President Hamid
Austrian, Libyan envoys present credentials to President Hamid
Austrian Ambassador to Bangladesh Katharina Wieser and Libyan Ambassador Abdul Mutaleb Suliman Mohammed Suliman presented their credentials to Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban Wednesday.
The president thanked Austria for its support on the Rohingyas issue. He hoped that the country's cooperation would continue in the future for the dignified return of the Myanmar nationals.
Also, Hamid expressed his gratitude to Austria for its cooperation in helping Bangladesh vaccinate its people during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Noting the excellent relations between Austria and Bangladesh, he hoped that it would be further expanded in different areas, including trade and investment.
Hamid told the Libyan ambassador that there was ample opportunity to expand the existing multi-dimensional Bangladesh-Libya ties in trade and commerce.
READ: President Hamid unveils inaugural envelope of census
He said Bangladesh produces world-class products, including ready-made garments (RMG), medicines, jute and leather products, and plastic materials. "Libya can get benefitted from importing them."
Libya could meet their demand for workers by recruiting skilled ones from Bangladesh in different sectors, including agriculture, information technology and health, he added.
Hamid sought the cooperation of the new envoy to solve the problems of Bangladeshis working in Libya.
Design modern curricula for every university: President Hamid
President Abdul Hamid on Saturday directed all concerned to formulate modern curriculum in every university of the country.
He gave the instruction when the Vice-Chancellors of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib University of Science and Technology and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Aviation and Aerospace University visited the President at Bangabhaban in the evening.
Read: Bangladesh’s new ambassador to Sweden meets President Hamid
A delegation led by Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib University of Science and Technology's Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Samsuddin Ahmed called on the President first while VC of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Aviation and Aerospace University Air Vice Marshal Nazrul Islam called on the President later.
During the meeting, the Vice-Chancellors briefed the President on the overall activities of their university, including academic and infrastructure development.
Mentioning development as one of the driving forces in this age of globalization, science and technology, the President said that the new and future generations of the country need to be educated in science and technology in order to keep pace with the world and make Bangladesh a developed and prosperous country by 2041.
Read: President shocked at death of journalist Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury
Noting that it is not possible to meet the demand of the present age in the traditional curriculum, the President said that timely curriculum should be formulated in the universities.
Besides, President Hamid also directed to intensify research activities and stop corruption and nepotism at all levels.
Secretary to the President Sampad Barua, Military Secretary Major General SM Salah Uddin Islam, Press Secretary to the President Md. Joynal Abedin were also present during the meeting.
Bangladesh’s new ambassador to Sweden meets President Hamid
The newly appointed Ambassador of Bangladesh to Sweden Mehdi Hasan called on President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban in the evening.
The ambassador-designate sought the guidance of the president in discharging his duties in Sweden, President's press secretary Joynal Abedin told reporters.
Read: BB to set uniform exchange rate to stabilize volatile dollar
The president instructed the ambassador-designate to take advantage of the ample opportunity of boost trade and investment between the two countries.
Hamid also suggested working for the welfare of expatriate Bangladeshis living in Sweden.
Secretary to the President's Office Sampad Barua, Military Secretary Major General SM Salah Uddin Islam were present on the occasion.
Hamid, Hasina pay tributes to Liberation War martyrs
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid rich tributes to the Liberation War martyrs at the National Memorial in Savar on Saturday morning.
The head of the state first placed a wreath at the altar of the memorial followed by the Prime Minister, marking the 52nd Independence and National Day.
Read: Hasina pays homage to Bangabandhu
After placing the wreaths, the President and the Prime Minister stood in solemn silence for a while as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War.
A smartly turned-out contingent drawn from the Bangladesh Army, Navy and the Air Force paid the state salute on the occasion, while the bugles played the last post.
President Hamid receives 10 names for EC proposed by search committee
President Abdul Hamid on Thursday received the names of 10 individuals recommended by the search committee to be appointed in the next five-member Election Commission at Bangabhaban.
The president will now review the names to pick five from among them for appointment as chief election commissioner and four other commissioners, Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said.
Two names have been proposed for each post.
Also read: Disclose 10 final names: Shujan to Search Committee
He said the chosen names will soon be published through gazette notification.
The chief justice meets President Hamid and brief him about SC activities: Bangabhaban
The newly appointed chief justice of Bangladesh Justice Hasan Fayez Siddiqui on Thursday paid a courtesy call on President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban.
During the meeting, the chief justice briefed the president on various activities of the Supreme Court, especially the operation of virtual courts during Covid-19 pandemic.
Justice Hasan also apprised the president of the steps taken to reduce the load of pending litigation.
Congratulating him, the President said that the judiciary has been the last resort for the people to get justice.
The judiciary must continue its efforts to ensure that people get justice without any harassment, he said.
Read: Canadian envoy presents credentials to President Hamid
President Hamid hoped that under the leadership of the new chief justice, the judiciary would be able to meet the expectations of the people through speedy execution of justice.
Secretary to the President's Office Sampad Barua, Military Secretary Major General SM Salah Uddin Islam, Press Secretary to the President Md. Joynal Abedin and Secretary (attached) Wahidul Islam Khan were present on the occasion.
Canadian envoy presents credentials to President Hamid
Resident High Commissioner-designate of Canada Lilly Nicholls presented her credentials to President Abdul Hamid him at Bangabhaban on Thursday.
The president told the new envoy that Bangladesh has always maintained an excellent relation with Canada.
He said the relationship is expanding in various fields, particularly in trade and investment, Joynal Abedin, president’s press secretary told reporters.
President Hamid recalled Canadian’s co-operation in ensuring duty-free- quota-free market access to Bangladeshi products to Canada, terming Canada as one of the country’s largest export destinations.
Hamid also thanked the Canadian government for providing support with vaccines and other medical equipment during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The high commissioner lauded the Bangladesh’s humanitarian role in sheltering Rohingya people, calling it a brave step and an example of humanitarian act.
She also told the president that her country would continue to provide necessary support to Bangladesh’s development.
She hoped that trade between the two countries would further increase during her tenure.
President's Office Secretary Sampad Barua, Military Secretary Major General SM Salah Uddin Islam, Press Secretary Md Joynal Abedin, Secretary (attachment) Md Wahidul Islam Khan were present on the occasion.
Don’t abuse power while discharging duties, President Hamid asks DCs
President Abdul Hamid on Tuesday asked the deputy commissioners not to abuse power while discharging their responsibilities to the citizens.
"The exercise of power is essential for the proper and efficient discharge of responsibilities,” the president said addressing virtually the DC Conference at Osmani Memorial Auditorium.
“But it is even more important to ensure that power is not abused. So consciously maintain the difference of responsibility and power in the workplace," he told the top district-level officials.
Also read: Work rising above fear and greed: Hasina to DCs
President Hamid reminded the officials of the great leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the creation of independent Bangladesh.
"We should not forget that since the country became independent under the leadership of Bangabandhu, today I have become the president, you have become the secretary, divisional commissioner and deputy commissioner," he said.
Stating that getting services is the right of the people, he said you will have to perform duties as a servant of the people.
"Deliver government services to the doorstep of the people. It should be remembered that we run our family with peoples' money. So providing government services is not a matter of kindness or benevolence," he said.
Mentioning social security programmes as an effective medium for poverty alleviation and social justice, the president said the officials concerned must ensure benefits of the programme reach the real poor.
"You have to provide effective leadership to meet the basic needs of poor people of the country, social protection and public empowerment of people, especially women empowerment," he also said.
He said land records and survey management is being digitized to ensure the best use of land and land related services.
Also read: PM’s 24-point directive to DCs to improve public services
"But during the land record, a group of dishonest employee is doing many irregularities in collaboration with local influential brokerage and taking illegal facilities. It is increasing the public sufferings," he said.
He also asked the officials to be strict in these matters and take a strong step to stop any irregularities and ensure the punishment against the involved officers and employees.
Describing corruption as the biggest obstacle to the development, he said "Durable development is being interrupted due to corruption. The culture of transparency and accountability in each level of field administration must be developed."
Hamid said that the Deputy Commissioner Conference is an important forum for discussions about the activities taken up for people at the field level.
Cabinet Secretary Khandhakar Anawarul Islam delivered the welcome speech while deputy commissioner of Sunamganj Jahagir Hossain and divisional commissioner of Chattagram division Kamrul Hasan spoke at the session.
AL to hold dialogue with President Hamid on Monday
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will lead a 10-member delegation of her Awami League party at a dialogue with President Abdul Hamid on the formation of the next Election Commission at Bangabhaban on Monday, the ruling party said. President's press secretary Joynal Abedin told UNB on Sunday that the president’s meeting with the AL delegation is scheduled for 4 pm.
Read: President Hamid urges transparency in govt activities AL said party president Sheikh Hasina will participate in the talks. The delegation will also comprise General Secretary Obaidul Quader, members of AL advisory council- Amir Hossain Amu and Tofail Ahmed, and presidium members- Begum Matiya Chowdhury, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, Lt. Col. (Retd.) Muhammad Faruq Khan, Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Abdur Rahman. President Hamid opened the dialogue on formation of the next EC on December 20. According to Bangabhaban press wing, 32 political parties were invited in phases joined the talks while the parties which has representation in the parliament were invited in the first phase. On the other hand, seven political parties declined to take part in the dialogue. The country has now 39 registered political parties, according to the EC website and only nine of them have representation in Parliament.
Read: 3 more parties attend president’s EC dialogue The nine parties are Bangladesh Awami League, Jatiya Party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Workers Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-Jasod, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, Ganoforum, Bangladesh Tarikat Federation and Jatiya Party-JP. The current EC is scheduled to end its five-year term in February next.
Nation building is everyone's responsibility, says President Hamid
President Abdul Hamid on Thursday said responsibilty for developing the country does not lie only with the political leadership.
"The development of the country and the people is not the sole responsibility of the political leadership. As citizens of an independent country, this is the responsibility and duty of all of us," he said.
He made the remarks at the inaugural ceremony of a two-day special programme on the theme ‘The Greatest Hero of the Glorious Victory’ as a mark of respect to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The National Implementation Committee for the celebration of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman oragsnised the programme on the Golden Jubilee of the Victory.
Also read: Bullets couldn’t wipe out Bangabandhu’s ideals: Kovind
Hamid delivered his speech as the chief guest in the programme while Indian President Ram Nath Kovind was present as the Guest of Honour at the the South Plaza of Bangladesh National Parliament in the evening.