President
Degrees not enough, achieve global standards, President tells DU students
President Abdul Hamid on Wednesday asked every student to achieve international standards along with academic degrees.
"As the number of students in Dhaka University has increased over time, so has the scope of its infrastructure and educational activities," the President said.
"Competition has also been internationalised for the benefit of modern science and information technology. So, every student has to obtain international standards along with degrees," he said.
President Hamid was addressing the inaugural ceremony of Dhaka University's 16-day programme in celebration of the centenary of its founding. The programme will also mark the golden jubilee of the country’s independence.
Read: Bury differences for national unity to build Bangabandhu’s Sonar Bangla: President Hamid
Hamid, who virtually attended the inaugural ceremony as the chief guest from his official residence, said that the university authorities also need to consider world standards in determining curriculum and teaching.
The President said that parents and guardians send their children to university with high hopes and aspirations.
"Besides, the country and the people invest for educating them. The students have to acquire the ability to fulfill the hopes and aspirations of the family, the country and the people," he added.
Hamid said that the expansion of infrastructure, faculty members, students, departments and institutes contributes to the development of a university but the quality of education and research is the key indicator.
"Higher education institutions, including universities, have to come forward to enhance the quality of education and the capacity of students, taking into account the needs and qualifications of the national and international labour market."
Cabinet approves President’s draft speech to be delivered in Parliament
The Cabinet on Monday approved the draft speech of President Md Abdul Hamid to be delivered in the 15th session of the 11th Parliament on November 24 next on the occasion of 50 years of the country’s Independence.
The approval came at a virtual meeting of the cabinet held with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
The PM joined the meeting from her official residence Ganobhaban, while others got connected from the Bangladesh Secretariat.
Also read: President to deliver speech in Parliament on Nov 24
“The President will deliver the speech in Parliament on November 24 during a special discussion on the occasion of 50 years of the country’s Independence. The Cabinet today approved the speech,” said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam while briefing reporters after the meeting.
As part of the yearlong celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the country’s Independence, the special discussion will be held on November 24 and 25 next.
Also read: President Hamid, PM Hasina mourn writer Hasan Azizul Huq's death
President,PM pay homage to martyred members of Armed Forces
President Mohammad Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday paid homage to the martyred members of the Armed Forces on the occasion of the Armed Forces Day 2021.
The President, who is also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and the Prime Minister separately placed wreaths at the altar of Shikha Anirban (flame eternal) at Dhaka Cantonment in the morning.
They stood there in solemn silence for a while as a mark of respect to memories of the martyrs who made the supreme sacrifice during the War of Liberation in 1971.
A smartly-turned out contingent drawn from Army, Navy and Air Force presented a guard of honour at that time, while bugle played the last post.
Later, the President and the Prime Minister, also in-charge of the Ministry of Defence, signed the visitor’s book kept on the premises of Shikha Anirban.
Earlier on her arrival at Shikha Anirban, the Prime Minister was received by Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan and Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the Armed Forces Division (AFD) Lieutenant General Waker-Uz-Zaman.
Read: President Hamid calls for taking development benefits to people
After the wreath-placing ceremony, the Prime Minister went to the Armed Forces Division (AFD) where PM’s security affairs adviser Major General (rtd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique and chiefs of the three services made a courtesy call on her.
Read: President's activities on day 2 of visit to home district
On this day in 1971, the Bangladesh Armed Forces comprising Army, Navy and Air Force, came into being and launched an all-out attack on the Pakistani occupation forces which sped up the victory in the Liberation War.
Since the independence of the country, this historic day is being observed as the Armed Forces Day every year.
President to return to Dhaka on Thursday from Kishoreganj
President Abdul Hamid will return to Dhaka on Thursday wrapping up a seven-day tour of his ancestral place,Mithamoin Upazila of Kishoreganj district.
A Bangladesh Air Force helicopter carrying President Hamid and his entourage will land at 4.30 pm at Tejgaon Helipad in Dhaka, his office said.
During the visit, first in nearly two years, the President inaugurated a government girls’ high school at Mithamain upazila, saw the progress of some developments projects, exchanged views with local public representatives, government officials and attended social functions.
READ: President Hamid, PM Hasina mourn writer Hasan Azizul Huq's death
Later, he also laid the foundation stone of four-storey multi-purpose building of Tamiza Khatun Government Girls’ School.
Earlier on the day, the President also offered doa at the grave of his parents for eternal peace of the departed souls.
Hamid also attended a views-exchange programme in the evening with notable persons of the Kishoreganj district at circuit house the day before concluding his seven day tour.
READ: President Hamid calls for taking development benefits to people
He also attended a views-exchange meeting with the foreign students of President Abdul Hamid Medical College at Shilpakala Academy on the same day in the afternoon.
Lawmakers Rezwan Ahamnmad Taufiq and secretaries concerned to the President accompanied him during the tour.
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's activities on day 2 of visit to home district
President Abdul Hamid on Sunday said establishment of rule of law is essential to continue the trend of development of the country.
He said this while exchanging views with eminent persons including people's representatives of Mithamoin upazila of Kishoreganj this evening.
The views-exchange meeting was held at the President Abdul Hamid Auditorium in Mithamoin upazila.
The President also emphasized the joint initiative of the administration, people's representatives and the people to establish the rule of law for the welfare of the people.
"Everyone should stay away from activities that hinder development in order for the new generation to lead a better life," he said.
Read: President asks public representatives in home district to work sincerely
During the exchange of views, the President also highlighted the development of Haor area in various fields including communication and education.
Hamid called upon all to move ahead with the attitude of service by avoiding the attitude of making extra profit to exploit the potential of tourism around Itna-Mithamoin-Ashtagram road.
He also said students should build self-reliance after completing their studies and not just look for jobs.
Earlier, a milad mahfil was held after Asr on the occasion of death anniversary of late Haji Md Tayeb Uddin, father of the President.
President Hamid took part in the milad and doa in the afternoon.
Special prayers were offered for the eternal peace of departed soul of late Haji Md Tayeb Uddin.
Read: President Hamid on a tour of his village and home district Kishoreganj
Besides, special prayers were also offered for the welfare of the country and the nation.
People from all walks of life in the area also attended the doa-mahfil.
In the morning, Abdul Hamid also visited the progress of construction work of under-construction Mithamoin Cantonment.
The cantonment is being constructed in a 275-acre area.
On his arrival at the cantonment area, Chief of Army Staff General S M Shafiuddin Ahmed welcomed the President.
Local MP Rezwan Ahmmad Taufiq, secretaries concerned to Bangabhaban and local administration officials were also present there.
The president arrived here Friday last on a seven-day visit to oversee some ongoing development projects in his own district and exchange views with local representatives.
President asks public representatives in home district to work sincerely
President Abdul Hamid on Saturday asked the public representatives to work with more sincerity for ensuring public welfare.
"If you ( public representatives) do not take any stance against the wrongdoings in your respective areas,it will hamper your popularity. So you have to work more for ensuring public welfare," he said.
He made the remarks in a views-exchange programme with notable political, cultural persons and local administration officials in the upazila’s President Abdul Hamid Auditorium in the evening.
Hamid also urged the concerned to increase local investment to use development opportunities at the local level.
Read: President Hamid on a tour of his village and home district Kishoreganj
"Facilities including infrastructure should be ensured for the investors to use development opportunities," he said.
The President also asked the people to be more careful for protecting and implementing the development projects.
Saying the communication system is one of tools for development, Hamid said once haor areas were neglected for the poor communication system, but now there is a lot of discussion about the development of haor areas.
The vast expanse of water, which has turned into a hotspot for the enthusiasts, mainly the young, to spend quality time with friends and family members, has now been witnessing huge non-biodegradable waste thanks to lack of awareness among the visitors.
Hamid called upon all to protect the natural environment too.
Read: Humayun Rasheed Choudhury’s role in protecting Bangabandhu’s daughters unforgettable: President
Earlier, he visited his dream project, the all-weather road from Itna-Mithamoin-Austragram, for the first time since its inauguration.
He visited the road from Mithamain to Austagram today, stopping in different areas of the road.
President Hamid also visited the progress of the President Abdul Hamid Foundation in Mithamoin.
Alongside, the President also visited the development works of Austragram Upazila on the second day of the tour.
President urges world leaders to take effective steps to solve Rohingya problem
President Abdul Hamid on Thursday called upon the world leaders including from Germany to take effective initiatives to have a permanent solution to the Rohingya problem.
Visiting President Hamid made the call during a meeting with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at his official residence Bellevue Palace.
During the meeting, the President thanked the German government for providing humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya who were forcibly displaced from Myanmar and for raising the issue at the United Nations, President’s Press Secretary Joynal Abedin told UNB.
The Bangladeshi President also called for effective measures to repatriate Rohingyas to their homeland.
Mentioning Germany as a reliable development partner of Bangladesh, the President highlighted the issue of German co-operation in the development of Bangladesh since independence.
He thanked the German government for sending the corona vaccine and medical equipment to Bangladesh as a grant.
Stating that the existing trade relations between Bangladesh and Germany are very good and are expanding day by day, Abdul Hamid called for more German investment in various sectors, including Bangladesh's high-tech parks and special economic zones.
The President praised the new steps taken by Germany and the European Union to address the adverse effects of climate change.
He hoped that Germany and the European Union would be more liberal in their trade and investment with developing countries, including Bangladesh.
Expressing gratitude for launching the Bangabandhu Professional Fellowship at the University of Heidelberg in Germany, the President called for visa facilitation for Bangladeshi students.
The President said Bangladesh is moving ahead economically because of the government's zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and extremism.
Alongside, Hamid thanked the German President for his speech on the occasion of the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence and the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Expressing satisfaction over Germany's bilateral trade with Bangladesh, the German President emphasized exchanging visits at the public-private level to increase trade between the two countries.
Appreciating Bangladesh's initiative in controlling the Corona epidemic, the German President said that his country would continue its cooperation in this regard.
During the meeting, they also discussed various issues including international politics.
Secretary to the President's Office Sampad Barua, Military Secretary Major General SM Salah Uddin Islam, President's son Rasel Ahmed Tuhin and Bangladesh Ambassador to Germany Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan were present during the meeting.
President to leave for Europe Saturday for eye treatment
Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid will Saturday leave for Europe on a 14-day medical tour for a health check-up and the treatment of an eye problem.
President’s press secretary Joynal Abedin told UNB that the head-of-state will leave for London and Germany on a VVIP flight of Qatar Airways from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport early in the morning.
Read: PM briefs President Hamid about her UNGA visit
The press secretary also said that the President is expected to return home on an aircraft of Biman Bangladesh Airlines on October 22.
The 77-year-old President has long been suffering from glaucoma, a group of eye conditions that damage the optical nerve.
President asks NHRC to be more vibrant
President Abdul Hamid on Tuesday said the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) would have to be more active in protecting the interests of the people and making the government more accountable.
He said this when a four-member NHRC delegation led by its chairperson Nasima Begum presented the commission's annual report of 2020 to the President at Bangabhaban.
Read: President Hamid calls for boosting ICT skills of judges
The President said the Commission could play an important role in ensuring transparency and accountability in the activities of the government as well as upholding the public interest and human rights.
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’s full-time member Kamal Uddin Ahmed and member Jasmine Ara Begum were included in the delegation.
Secretary to the President's Office Sampad Barua and Military Secretary Major General SM Salahuddin Islam were present.