Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said the government is taking all preparations to hold the next general election of the country in a free and fair manner. “The next election will be free and fair, we are taking all kinds of preparations,” she said. The Prime Minister said this while outgoing Switzerland ambassador Nathalie Chuard called on her at her Sangsad Bhaban office. PM’s speech writer M Nazrul Islam briefed the reporters after the call on. He said that the Prime Minister said that the government has formed a neutral Election Commission after enacting Election Commission Law and through a search committee. “The foreign observers will come to oversee the election of the country and they will do their job freely,” she said. Hasina said that the Election Commission is totally independent and the government has no control over it and its budget. Hasina, also the president of the ruling Awami League, said that Awami League is the major political party of Bangladesh, which has its base upto the grassroots level. “This political party took birth from the mass people,” she said. The Prime Minister said that BNP and Jatiya Party were born in cantonment. Chiefs of these two parties first became president by illegally grabbing the state power, later they formed their political parties. “They do not have any base among the mass people,” she said. Regarding Jamaat-e-Islami, she said that they were involved in crimes against humanity during the Liberation War of the country in 1971. “They also do not have any base among the mass people,” she said. She said that if the people vote the AL in the next election, it will form the government. She said that over the last 14 years the government has transformed the country massively. “It was possible as the people cast their votes in 2008 election for AL and its alliance giving two-third majority,” she said. Read more: Stay ready to offer a fair, acceptable election, Home Minister tells DCs Hasina said that AL always believes in the power of people and works for flourishing the democracy. Regarding the Rohingya issue, she said that over one million Myanmar nationals living here are a burden for Bangladesh. She urged all western countries to extend their support to their return in their homeland. She also said that due to the COVID-19 and Russia-Ukraine War negative impact occurred on the economy of the whole world. She said that these two elements forced the developing countries including Bangladesh into hardship. “We are trying to offset this impact,” she added. She questioned who are gaining from this war, only the arms sellers are making profit. “The world should stop this war at once,” she said. The Prime Minister also briefly described women empowerment in the country. Switzerland ambassador Nathalie Chuard said that Bangladesh is graduating to a developing country from the least developed one and her country will continue to support Bangladesh for its smooth transition. “I will always remain as a well-wisher of Bangladesh,” she said. She said that she visited every corner of the country and she was impressed to witness the remarkable and impressive development of the country. Nathalie Chuard said that Bangladesh has to face some challenges including COVID-19 pandemic, Russia-Ukraine War and climate change. “I am hoping that Bangladesh will be able to advance further facing all these challenges,” she said. She appreciated the quality of democracy, its stability and good relations with neighbouring countries. She also highly appreciated the progress in women empowerment in the country. Regarding Rohingya issue, she thinks that they should go back to their homeland quickly. Ambassador-at-large Mohammad Ziauddin and Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah were present.

Sangsad Bhaban, Jun 20 (UNB)- The government plans to set up burn units in five divisional medical colleges and hospitals in the country with Saudi Arabian funding. Health Minister Zahid Maleque said this in Parliament on Monday, responding to a tabled question from ruling Awami League MP elected from Chattogram M Abdul Latif. The five burn units would be set up in Sylhet, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Barisal and Faridpur. The health minister said the project will be implemented from July 2022 to June 2025. The project was approved at the ECNEC meeting on December 7 last year. “In addition, a 100-bed burn unit will be set up at Chittagong Medical College Hospital with funding from the Chinese government." He said that project was taken to set up a burn unit in Mymensingh district and Khulna district under the fourth sector program. In reply to a query from opposition BNP MP elected from Chapainawabganj Aminul Islam, the health minister told Parliament that mobile courts of Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) had cancelled the  registration of 136 commercial drugs in 2021 due to non-compliance and other irregularities. The minister also said that the licenses of 49 drug manufacturing companies have been suspended during this period. Besides, production and marketing of all types of medicines of 14 pharmaceutical companies have been suspended in 2021. At this time, 2036 cases have been filed in the mobile court run by the DGDA and a fine of Tk 2.67 crore has been realized on charge of producing and marketing fake, contaminated and unregistered medicine.    In response to another query from M Abdul Latif,  the Health Minister said that if any sick person is taken to the hospital or clinic or doctors, then there is no chance of refusing to provide emergency medical services to that person. “Strict guidelines have been issued to all government and private hospitals and clinics by the Department of Health under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in this regard and regular supervision is being carried out by the Department of Health in this regard,” he added. Replying to a question by BNP MP elected from Bogura Gulam Mohammad Siraj, the health minister said that steps would be taken to introduce separate units in government hospitals in all districts to provide medical services to drug addicts in future.  END/UNB/FF/ssk/2318

The Leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Remuneration and Privileges) Bill, 2021 was passed in Parliament on Tuesday. It will replace the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Remuneration and Privileges) Ordinance, 1979, which was promulgated during the military regime. Read: Public Debt Bill lands in Parliament Law Minister Anisul Huq moved the bill in the House and it was passed by voice vote. According to the Bill, the Leader of the Opposition shall be entitled to the same salary, allowances and other privileges as are admissible to a Minister. A Deputy Leader of the Opposition shall be entitled to the same salary, allowances and other privileges as are admissible to a Minister of State.

Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury on Saturday released fry in the Sangsad Bhaban lake, marking the National Fisheries Week 2020.

The Fish and Fish Products (Inspection and Quality Control) Bill, 2020 was placed in Parliament, aiming to ensure harsher  punishment for marketing and exporting fish or fish products mixing harmful chemicals.

Harunur Rashid, BNP's MP from Chapainawabganj-3 constituency, on Tuesday demanded the removal of Health Minister Zahid Maleque and bringing competent and committed persons in key posts of the health sector to face the coronavirus situation.

Three ordinances, promulgated between the 7th and 8th sessions of the 11th Parliament, were placed in Parliament on Wednesday to comply with the Constitution.

A bill titled 'Gazipur Unnayan Kartripakkha Bill 2019' was placed in Parliament on Tuesday to turn the fast-growing Gazipur city into a planned, liveable and environment-friendly urban area.

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Md Zakir Hossain on Tuesday told Parliament that more than 7,000 posts of head teachers are vacant in government primary schools across the country.

The government has a plan to bring the country’s all senior citizens under old-age allowance in phases by 2025, Social Welfare Minister Nuruzzaman Ahmed told Parliament on Tuesday.