President Hamid
Ensure equal opportunities for all ending discriminations: President Hamid to world leaders
President Abdul Hamid on Saturday urged the world leaders to work for ending discriminations based on race, faith, colour, religion and ethnicity and ensuring equal opportunities for all.
"We must end discriminations based on race, faith, colour, religion and ethnicity, and ensure equal opportunities for all," he said.
President Hamid made the call while inaugurating the “World Peace Conference-2021” that has brought together global thinkers, writers, poets, singers and political personalities, aiming to promote a culture of peace and tolerance.
“The maintenance of peace and harmony is an essential element of everybody’s life. We all know peace is a public concept of harmony, friendship and the absence of conflict. Peace guarantees freedom from violence or fear between individuals or groups,” said the President.
“A fair international system is also essential for all peoples of the world. We shouldn’t forget that we live in a shared planet and we’ve shared responsibilities, too,” he said.
Hamid said Bangladesh believes that peace around the world is the best guarantee for our national security following the constitutional obligations.
Also read: Let’s dream of a better world, FM Momen tells peace conference
"We’ll continue our efforts to resolve conflicts through peaceful means and promote peace across the globe,” he added.
He urged all to leave aside the path of divisions, join hands and walk together on the path of peace.
Immediately after Bangladesh’s independence, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was a fervent advocate of peace, introduced a constitution that guarantees the basic human rights of all its citizens, and ensures the promotion of international peace, security, and solidarity, said President Hamid.
Bangabandhu’s guiding principle of “friendship to all, malice towards none” defined and set the bedrock of Bangladesh’s foreign policy, he added.
President Hamid, PM Hasina mourn writer Hasan Azizul Huq's death
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Monday expressed profound shock and sorrow at the death of Ekushey Padak-conferred short story writer and novelist Hasan Azizul Huq.
In a condolence message, the president said Hasan Azizul Huq's demise is an irreparable loss for the literary arena of the country. "His contribution to the literature and culture of the country will always be remembered."
The writer, who was undergoing treatment due to several health issues, passed away in Rajshahi tonight. He was 82.
Also read: Eminent writer Hasan Azizul Huq passes away
In August, Hasan Azizul Huq was brought to Dhaka via an air ambulance after falling seriously ill with imbalanced electrolytes and heart disease. He returned home a few days later.
Also, he had age-related health issues, heart problems and diabetes.
The writer was first admitted to the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute. A 16-member medical board was formed for his treatment.
Later he was shifted to the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University where another medical board of five doctors was formed.
Born in Jabgraam in the Burdwan district of West Bengal in 1939, Hasan Azizul Huq completed his post-graduation from Rajshahi University in 1960.
He served as a faculty in the Department of Philosophy of the same university from 1973 till 2004.
Considered as one of the most prominent writers and a legendary litterateur in the country, Hasan received many prestigious awards in his literary career, including the Bangla Academy Literary Award (1970), Ekushey Padak (1999), Ananda Puroshkar (2008), Independence Award (2019), Lekhok Shibir Puroshkar and more, for his contribution to Bengali literature.
The president prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed the deepest sympathy to the bereaved family.
In a message of condolence, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Hasan Azizul Huq will be remembered for his literary work and creativity.
She prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family.
President Hamid calls for taking development benefits to people
President Abdul Hamid on Monday asked government officials and public representatives to work sincerely so the people can enjoy the benefits of development.
He was speaking at a meeting to exchange views with people from different walks of life including people's representatives of Itna upazila of Kishoreganj district at Itna.
The President recalled that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had first launched the task of rebuilding war-ravaged Bangladesh.
Also read: President's activities on day 2 of visit to home district
"Bangabandhu had opened a new horizon development along with reforms in every sector of the country. His visionary direction had taken war-torn Bangladesh to a stage of development in just three and a half years," he said
He added that Bangladesh could have gone a long way had Bangabandhu not been assassinated on August 15, 1975.
He said that the country’s development work was hampered due to Corona pandemic like other countries of the world.
However, Bangladesh has done better than many other countries because of the courageous and timely decisions of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said.
The President also called upon all to come forward together to overcome the loss of Corona.
Referring to the development of haor areas he said it should be ensured that the local people get its benefits.
Members of Parliament Md. Afzal Hossain, Rezwan Ahmed Tawfiq and Secretaries to the President were present at the meeting.
Also read: President asks public representatives in home district to work sincerely
Earlier, President Hamid visited Itna Upazila Parishad development activities including under-constructed power station and extended building and shelter house of President Abdul Hamid Government College.
Before leaving for Itna, President visited the old Kachari house in Mithamein.
President Hamid calls for updating country’s laws
President Abdul Hamid on Tuesday called upon the Law Commission to take necessary steps to modernize and update the existing laws and regulations of the country.
The President made the call while a four-member delegation led by the Commission’s chairman Justice ABM Khairul Haque presented its annual report for 2020 to him at Bangabhaban.
Read: President Hamid calls for boosting ICT skills of judges
Hamid said that impartial implementation of the law is equally important in establishing the rule of law.
The delegation briefed the President about the overall activities of the Commission and various aspects of the annual report.
Read: President Hamid urges ACC to go hard after the corrupt people
Commission member Justice ATM Fazle Kabir was also among others in the delegation while Secretary to the President's Office Sampad Barua and Military Secretary Major General SM Salahuddin Islam were present on the occasion.
Ensure proper hygiene before reopening the campus, President Hamid tells DU administration
President Abdul Hamid on Monday called upon all university administrations to ensure proper hygiene in classrooms, dormitories, campuses and offices before resuming in-person classes.
The President made the call when a delegation led by Dhaka University Vice- Chancellor Akhtaruzzaman called on him at Bangabhaban to brief about the plan to reopen the university of which the President is the Chancellor.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Muhammad Samad, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor ASM Maqsood Kamal and Treasurer Professor Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed were also present at the meeting.
VC Prof Akhtaruzzaman informed the President that class would be started after all the students of the university get at least one dose of vaccine.
Students will be included in the classroom activities step by step, he added.
The university delegation also briefed the President about the preparations for the commencement of classroom physically and the overall activities of the university.
The delegation also informed the President about the preparations for the colourful event to be held on November 1, 2021 to mark the centenary of Dhaka University.
The President said that the students have suffered a lot due to the Corona situation. "If the situation is favourable, teachers and students should try to make up for the loss as much as possible by taking extra classes. But above all there must be hygiene," he also said.
He called upon the university administration to take steps for monitoring and immunization of all students in a short period of time.
President Hamid urges ACC to go hard after the corrupt people
President Abdul Hamid on Sunday asked the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to take necessary steps to ensure punishment of the corrupt.
The President made the call while the ACC Chairman Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah and Commissioner Md Zahurul Haque met him at Bangabhaban this evening.
President's press secretary Joynal Abedin told reporters that during the meeting, the ACC chairman briefed the President about the overall activities of the commission and raised the issue of ACC office infrastructure and manpower crisis.
READ: Following complaints, ACC launches drive against Jibon Bima MD
Mentioning that Bangladesh is moving forward on the path of development and progress, President Hamid said that prevention of corruption is essential for making it sustainable.
He said that initiatives should be taken by the educational institutions, society and family so that the young generation can grow up with attitude to hate corruption.
The President hoped that the commission would take strict measures to curb institutional corruption as well as informal corruption.
President Hamid calls for conserving species of local fish
President Abdul Hamid on Tuesday called upon the public and entrepreneurs to come forward for the conservation of various species of local fish alongside the effort to increase fish production.
He made the call while releasing fish fry in the lion pond at Bangabhaban as part of National Fisheries Week.
The President said that the fisheries sector has great potentials in meeting the demand for animal protein as well as earning foreign exchange.
He said that the sector’s expansion is also very important in creating employment.
Read: Indonesian envoy pays farewell call on President Hamid
The President released fry of different species including Rui, Katla, Mrigel, Kali Baus, Pabda, Gulsha, Subarna Rui, Lobster, Mahashol.
Fisheries and Livestock Minister S M Rezaul Karim was present on the occasion.
Secretary to the President's Office Sampad Barua, Military Secretary Major General SM Salah Uddin Islam, Press Secretary Md. Joynal Abedin, Joint Secretary ( attachment) Wahidul Islam Khan and Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Raunak Mahmud along with military and civilian officials of Bangabhaban were alsobpresent on the occasion.
Ambassadors from the Netherlands and Thailand present credentials to President Hamid
The newly appointed ambassadors of the Netherlands and Thailand on Tuesday separately presented their credentials to President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban.
The President welcomed the new ambassadors to Bangladesh Anne Gerad van Leeuwen from the Netherlands and Makawadee Sumitmor from Thailand.
President’s press secretary Joynal Abedin briefed the reporters after the presentations.
President Hamid called the Netherlands as one of the most important development partners of Bangladesh.
READ: Russian, German envoys present credentials to President Hamid
He thanked the Government of the Netherlands for its cooperation in the formulation and implementation of Integrated Water Management and Delta Plan 2100 in Bangladesh.
Noting that the trade and investment relations between the two countries are excellent, the President called upon the newly envoy to take the relationship to a new height.
Thanking the Dutch government for its support and co-operation on the Rohingya issue, the President expressed hope that the Netherlands would continue its cooperation in the process of repatriation of Rohingyas to their homeland.
Separately, the President said Bangladesh attaches importance to the development of bilateral relations with Thailand.
Thanking Thai government for its co-operation during the Corona crisis, Hamid emphasized the importance of exchanging visits to boost trade and investment between the two countries.
The President said Bangladesh produces various products of international standard including readymade garments, ceramics and medicines. If Thailand imports these products from Bangladesh, trade between the two countries will be balanced.
The President also called upon Thai investors to invest in special economic zones in Bangladesh in various sectors including agricultural processing, infrastructure development and tourism.
The new ambassadors told the President that they would make every effort to increase trade and investment with Bangladesh.
They sought the full co-operation of the President in discharging their duties.
Secretary to the President's Office Sampad Barua, Military Secretary Major General SM Salah Uddin Islam, Press Secretary Joynal Abedin, Secretary (Attachmen) Wahidul Islam Khan and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen were present on the occasion.
READ: President Hamid offers Eid prayers at Bangabhaban
A smart contingent of the Presidential Guard Regiment presented them with the Guard of Honor on their arrival at Bangabhaban.
President offers Eid prayers at Bangabhaban
Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid on Friday morning offered Eid-ul-Fitr prayers at Bangabhaban Darbar Hall instead of National Eidgah.
In the wake of the second outbreak of Covid-19, the traditional Eid prayers in the capital's National Eidgah Maidan were cancelled this year too.
President's press secretary Joynal Abedin told UNB that the head-of-state chose to offer prayers at Bangabhaban Darbar Hall in view of the pandemic.
The press secretary also said that a special munajat was offered seeking divine blessings for the peace and progress of Bangladesh.
The Eid jamaat (congregation) was held at 10 am. Pesh Imam of Bangabhaban Jame Mosque Mufti Maulana Saiful Kabir led the Eid prayers, Joynal said.
Also read: President wishes citizens on occasion of Eid
Members of the President's family and senior officials of Bangabhaban also offered Eid prayers along with him, following all Covid safety protocols.
Eid greetings exchange was not allowed this year due to the pandemic. The President's speech congratulating the nation on the occasion of Eid was aired on Bangladeshi TV channels.
President wishes citizens on occasion of Eid
President Abdul Hamid has greeted the people on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, set to be celebrated Friday.
In a congratulatory message, President called upon all to observe Eid in accordance with the proper health guidelines.
Eid-ul-Fitr, the largest religious festival of Muslims, will be celebrated in the country Friday as the Shawwal moon was not sighted in Bangladesh Wednesday evening.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Moon Sighting Committee with the state minister Faridul Haque Khan in the chair after reviewing the information of Shawwal moon sighting.
Also read: President Abdul Hamid to receive coronavirus vaccine tomorrow
The President will offer Eid-ul-Fitr prayer at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban at 10 am instead of National Eidgah.
Members of the President's family and senior officials of Bangabhaban will participate in the Eid prayers with him in a limited manner as per the health rules.
Eid greetings exchange program at Bangabhaban, a traditional event on Eid, will not be held this year due to Corona situation.
Also read: President Abdul Hamid wants closer ties with Canada
He will also deliver a welcome speech to the nation through Bangladesh Television after offering prayer.