prime minister
PM hands over 1st UNESCO-Bangabandhu prize to MoTIV of Uganda
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has handed over the "UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the Creative Economy" to MoTIV, a Uganda-based integrated creative studio.
Noel Collin Kaijabwango, business and operations lead of MoTIV, received the award on behalf of team MoTIV.
Prime Minister's sister Sheikh Rehana was present beside her while handing over the prize.
Audrey Azoulay, who was re-elected Tuesday to the post of Director-General of UNESCO with the massive support of the organisation's 193 member states, delivered welcome remarks at the function.
Sheikh Hasina's presence at the first award-giving ceremony coincided with the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh's Independence.
Addressing the function, Sheikh Hasina said UNESCO's decision to establish the UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the Creative Economy, is the most befitting tribute to his contribution to global humanity and peace.
What Bangladesh is today so different from what it was during the early years of independence is due to his visionary leadership and legacy, she added.
Investment in creative economy to accelerate development: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said investment in the creative economy will help fulfill the collective aim of accelerating socio-economic development and technological advancement.
“We believe that investment on the creative economy will result in realization of the collective aim of furthering socio-economic development and technological advancement,” she said while addressing the Award Giving Ceremony of the first-ever UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for Creative Economy.
Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Audrey Azoulay chaired the ceremony held at the UNESCO headquarters here.
Sheikh Hasina said she believes that UNESCO’s decision to establish the UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the Creative Economy is the most befitting tribute to his contribution to global humanity and peace.
“…what Bangladesh is today so different from what it was during the early years of independence is due to his visionary leadership and legacy,” she said.
Acknowledging the kind support of the international community in the development of the country over the decades, she said, “We also wish to contribute to the socio-economic development and technological advancement for the betterment of the global community despite our limited capacity.”
Hasina hoped that this international prize would strengthen UNESCO’s efforts in the field of creative economy, further contributing towards its global priority, that is, Gender Equality and the priority for youth as a group.
“This UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize will surely create a knowledge-sharing mechanism by capturing, celebrating, and communicating the best practice in the development of creative entrepreneurship,” she said.
The Prime Minister said this year Bangladesh is celebrating the Golden Jubilee of its Independence, which coincides with the ‘Mujib Year’, the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. UNESCO is officially associated with the celebrations.
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Hasina said Bangabandhu was a strong advocate of multilateralism, who treated the United Nations ‘as the centre of peoples’ future hopes and aspirations.’ Bangabandhu had similar sentiments and attributes for UNESCO as a specialized UN organ.
“The actions of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman towards promoting linguistic and cultural diversity and investing in peace are similarly central to all fields of UNESCO's mandate,” she said.
Hasina said Bangabandhu’s policy decisions and establishing institutions in the field of education, culture, science and technology and leadership in establishing democracy as the cornerstone of governance in a newly-independent country are directly linked to UNESCO´s core objectives.
Immediately after the Independence in 1971, Bangabandhu made primary education compulsory for all and free, she said, adding that Bangabandhu believed that expenditure on education was the best investment and declared free schooling for girls up to grade eight.
In a war-ravaged newly-independent country with many economic challenges, Bangabandhu nationalized over 36,000 Primary schools and their more than 150,000 teachers and employees across the country. “This simple example reveals his priority for education and a knowledge-based society,” said the PM.
Following his footprints, the present Awami League government has given priority to education. “We’ve established a primary school in almost every village.”
She said the number of pre-primary and primary schools in the country is now 133, 000. Of those, 65,566 are government-run schools.
Since 2010, free books, numbering about 400 million copies, are distributed among students up to secondary level. School lunches are arranged for 2.9 million students in economically backward areas, she added.
Hasina said more than 13.03 million primary students are supported by stipends. Stipend money goes to mothers or legitimate guardians directly through their mobile phones. Another 7 million students from Secondary to higher education have been brought under various scholarships, she said.
“We’ve established Prime Minister’s Education Assistance Trust for the management of the stipend and scholarships at secondary and college levels,” she said, adding that the government has also introduced Bangabandhu Science and Technology Fellowship for pursuing MS, PhD and post-doctoral studies and researches at renowned universities at home and abroad. So far, 580 scholars have been awarded with the fellowships spending about Tk 2 billion, she added.
The government has also established 20 new public technological and general universities in the country since 2009 raising the total number of public universities to 52, she mentioned.
Read: Hasina urges UNESCO to declare online and remote learning as public good
Besides, as many as 105 private universities are offering higher education in the country. Currently, technical educational institutions are being opened in all 492 upazilas or sub-districts, she said.
The PM said these measures helped the government bring down dropouts drastically. Enrolment in pre-primary and primary level increased to 99 percent. Female-male school enrolment ratio rose to 53:47 in 2017 from 35:65 in 2009. The increasing female education has significantly lowered the rate of child marriage, she noted.
“The investment in education has started giving dividends. Bangladesh has made impressive progress on socio-economic fronts during the last one decade,” the PM added.
During the period, per capita income tripled to US$ 2,554 and poverty rate lowered to 20.3 percent from 31.5 percent, she mentioned.
Hasina said the infant mortality rate has come down to 23.67 per 1,000; maternal mortality rate to 173 per 100 thousand live births; and the average lifespan of people rose to 73 years.
Bangladesh also graduated to a developing country from an LDC this year, the PM said.
She said the Father of the Nation envisioned a Golden Bangladesh which will be economically self-reliant and free from hunger, poverty and illiteracy.
UNESCO DG Audrey Azoulay also spoke at the event, while PM’s younger sister Sheikh Rehana was present on the dais.
Hasina urges UNESCO to declare online and remote learning as public good
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday asked UNESCO to declare remote learning and online education as a global public good as these are creating a new divide.
“I also call upon UNESCO to work as a matter of priority with Governments, private sectors and other stakeholders to rally partnership and resources to make this happen,” she said while delivering her speech at the 41st General Conference of UNESCO held at its Headquarters here.
The Prime Minister said the pandemic has undermined the hard-earned achievements while it has revealed a major fault line in the education system.
According to UNESCO, close to half of the world's students are affected by partial or full school closures, she said.
“Online education evolved as a “new normal” during the pandemic. Yet, it also exposed a new divide,” she added.
In this connection, Sheikh Hasina said the advanced countries could swiftly move to online platforms. But the developing countries and LDCs were pushed further behind due to lack of resources and technologies. “This has jeopardized our decades of gains in school enrollment, literacy rate and learning of youth and adults,” she observed.
While digitisation has enhanced better services and free flow of information, all are worried by the misuse of digital tools and platforms for spreading harmful contents and hate speech, she said.
“This has a significant negative impact on the peace and stability of the society. World bodies like UNESCO should work for addressing this issue,” said the PM.
Read: Hasina invites French entrepreneurs to invest in Bangladesh
Talking about climate change, she said this is a life-threatening reality not only for Bangladesh but also for many other countries of the world.
Four Nations Football: Bangladesh play 1-1 draw with Seychelles
Bangladesh started their campaign in the Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksha Trophy Four Nations International Football Tournament in Sri Lanka with frustrating note after playing 1-1 draw with African side Seychelles in their first match at Racecourse International Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday.
The Bangladesh-Seychelles match, earlier scheduled for last Sunday, postponed twice due to heavy rainfall and inclement weather in Colombo.
Bangladesh dominated the first half all through playing an entertaining football to take 1-0 lead. But in the 2nd half they were completely off-coloured with their hopeless performances to settle for a draw against their lowly African opponent.
READ: Four Nations Football: Host Sri Lanka plays out 4-4 draw with Maldives
Forward Mohammad Ibrahim put Bangladesh ahead in the 17th minute by an angular shot from right wing (1-0).
Brandon Rashid netted the equalizer for Seychelles just two minutes before the final whistle (1-1).
Later, Mohammad Ibrahim of Bangladesh was adjudged the most valuable player of the match.
Earlier on Tuesday, coming from behind, hosts Sri Lanka played to a 4-4 draw with their neighbor the Maldives in the tournament’s opener.
In the match, Ahmed Wasim Razeek of Sri Lanka made a hat-trick in the very first match scoring all the four goals in the 64th, 69th, 72nd and 90+3 minutes respectively.
A Ghamee, A Fasir, Ibrahim and A Ashfaq scored one each for the Maldives, which dominated the first half by 3-0 goals.
READ: Argentina vs. Brazil: Arch-rivals will meet in the FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifier in November
Bangladesh team in day’s match (starting eleven): Zico, Topu, Badsha, Susanto, Yeasin, Jamal, Rakib, Fahad, Saad, Sumon and Ibrahim.
Kishida reelected Japan's PM in parliamentary vote
Fumio Kishida was reelected as Japan’s prime minister on Wednesday after his governing party scored a major victory in key parliamentary elections.
Elected just over a month ago by parliament, Kishida called a quick election in which his governing party secured 261 seats in the 465-member lower house — the more powerful of Japan’s two-chamber legislature — enough to maintain a free hand in pushing legislation through parliament.
The Oct. 31 victory increases his grip on power and is seen as a mandate from voters for his weeks-old government to tackle the pandemic-battered economy, virus measures and other challenges. Kishida said he saw the results as a signal that voters chose stability over change.
Later Wednesday, he will form his second Cabinet by keeping all but one of the ministers he appointed when he took office on Oct. 4, and then map out his economic measures and other key policies at a news conference.
Read: Japan votes in national election, 1st key test for Kishida
Kishida had been chosen by the Liberal Democrats as a safe, conservative choice a month ago. They had feared heavy election losses if the unpopular Yoshihide Suga had stayed in power. Suga resigned after only a year in office as his popularity plunged over criticism of his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and his insistence on holding the Tokyo Olympics despite concerns of a virus surge.
The better-than-expected election results may give Kishida’s government more power and time to work on campaign promises, including COVID-19 control, economic revitalization and strengthening Japan’s defense capability.
Kishida’s grip on power also may be strengthened by his Cabinet changes.
A key policy expert from his party faction, former Education Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, will be the new Foreign Minister, while former Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi will shift to the governing party’s No. 2 post.
Motegi voted for Kishida in the party leadership race and will replace party heavyweight Akira Amari, who resigned from the post over his unimpressive election outcome due to his past bribery scandal.
Though many of Kishida’s ministers are first-timers, key posts went to those from influential and party wings, including those led by ultra-conservative former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and former Finance Minister Taro Aso.
Kishida promises to create a reinforcing cycle of growth and improved economic distribution to raise incomes under his “new capitalism” economic policy.
Kishida’s immediate post-election task is to compile a major economic stimulus package of about 30 trillion yen ($265 billion) that includes cash payouts, to be announced next week. He also aims to pass an extra budget by the end of this year to fund the projects.
Read:Japan's ruling party loses 1 of 2 by-elections in blow to PM Kishida
At a government meeting Tuesday, Kishida renewed his pledge to create a positive cycle of growth-distribution by bolstering investment and income.
Kishida is also expected to outline later this week his pandemic measures ahead of another possible surge in cases, which could affect his support ratings.
As a former foreign minister, Kishida will continue to prioritize the Japan-U.S. security alliance and promote a vision of a “free and open Indo-Pacific” with other democracies, including Quad dialogue members the U.S., Australia and India.
Kishida has stressed the importance of a stronger military amid worries over China’s growing power and influence and North Korea’s missile and nuclear threats.
He has opposed changes to a law that requires married couples to adopt a single surname, which forces most women to abandon their maiden names. The Liberal Democrats are widely seen as opposed to gender equality and diversity.
Hasina voice of the vulnerable: BBC
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been named as one of the five influential dealmakers at COP26 being held at Glasgow, according to a BBC report that described the Bangladesh leader as “voice of the vulnerable”.
The four other influential dealmakers who will have a major impact on the summit's success or failure are China's climate negotiator Xie Zhenhua, Saudi Arabia's Ayman Shasly, UK minister Alok Sharma, Spain's minister for ecological transition Teresa Ribera.
Hasina spoke on behalf of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, a grouping of the 48 among the countries most threatened by climate change.
She's an experienced and straight-talking politician, who will bring the lived experience of climate change to the COP, said the BBC report headlined “Climate change: Five dealmakers who will influence the outcome at COP26.”
Just last year, the report said, about one-quarter of Bangladesh was underwater as floods threatened a million homes.
"People like Prime Minister Hasina put a human face on climate change and can help world leaders understand what climate change already looks like," said Dr Jen Allan, an expert in international relations from Cardiff University.
Despite the fact that they are among the poorest nations, the Climate Vulnerable and the Least Developed Countries group have a strong track record in the negotiations.
These countries "punch above their economic weight, so to speak", says Dr Allan.
"Because they are a strong moral voice, and because decisions are taken by consensus, they have been able to get a good deal of progressive decisions through the UN machinery."
According to Quamrul Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi negotiator, who works as part of Sheikh Hasina's team, the vulnerable nations are coming to Glasgow with a clear set of goals.
"There are over one billion people now on the hook of adverse climate impacts," he told BBC. "We want to get them off the hook by getting the richest countries to steeply cut back emissions, to fix the outstanding Paris rules, to ramp up climate finance and to address loss and damage.”
While Greta Thunberg, Sir David Attenborough and world leaders will attract most of the media attention at COP26, the real work of getting 197 countries to commit to changes will fall to lesser-known diplomats and ministers - the negotiators, said BBC.
Their complex role requires a sharp mind, a deep reserve of tact and incredible endurance. Talks often go through the night and rarely finish on time.
Hasina leaves Glasgow for London
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday left Glasgow for London after attending the COP26 and other events in Scotland.
A VVIP aircraft of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the Prime Minister and her entourage departed the Glasgow International Airport at 12:50 pm (local time).
The flight is scheduled to land at Heathrow International Airport, London at 13:30pm (local time). Bangladeshi High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem will receive the Prime Minister.
Hasina will stay in London till November 9 before leaving for Paris as part of her two-week visit to the United Kingdom and France.
READ: World must share responsibility of climate migrants: Hasina
During her stay in London, the Prime Minister will attend a summit titled “Bangladesh Investment Summit 2021: Building Sustainable Growth Partnerships” (Nov 4), inaugurate an art exhibition titled “Bangabandhu and Britain: A Centenary Collection” and unveil the covers of two books titled “Secret Documents’ (Vol i-ix) and “Mujib & Introduction”.
Besides, Sheikh Hasina will attend Westminster’s programme and a civic reception to be accorded to her by the Bangladeshi community, inaugurate the newly-extended part of Bangladesh High Commission Bhaban and Bangabandhu Lounge there.
British Parliament Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle and delegation of Taylor & Framcis will make courtesy calls on the Bangladesh Prime Minister in London.
The Prime Minister will stay in Paris from November 09 to November 13.
During her stay in Paris, Sheikh Hasina will hand over ‘Unesco-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the Creative Economy,’ deliver the keynote speech as special guest in the inaugural session of the 75th founding anniversary of Unesco, and attend Paris Peace Forum.
Besides, she will have meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron, French Prime Minister Jean Castex and French Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly.
Sheikh Hasina will receive an official reception in the French Senate and hold a meeting with a team of French senators headed by the President of Inter-parliamentary Friendship Group senator Mathieu Damaud.
A delegation of French business body MEDEF, CEO of Airbus Guillaume Faury, President of Dassault Aviation Eric Trappier and President of Thales Patrice Caine will meet the Bangladesh Prime Minister there.
READ: Effective climate plans not possible without funds: Hasina
Sheikh Hasina will also attend a civic reception to be accorded to her by the Bangladesh Community in France.
The Prime Minister left Dhaka for Scotland on October 31 and is expected to return home on November 14 from Paris.
PM attends bilateral meeting with Johnson, after calling on Charles
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday held a bilateral meeting with her British counterpart Boris Johnson on the sidelines of COP26.
The Prime Ministers discussed various issues of bilateral and multilateral import.
The meeting was held at the designated UK Meeting Room of the Scottish Exhibition Centre in Glasgow, where the UN-led COP26 climate conference is being held.
Earlier, the Prime Minister called on Prince Charles, heir to the British throne.
Poor climate cash flow hampering adaptation: Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said global actions for adaptation to climate change have virtually remained ineffective due to the lack of finance and strong political will.
“To address this, developed countries must fulfill their commitment of annual 100-billion-dollar climate finance with 50:50 allocation for adaptation and mitigation,” she said.
The Prime Minister said this while delivering her speech in the Leaders’ Meeting on “Action and Solidarity–The Critical Decade” at the COP26 venue here.
READ: Bangladesh cancelled 10 coal-based power plants for climate’s sake: Hasina
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi convened the event.
Sheikh Hasina said as the President of the CVF and the host to the South Asian office of Global Centre on Adaptation, Bangladesh is promoting locally-led adaptation in different countries of the world. “But global adaptation actions are not being effective due to lack of finance and strong political will.”
Hasina embarks on 2-week visit to UK, France Sunday
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will leave Dhaka on Sunday for the United Kingdom and France on a two-week visit.
During the visit, she will attend the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), Bangladesh Investment Summit and hand over ‘Unesco-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the Creative Economy’.
The Prime Minister will also hold bilateral meetings with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron apart from other heads of state and government during her visit.
The Prime Minister will also hold a meeting with the UK's Prince Charles.
A VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, carrying the Prime Minister and her entourage, will depart Hazrat Shajalal International Airport at 9pm.
It will land at Glasgow International Airport in Scotland at 2:45pm (local time) where Bangladeshi High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem will welcome her.
Hasina will address the key segment of the COP26 on November 1 apart from joining the opening ceremony.
The same day, the Prime Minister will attend a joint meeting of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF)- Commonwealth High Level Panel Discussion on Climate Prosperity Partnership.
Hasina will also attend a meeting titled “Action and Solidarity-the critical decade” at the invitation of her British counterpart Boris Johnson on November 1.
She will have a meeting with Commonwealth secretary general Particia Scotland, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Bill Gates, the founder of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
She will attend a civic reception virtually arranged by the Bangladeshi Community living in Scotland.
Read: South Asian nations should work together: Hasina
On November 2, the Prime Minister will attend meetings titled “Women and Climate Change” and “Forging a CVF COP 26 Climate Emergency Pact”.
She will hold a bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
She will have meetings with UK’s Prince Charles, First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, speaker of Scottish Parliament Alison Johnstone.
Later, she will address “A Bangladesh Vision for Global Climate Prosperity”.
On November 3, she will leave Scotland for London by a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight. It will take off at 12pm (local time) from Glasgow International Airport and land at Heathrow International Airport at 1:30pm.
Bangladeshi High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem will welcome her at the airport.
On the same day, she will go to Westminster where Rushanara Ali MP and Lord Gadhia will welcome her. She will have a courtesy call with British Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle.
On November 4, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the “Bangladesh Investment Summit 2021: Building Sustainable Growth Partnerships”.
She will also unveil the cover of two publications titled ‘Secret Documents’ (Vol i-ix) and ‘Mujib & Introduction’ and inaugurate an art exhibition titled “Bangabandhu and Britain: A Centenary Collection”.
On November 7, she will inaugurate the newly-expanded portion of Bangladesh High Commission and Bangabandhu Lounge there.
She will also attend a civic reception to be accorded to her by Bangladeshi expatriates living in the UK.
On November 9, she will leave London for Paris at 8am (local time) by a VVIP flight of Biman. It will land at De Gaulle International Airport at 11:15am (local time).
Read: Identify new market trends to diversify export: Hasina
Bangladesh Ambassador Khandaker Mohammad Talha will welcome her at the airport.
She will have a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at Elysee Palace and witness the signing of three MoUs/TCA/TA, and attend a joint press conference before joining lunch to be hosted by the French President. She will be given guard of honour there.
The Prime Minister will also have a bilateral meeting with French Prime Minister Jean Castex.
On November 10, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury and Dassault Aviation president Eric Trappier, Thales president Patrice Caine will meet her at her place.
She will have a meeting with a delegation of French business organisation MEDEF. French Minister Florence Parly will also meet her.
Later in the afternoon, she will visit the French Senate where she will receive official reception during the ongoing Senate Session.
On November 11, Sheikh Hasina will attend the Paris Peace Forum.
Later, she will go to attend the “Unesco-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the Creative Economy” awarding ceremony at the Unesco Headquarters.
From there she will go to Elysee Palace to attend the dinner to be hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron in honour of her.
On November 12, Sheikh Hasina will go to the Paris Peace Forum and attend a high-level panel discussion on South-South and Triangular Cooperation.
Later, she will go to the Unesco Headquarters to attend the inaugural session of the 75th Founding anniversary of Unesco where she will deliver her speech.
She will participate in the dinner to be hosted by Unesco Director General Audrey Azoulay in honour of heads of government and state.
On November 13, Sheikh Hasina will attend a civic reception to be accorded to her by the expatriate Bangladeshis living there.
In the afternoon, she will depart De Gaulle International Airport by a VVIP flight of Biman and land at Hazrat Shahjalal Airport at 10 am (local time) on November 14.