. Mentioning that communal harmony prevails in Bangladesh, she asked the people of the country not to pay heed to the false propaganda.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Monday (May 22, 2023) said the two-time visits by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Qatar within three months this year bear the sign of Bangladesh's visible presence in the international economic arena as well as its close friendly relations with Qatar. He made the remarks at a media briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hours ahead of the Prime Minister’s departure for Doha to attend Qatar Economic Forum-2023. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Seheli Sabrin, among others, was present. This forum will focus on nine important contemporary issues, Dr Momen said. These issues include energy security; technology and innovation; changing market systems; innovation in the health sector; climate finance; trade strategies and arrangements; manpower in the fourth industrial revolution; sports in the digital world; and the future of foreign investment, he said. Read more: ‘Very strange, no source mentioned’: Momen on report claiming new sanctions are coming According to the organizers, prominent economists and leading business leaders of the world will participate in the discussion on these issues. In addition to Minister Momen, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Private Industry and Investment; State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources along with senior government officials will participate. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka for Doha on Monday afternoon on a three-day official visit to attend the Qatar Economic Forum 2023 at the invitation of Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. A VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airline, carrying the premier and her entourage, departed Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 3:13 pm. Read more: Qatar Economic Forum 2023: PM to leave for Doha this afternoon The flight is scheduled to land at Hamad International Airport at 6:00pm local time (9:00pm Bangladesh Time). The Prime Minister will attend the Forum titled “3rd Qatar Economic Forum: A New Global Growth Story” to be held on May 23-25. The Qatar Economic Forum is the Middle East's leading voice dedicated to global business and investment. The main objective of this forum is to find a solution by increasing mutual cooperation among the international community to deal with the multi-faceted challenges and crises going on globally and the adverse economic consequences arising from them. Read more: PM Hasina to leave for Doha on Monday to attend Qatar Economic Forum 2023 On May 23, Hasina will join the opening session of the 3rd Qatar Economic Forum, address the students of Qatar University in Doha, and hold meetings separately with Qatar Minister of State for Energy Affairs Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi and Minister of Investment of Saudi Arabia Khalid A. Al-Falih. On May 24, the PM will join the forum, have a meeting with the emir of Qatar at Amiri Diwan and visit Awsaj Academy (a specialized school). PM Hasina is expected to return home in the morning of May 25. Read more: PM Hasina likely to attend Qatar Economic Forum May 23-25