President
China’s Xi at Saudi palace to meet royals on Mideast trip
Chinese leader Xi Jinping met on Thursday with Saudi Arabia’s king and crown prince while on a visit to the kingdom, solidifying ties with a region crucial to his country’s energy supplies as sanctions intensify on Russia over its war on Ukraine.
Xi arrived at Al Yamama Palace in Riyadh and was greeted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, King Salman’s assertive son who stands ready to rule the oil-rich kingdom in the decades to come. Xi shook hands with the prince as an honor guard on horseback carried Saudi and Chinese flags.
It wasn’t immediately clear what Xi focused on in his discussions, though he wrote in a newspaper column published by Al Riyadh newspaper that “exchanges between China and Arab states date back more than 2,000 years.” The column also quoted a saying by Islam’s Prophet Muhammad: “Seek knowledge even if you have to go as far as China.”
“The Arab people value independence, oppose external interference, stand up to power politics and high-handedness, and always seek to make progress,” Xi’s column read.
He also noted that the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, which include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, serve as “an energy tank for world economy.” China, the world’s largest crude oil importer, relies heavily on Saudi oil, paying tens of billions of dollars annually to the kingdom.
Read: China security forces are well-prepared for quashing dissent
Saudi state media released silent video of Xi and Prince Mohammed meeting at the palace, with a large picture of King Salman hanging in the background. Another video showed Xi later talking with the 86-year-old monarch and signing documents alongside him. Many of the Saudi officials wore facemasks in that meeting.
Saudi officials later said deals had been signed between the nations, including some involving Chinese technology company Huawei on cloud-computing, data centers and other high-tech ventures. The U.S. has already has warned its Gulf Arab allies about working with Huawei over spying concerns.
Xi and King Salman also agreed to holding meetings between the two countries’ leaders every two years, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
The agency later reported that Xi met with Sudanese military leader Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan after a deal Monday to establish a civilian-led transitional government following the military takeover there last year. However, no timeline has been set and the deal sparked renewed protests Thursday in the country.
Xi separately met with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as well in Riyadh.
Gulf Arab states are trying to recalibrate their foreign policy as the United States turns its attention elsewhere in the world.
Read: China’s protests are small but significant
Russia’s war on Ukraine — and the West’s hardening stance on Moscow — has also left the Arab countries wanting to cement ties with China. For Prince Mohammed, hosting Xi boosts his own international profile after being linked to the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.
Beyond China’s oil purchases, its construction expertise could be tapped as well for Prince Mohammed’s planned $500 billion futuristic city of Neom on the Red Sea. Chinese construction firms have worked elsewhere in Arab countries in the Persian Gulf, particularly in Dubai in the UAE.
Saudi Arabia, home to the holiest sites in Islam, also has provided political cover to China over its harsh policies toward Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities. More than a million have been sent to detention centers, forced to denounce Islam and swear fealty to Xi and the party.
The trip to Saudi Arabia marks a further move by Xi to restore his global profile after spending most of the pandemic inside China. The visit is his third overseas trip since early 2020. It also comes as Xi, who was granted a third five-year term as leader in October, has faced street protests over his zero-COVID-19 policies that represent the most-significant challenge to his rule.
During the visit, Xi is expect to attend the inaugural China-Arab States Summit and a meeting of the GCC.
New ambassador to Bhutan calls on president for guidance
Ambassador of Bangladesh to Bhutan Shib Nath Roy on Tuesday paid a courtesy call on President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban in the evening.
President's press secretary Md Joynal Abedin briefed reporters after the meeting.
During the meeting, the envoy sought the President's directives and overall cooperation in carrying out his assignment in Bhutan.
Read more: “We very much value and welcome tourists from Bangladesh”
Mentioning the excellent bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Bhutan, the president asked the newly appointed Bangladesh ambassador to further strengthen these ties in the coming days.
President Secretary Sampad Barua, Military Secretary Major General SM Salahuddin Islam, Press Secretary Md Joynal Abedin and Secretary (attached) Md Wahidul Islam Khan were also present.
Read more: Bangladesh's role in Bhutan’s socio-economic dev immense: Envoy
Respect gradually shrinking due to activities of some VCs, teachers: President at DU Convocation
President Abdul Hamid on Saturday said transparency and accountability must be ensured in every university activity to ensure respect for teachers.
He was addressing Dhaka University’s 53rd convocation held at the central field on the campus.
The president, who is also the chancellor of the university, presided over the grand event while Nobel laureate French economist Prof Jean Tirole joined it as the convocation speaker.
“When I open the newspaper, it seems that the main responsibility of some vice-chancellors is to give jobs to family members and loyalists and take administrative and financial privileges in various ways,” he said.
Mentioning the supervision, management, evaluation and development of the administrative and academic activities of the university as a vice-chancellor’s key responsibilities, the president said that respect for teachers in society is gradually shrinking due to the activities of some vice-chancellors and teachers.
Also read: DU set to hold its 53rd convocation Saturday
He also emphasised taking care of the issues seriously as the dignity of the entire teachers’ community can’t be undermined due to the activities of a few dishonest people.
Hamid said many teachers also consider university job as an “optional duty” as they prefer to take part-time courses, evening courses or classes in private universities.
The president said it is the expectation of everyone that teachers will be responsible towards the profession as they are leading and respected figures in the society.
“We want every university to become the heart of research and academic education under the leadership of the vice-chancellor and with the cooperation of students and teachers,” he said.
He also said that merit and qualification should be given priority in any recruitment including teachers.
Also read: Alumni Association in UK to celebrate Dhaka University’s birth centenary
Prof Jean Tirole, whose work had a significant impact across a wide range of fields within economics, including microeconomics, game theory, and industrial organization, was awarded with a Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) degree at the event as the 53rd awardee.
Graduates, postgraduate students who registered for the convocation and invitees were allowed to attend the programme in-person.
A total of 30,348 students registered for the convocation of whom 22,287 are from Dhaka University and 7,796 students from the affiliated colleges.
A total of 153 gold medals were conferred on teachers, researchers and students for the research and academic excellences. Besides, 97 received Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree while 35 academics MPhil degree.
Students and teachers of seven colleges also joined the convocation virtually.
Infantino unopposed to get 4 more years as FIFA president
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is getting four more years in charge of soccer’s governing body after no candidate stepped up to challenge him.
FIFA said Thursday the 52-year-old Swiss lawyer was the only person to enter the race by the time the deadline passed overnight — exactly four months before election day on March 16 in Kigali, Rwanda.
Infantino won a five-candidate race in 2016 to replace Sepp Blatter, and was re-elected unopposed in 2019. He’s now set to stay in the job beyond the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Infantino’s upcoming re-election to the $3 million-per-year job may not be his final term in office. FIFA rules allow him to run again to stay in power for another World Cup cycle until 2031.
A quirk of FIFA’s statutes means the first three years of Infantino’s presidency — when he completed an unfinished term started by Blatter — does not count against the 12-year limit agreed to in reforms passed during a prolonged corruption crisis before his first election.
Read: Qatar World Cup: 5 Hot Favorites to win the trophy
Outside of soccer, one political threat to Infantino’s leadership is an investigation by two special prosecutors in Switzerland into his three undocumented meetings with then-attorney general Michael Lauber in 2016 and 2017 during American and Swiss federal investigations of soccer officials.
It is currently unclear how that case, which is being overseen by the Swiss parliament, is proceeding or how much jurisdiction it has over Infantino as a private citizen who could be accused of having sought an advantage from a public official. He has denied all wrongdoing.
Infantino’s current term in office, which started in June 2019, saw FIFA dip into its $2 billion-plus reserves and oversee emergency legal measures to help stabilize soccer through the COVID-19 pandemic.
The global health crisis almost entirely shut down World Cup qualifying games in 2020. The final tournament in Qatar starts on Sunday.
Infantino did not get approval for the biggest idea in the current presidential term — doubling the number of men’s World Cups to every two years in a planned overhaul of the calendar for national teams. That plan was blocked last year by the continental soccer bodies of Europe and South America, UEFA and CONMEBOL, who teamed up to threaten a boycott of a biennial World Cup.
Tensions persist between FIFA and the two traditionally powerful continents, though they declined to propose or publicly support a challenger. Candidates need pledges from five federations and to have been active in a formal soccer role for at least two of the past five years.
Infantino has shored up his voting base in the 54-member Confederation of African Football, which has been led since March 2021 by his close ally, South African mining magnate Patrice Motsepe.
Read: Qatar World Cup: 5 Dark Horses to look out for
The 2026 World Cup in North America, the first with 48 teams instead of 32, will hugely raise the tournament records for attendance and revenue for FIFA, which is on track to earn nearly $7 billion in its four-year commercial cycle tied to the World Cup in Qatar.
Infantino has consistently staked his presidency on raising FIFA’s income to steer more money toward federations worldwide. He wants other countries to close the gap on Europe and South America, which have provided every team to play in all 21 World Cup finals.
Europe and South America will field competing bids to host the 2030 World Cup, which is set for a vote by FIFA members in 2024.
Ukraine was added in October to the co-hosting bid by Spain and Portugal, while 1930 host Uruguay is part of a centenary celebration bid with Argentina, Chile and Paraguay.
Infantino still needs to pass an integrity and eligibility check carried out by a FIFA-appointed review panel chaired by a judge from India, Mukul Mudgal. That should be a formality in the weeks ahead.
President mourns demise of his press secy's brother
Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid on Saturday expressed deep grief over the untimely demise of Harun Rashid, the brother of President's press secretary Zainal Abedin.
The President prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family.
Rashid passed away this morning at a hospital in the capital. He was 63 years old.
He is survived by his wife, two sons, a daughter.
Read: President mourns death of journalist Toab Khan
President participates in Eid-e-Miladunnabi programs at Bangabhaban
A special prayer and Milad mahfil was organized at Bangabhaban Durbar Hall on the occasion of Eid-e-Miladunnabi.
President Abdul Hamid participated in doa and milad mahfil.
Before the Milad Mahfil, Cabinet secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam spoke about the importance and significance of Eid-e-Miladunnabi and the life and work of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
State Minister for Religion Faridul Haque Khan, Member of Parliament Rezwan Ahmed Taufiq, members of the President's family, Acting Chiefs of the three Armed Forces, secretaries of the President and military and civil servants of Bangabhaban took part in the ceremony.
Read: Holy Eid-e-Miladunnabi observed
After the Milad, a special prayer was offered in the court of Allah, wishing for the peace and prosperity of the country, the welfare of the people, and the greater unity of the Muslim Ummah.
Pesh Imam Saiful Kabir of Bangabhavan Mosque conducted the milad mahfil and prayers.
President pays homage to Bangabandhu at Tungipara
President Abdul Hamid Friday reached Tungipara via Padma Bridge to pay homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
It is the president's first visit to Tungipara, crossing the Padma Bridge after its inauguration on June 25 this year.
The head of the state's motorcade arrived at Tungipara at 5pm, his Press Secretary Joynal Abedin said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana, local dignitaries and senior officials of the administration welcomed Abdul Hamid there.
Read: Don't let anyone use religion to mislead people: President Hamid
The head of the state offered fateha and joined prayers, seeking eternal peace for the departed souls of the Father of the Nation and other martyrs of August 15, 1975.
President Abdul Hamid paid rich tributes to Bangabandhu by placing a wreath at his mausoleum.
President mourns death of journalist Toab Khan
President Abdul Hamid on Saturday expressed deep shock at the death of Ekushey Padak recipient veteran journalist Toab Khan.
In a condolence message, the President said Toab Khan was a pioneer in journalism in Bangladesh. “The void created by his death in the country's media world will never be filled.”
Read: Veteran journalist Toab Khan dies at 87
The President prayed for the departed soul of Toab Khan and expressed his deepest condolences to his bereaved family.
Khan, Editor of ‘Dainik Bangla’, died of old age complications at United Hospital in the capital on Saturday. He was 87.
Outgoing IGP pays farewell call on president
Outgoing Inspector General of Bangladesh Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed Thursday paid a farewell call on President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban.
The outgoing IGP thanked the president and expressed gratitude for the support received during his tenure, President's Press Secretary Md Joynal Abedin said.
Read: IGP Benazir Ahmed to go on retirement on Sept 30
President Hamid thanked the outgoing police chief for successfully discharging his duties, he added.
Humayun Rashid re-elected IBFB President
Humayun Rashid, Managing Director and CEO of Energypac Power Generation Ltd, has been re-elected President of the International Business Forum of Bangladesh (IBFB).
The 16th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the IBFB was held at a city hotel on Tuesday.
MS Siddiqui, CEO of Bangla Chemical and Lutfunnisa Saudia Khan, Director of Banglaphone have been re-elected as the Vice President and Vice President (Finance) of IBFB respectively.
In addition, Kbd. Md. Aminul Islam, Managing Director, Nabil Group, Mohammed Raisul Uddin Saikat, Chairman, Albion Group, SK Md. Waliul Islam, Managing Director, Roots Sourcing International Ltd., Iqbalur Rahman, Proprietor, Multi Trade International, Mohammad Ali Deen, Chairman, M/S Deen Impex, Syed Mustafizur Rahman, Managing Director, Novo Cargo Services Ltd have been elected as Directors for the first time in the Board of Directors of IBFB.
Read: Special economic zone not enough to attract best investors: US Envoy
Vice President (Finance) Lutfunnisa Saudia Khan and President, IBFB Chittagong Chapter SM Abu Tayyab were present in the inaugural session of the AGM.
IBFB Vice President MS Siddiqui and IBFB founding President Mahmudul Islam Chowdhury also spoke in the session.
Ambassador of the United States of America (USA) Peter D Haas and Ambassador and Head of Delegation, European Union to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley were present as the chief guest and special guest respectively in the inaugural session of the AGM.