President Abdul Hamid on Tuesday received credentials from the new ambassadors of Turkey and the Philippines to Bangladesh in the evening. Press secretary Joynal Abedin briefed the reporters after the meeting.  Ramis Sen of the Republic of Turkey and Leo Tito L. Ausan Jr. of the Republic of the Philippines presented their credentials. Appreciating Bangladesh's ties with the two countries, Hamid urged them to play an important role as envoys particularly to enhance trade and economic relations for mutual benefit. Hamid also hoped that the bilateral relations with the countries will further be expanded during their respective assignments here. Also Read: Prevent corruption in every sector: President to ACC Referring to the losses in the recent earthquakes in Turkey, the President again conveyed his sympathy to the bereaved family members and said Bangladesh would always stay beside the government and people of Turkey at all regional and international platforms as very faithful and old friends in days to come. On the Rohingya issue, the President expressed his gratitude to the Turkish government and its people for their support in this connection. Later, during the meeting with the Philippines ambassador, the President mentioned that the Philippines government and its people provided heartfelt support to the 1971 Liberation War and subsequently it is one of the countries which recognized Bangladesh after the Liberation War at the beginning stage. Terming the bilateral relations between the two countries very excellent, Hamid urged the Philippines government to explore the untapped potential areas in bilateral trade and investment, including pharmaceuticals, agricultural products, light engineering and jute products etc. The two sides can also explore cooperation in disaster management, health care and IT sectors, the President added.  President Hamid also requested the Philippines government to support Bangladesh’s application for ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partnership.  He assured the envoys of his all-out cooperation in discharging their duties in Bangladesh in cementing further Bangladesh relations with the countries. Praising the socio-economic development of Bangladesh, the ambassadors told the President that they would provide their possible all-out cooperation to Bangladesh government during their respective assignments here. Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, secretaries concerned and high officials to the President, among others, were present. Earlier on their arrival at Bangabhaban, a contingent of the horse-mounted President Guard Regiment (PGR) offered the ambassadors guards of honour as part of the ceremony. The national anthems of the respective countries were also played by the army band and the Ambassadors made a round of inspection of the guard of honour.    

The holy Shab-e-Barat -- the night of blessings and forgiveness -- will be observed in Bangladesh tonight with befitting religious fervour. Shab-e-Barat is observed on the 15th night of the Arabic month of Sha'ban. Shab-e-Barat is regarded as a significant occasion during which Muslims pray to Allah and beg for forgiveness for their transgressions. It is thought to absolve them of their sins and bestow upon them good fortune for the entire year. Muslim devotees will offer special prayers, recite from the Holy Quran, and also hold religious gatherings seeking divine blessings for the wellbeing of mankind. Read more: No fireworks during Shab-e-Barat: DMP The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has imposed a ban on using firecrackers in areas under its jurisdiction in the capital ahead of the holy Shab-e-Barat. The 12-hour restriction will come into effect from 6pm this evening and remain in force till 6am the next day, DMP Commissioner Khandker Gulam Faruk said.  The ban was imposed to maintain the law and order in the capital and ensure the sanctity of Shab-e-Barat, he added. Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar, and private TV channels and radio stations will air special programmes, highlighting the significance of the night. President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the occasion on Monday. They greeted all Muslims in the country and elsewhere across the world on the occasion of the holy Shab-e-Barat. President Abdul Hamid in his message said the holy Shab-e-Barat comes to mark the advent of the holy month of Ramadan and good fortune. “On this holy night of Shab-e-Barat, we pray for the continued progress, welfare, and greater unity of the Muslim Ummah, along with seeking eternal mercy and blessings from the Almighty Allah. May the full virtues of the holy Shab-e-Barat be upon us.” Read more: 7 Exclusive Halwa Ideas, Recipes for holy Shab-e-Barat He urged the affluent to come forward and help the distressed and the poor on this occasion, as the world is gripped by a multitude of crises due to the Covid-19 pandemic followed by the war in Ukraine. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said: “Inspired by the greatness of the holy Shab-e-Barat, I am calling upon all to devote themselves to the cause of human welfare and nation building.”   She also asked all to establish the spirit of Islam at personal, social, and national levels, putting off all kinds of injustice, violence, and superstition.  

President  Abdul Hamid on Wednesday asked all concerned to design curriculum  in line with the demand of current job market as there is no substitute of demand-based and work-oriented education. He said this in the "6th Convocation 2023" of Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) at Mirpur Cantonment here. Stressing on the quality education as the first step for building a nation, the President said it (quality education) is the main mean of economic development and intellectual growth. He advised the university authorites to give importance to research and ensure transparency and accountability in every work of the university to make it a 'Centre of Excellence'. Also Read: No room for confusion over whether the president’s post is profitable or not The President, also Chancellor of  the university, asked the university teachers to dedicate themselves in teaching and keep in mind that “education without joy cannot bring any benefit.” "We have to keep ourselves up-to-date by absorbing the new concepts and strategies invented in various subjects coping with the times," he said. Hamid also asked all concerned, including the university authorities, to develop the young generation as skilled manpower in science and information technology (IT) to face the challenges of the 21st century at the national and international levels. “There is no alternative to acquiring skills to survive in this competitive world,” he said adding the science and applied education should be expanded from primary to higher levels. Congratulating the graduates for obtaining the degree, the President advised them to remember that ‘education is not limited only to obtaining a degree but the real success of a graduate depends on how a student can take advantage of it in personal and professional life. Referring to the current  world situation, Hamid said, under the efficient leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the country's economy is moving towards the right direction. “We need to increase the flow of foreign exchange to save the country from the global recession caused by outbreak of the global Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.  And this should be done through increasing exports and overseas employment,” he said. The President suggested the graduates for taking preparation for sustaining in  the global competition as well as establishing themselves as entrepreneurs. On this occasion, 36 graduates were awarded “Chancellor Gold Medal” while 29 others got “Vice-Chancellor Gold Medal.”  Chief of Army Staff (CAS) General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed was the convocation speaker at the 6th convocation while Education Minister of Dr. Dipu Moni, MP, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder, MP, Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury, members of parliament (MPs), BUP Vice-Chancellor Major General Md Mahbub-ul Alam, chiefs of the three services and BUP pro-VCs, treasurer and registrar, among others, were present there.    

The presidential election of Bangladesh will be held within February 23. Election Commission  (EC) Secretary Md.  Jahangir Alam said this while talking to reporters after a meeting held at EC building on Sunday. "The process has already started. We will contact the Parliament Secretariat and fix the date of the Chief Election Commissioner’s meeting with the Speaker," he said. Current president Abdul Hamid cannot be elected president for another term as the country’s constitution allows a maximum of two terms for a person in the post of president. Hamid is the only President who has been serving for two consecutive terms. His second and last tenure will expire on April 24 this year.  On Apr 24, 2013, Abdul Hamid was sworn in as the 20th President of Bangladesh. Read More: EC starts receiving applications for settling objections to draft voter list   After the end of his first tenure, Hamid also took oath as the president on the same date in 2018 for the second term. Lawmakers vote in the presidential election, which is supposed to be held in the House with the CEC acting as the election officer.  

Law Minister Anisul Huq on Wednesday said the presidential election will be held in due time since the second term of Abdul Hamid expires in April next. Talking to reporters after inaugurating a workshop, he also said that the government has so far no plans to amend the constitution. “The presidential election will be held in the due course of time. Since he (Hamid) was elected the President for two terms, he can't stay any longer (in the post) as per the constitution,” the minister said. Read more: Law Minister sounds out govt's bullish mood on election The workshop was organised in collaboration with the United Kingdom at the Judicial Administration Training Institute in the capital for the lower court judges. Various problems of the judiciary of Bangladesh, including case backlog, case management, and ways of quick case disposal, will be discussed in the four-day workshop. On Apr 24, 2013, Abdul Hamid was sworn in as the 20th President of Bangladesh.  After the end of his first tenure, Hamid also took oath as the president on the same date in 2018 for the second term. Hamid is the only President who has been serving for two consecutive terms. His second and last tenure will expire on April 24 this year.  The country’s constitution allows a maximum of two terms for a person in the post of president. Read more: Human rights violators will be brought under justice: Law Minister There was speculation that the government may amend the constitution to allow Hamid to stay in the post for another term, but the law minister categorically said they have no such plans. About the apex court’s bail to BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and standing committee member Mirza Abbas, he said no ministry, including the law ministry, is interfering in the work of the court. “The court will grant bail as per its wish. The court won’t give bail if it thinks it can't be given,” he observed. Huq also said it often happens that the apex courts are granting the BNP leaders bail when the lower court is denying it. He also said staying the lower court’s bail by the apex court is nothing new in Bangladesh. “Those who have raised questions about it, may not have seen the rules of Jatiya Party and BNP.”

President Md. Abdul Hamid has called upon the public representatives to work for the welfare of the people. He made this call during an exchange of views with the public representatives, elite and government officials of Itna upazila in Kishoreganj on Wednesday evening. The meeting was held at President Abdul Hamid Auditorium in Itna. Also read: President inaugurates flood shelter, student residence in Kishoreganj's Itna At the beginning, one minute silence in memory of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, followed by offering munajat. The president called for electing only those who will work for the development of Haor (vast water body) area remaining above personal interest. Highlighting the various steps taken by him for the development of Haor area, President Hamid underlined ensuring quality education in schools and colleges. Local Members of Parliament and secretaries to the President were present at the meeting. Also read: President Hamid visits dev projects in Kishoreganj Earlier, he inaugurated President Abdul Hamid Government College Flood Shelter and First Lady Rashida Hamid Chhatri Nibash (dormitory for female students) at Itna. The three-storied shelter and the student dormitory were built at a cost of about TK 3.50 crore and TK 1.10 crore respectively.

President Abdul Hamid on Monday ordered the National Human Rights Commission to play a strong role in protecting human rights on its own initiative without depending on others. He said this when a delegation headed by Commission Chairman Nasima Begum went to present the Commission's Annual Report-2021 to him at Bangabhaban. During the meeting, the delegation briefed the President about the overall activities of the Commission and various aspects of the annual report. President Hamid also asked the Human Rights Commission to properly fulfill the responsibilities assigned to them.  Read: Chief Justice presents annual report on JSC to President Hamid Alongside, he suggested raising public awareness about human rights at the grass root level. Besides giving necessary advice to the government to protect human rights, the President also directed the Human Rights Commission to work for their implementation. The president's secretaries were also present during the meeting.

President Abdul Hamid on Tuesday urged people to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr adhering to all Covid-safety protocols "as the (coronavirus) situation may deteriorate any time". "The (coronavirus) situation may deteriorate any time if people do not become aware of their movement and lifestyle at this moment," Hamid said. The President said these while conveying Eid greetings to the countrymen through media at Bangabhaban’s Credential Hall after offering Eid prayers this morning.  Due to the Covid pandemic, no religious festival of any community, including Eid, could be celebrated and enjoyed in the expected joyous atmosphere in the last two years, Hamid said. The President said the corona situation at present is very much under control, "so it is normal that people will have a tendency to enjoy unbridled joy now". Also Read: Hasina greets freedom fighters on eid "But you have to keep in mind one thing. The Covid-19 pandemic is under control but this lethal disease has not completely disappeared. Corona infections are on the rise again in many parts of the world. We must not invite danger while indulging in joy during the Eid celebrations," he said. Hamid also urged the people to share the joy of Eid with all, rich and poor alike. Noting that the current government is making continuous efforts to put a smile on the face of every citizen of the country, he said, "Before the Eid-ul-Fitr, 32,904 landless and homeless families were given houses as a gift from PM Sheikh Hasina." "Everyone's pledge on this Eid-ul-Fitr is to make everyone smile by building a hunger-free, poverty-free and happy-prosperous Bangladesh," the President added. Earlier, President Hamid offered Eid prayers at Durbar Hall of Bangabhaban. The Eid jamaat (congregation) at Bangabhaban was held in the morning (9:30 am), President's press secretary Md Joynal Abedin told UNB. The President usually attends the traditional Eid prayers in capital's National Eidgah Maidan but like the last two years, the programme has been scrapped due to the rise of Covid cases in some countries. Also Read: President Hamid congratulates Macron on re-election    

Taking part in talks with President Abdul Hamid, Bangladesh Tarikat Federation on Monday advocated for a legal framework for the formation of the Election Commission (EC). In the absence of a legal framework, the party proposed constituting a search committee taking suggestions from political parties as well as civil society members. President Abdul Hamid sat with a seven-member delegation of the Tarikat Federation at 4pm at Bangabhaban as he continued discussions with political parties on the formation of the next Election Commission, his Press Secretary Joynal Abedin told UNB. Welcoming the delegation, the President said the main objective of the talks was to form an acceptable Election Commission, Joynal said. READ: President to hold dialogue with 2 more political parties Sunday During the discussion, he said, the delegation of the Tariqat Federation underscored the need for enacting a law to form an independent and impartial EC. Joynal said the Tarikat delegation also said a legal framework for EC formation is now a demand of all the political parties and a law should be formulated as soon as possible. He also said the Tarikat delegation urged the government to sit with civil society members alongside the political parties to have their views about the formation of a search committee for the EC reconstitution.  Tarikat Federation Chairman Syed Nazibul Bashar Maizvandary led his party delegation in the talks. According to the Bangabhaban press wing, the Workers Party of Bangladesh is scheduled to meet the President at 4pm on Tuesday.   The other parties invited for the dialogue are Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF) and Islami Oikya Jote on December 29, Gano Forum and Bikalpo Dhara on January 2, Ganotantri Party and Communist Party of Bangladesh on January 3. The President’s talks with the registered political parties over the formation of the new EC began on Monday with the first parley with the main opposition in parliament, Jatiya Party. The country has now 39 registered political parties, according to the EC website and only nine of them have representation in Parliament. READ: President congratulates Under-19 Women Football team on winning SAF trophy The tenure of the current EC, led by KM Nurul Huda, is scheduled to expire on February 14 next year. As per the constitution, a new Commission must be formed before the expiry of the present EC.

President Abdul Hamid welcomed his Indian counterpart Ram Nath Kovind to Bangladesh upon the the latter's arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Wednesday morning. A special flight of national carrier Air India carrying the Indian President, the First Lady of India, their daughter, and his entourage landed at the Dhaka airport around 11.10 am. President Hamid and his wife Rashida Khanom, the First Lady, welcomed the Indian President and his family with a flower bouquet at the VVIP lounge. At the invitation of his Bangladesh counterpart Abdul Hamid, the Indian President has come here to attend the 50th Victory Day celebrations of Bangladesh, the closing ceremony of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50 years of Bangladesh-India diplomatic relations. READ:  Indian President due Wednesday on 3-day state visit President Kovind was also given a guard of honour at the airport upon his arrival from Delhi. He also paid homage to the martyrs of the great Liberation War at the National Mausoleum in Savar. On the same day at noon, he visited Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 and paid homage to the Father of the Nation. In the evening, the Indian President will hold a delegation-level meeting with President Hamid at Bangabhaban. After that, the Indian President will attend a banquet to be hosted by President Hamid. A cultural programme conducted by artistes of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy will be presented before the official dinner in the honour of the Indian President. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will also have a meeting with the Indian President on the same day at Bangabhaban, while Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen will also call on him. Before going for the meeting, President Kovind will present a replica of T-55 tank and a MiG-29 fighter jet which was used during the Great Liberation War of Bangladesh, to President Hamid for display at Bangladesh National Museum. On Victory Day, President Kovind will attend the two-day colourful programme on the theme ‘The Greatest Hero of the Glorious Victory’ organised by the National Implementation Committee for the celebration of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. President Hamid will join the programme as the chief guest while the Indian President will be present as the Guest of Honour at the programme of Bangladesh National Parliament.  Prime Minister and daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Hasina will preside over the ceremony.  On the third day of his visit, on Friday, the Indian President will inaugurate and inspect the newly renovated section of the “Kali Mondir” at Ramna. The Indian President will leave Dhaka for Delhi on Friday noon. Earlier, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a state visit to Bangladesh from March 26 to 27 to join the celebrations of the golden jubilee of the independence of Bangladesh, the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh. READ: India wants Bangladesh to be more vibrant: Kovind Minister of State for Education, two Members of Parliament, the Indian Foreign Secretary and other high-ranking officials are accompanying the Indian President.