Sheikh Hasina
Be careful during winter about Coronavirus: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday urged all to maintain health protocols like wearing masks to check the recharge of Coronavirus in the upcoming winter as the virus hits many countries of the world at this time.
“I urge all to remain careful so that Coronavirus cannot resurge in any way. You’ll have to wear facemasks always,” she said, adding that the virus has again hit many other countries including the USA, England and Europe in the world with the advent of winter.
The Prime Minister said this while receiving 2645,000 blankets for the destitute from the Bangladesh Association of Bank (BAB) for her relief godown ahead of winter.
She joined the blanket handover ceremony, held at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.
Read: Bangladesh reports 6 more Covid deaths, 294 fresh cases
Noting that the season changes in October-November here, which is a very critical time for the outbreak of influenza and cough, she urged people to take precaution to prevent influenza and cough in this transitional period between the cold and hot seasons.
Hasina also asked people to keep vitamin C-enriched fruits in their food menu to enhance their immunity against the coronavirus alongside maintaining the health protocols.
She said the government has successfully been able to keep the coronavirus under control.
The PM reassured that all those who are eligible for vaccination according to WHO would be brought under vaccination by the middle of the next year.
Read: Conduct digital surveys to protect forests: PM
She thanked the representatives of the private banks for donating the blankets and cash for the poor. "You people are always coming forward to help the poor."
On behalf of the Prime Minister, her Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus received the blankets and a cheque of Tk 10 lakh for the PM's Relief and Welfare Fund from 37 private banks.
BAB Chairman Nazrul Islam Majumder spoke at the function while top representatives from the banks were present.
Conduct digital surveys to protect forests: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday directed the authorities concerned to conduct digital surveys immediately to know the latest situation of all the forests across the country so that effective steps can be taken to protect the country’s forests.
She gave the directive while presiding over the virtual Cabinet meeting from her official residence Ganobhaban. Other cabinet members were connected from the Bangladesh Secretariat.
“The Prime Minister issued an instruction for conducting digital surveys immediately on all the forests, maintaining coordination among the Land Ministry and the Environment and Forest Ministry as the deputy commissioners concerned,” said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam while briefing reporters after the meeting.
She stressed the need for taking steps on completion of the digital surveys for permanent settlement of the people who are now living inside forests.
The Prime Minister also directed the authorities concerned to go for reforestation and engage the local people in it, sharing the ownership of trees with them.
Read: UN chief in plea for saving forests
Remain ever ready to make any sacrifice: Hasina to Army personnel
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday asked the members of the Bangladesh Army to remain always ready to make the highest sacrifice to protect the interests of the nation.
“I believe the Bangladesh Army will remain ever ready for the highest sacrifice in any national need alongside protecting the country’s sovereignty,” she said.
The Prime Minister was addressing a function of the Bangladesh Army virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.
The function was arranged to give the national standard (national flag) to 10 units and hand over the new flag to Mujib Regiment and Rowshan Ara Regiment of the Bangladesh Army at the Artillery Centre and School at Halishahar Cantonment in Chattogram.
Hasina said the Bangladesh Army has been playing a significant role in building the nation with their works in facing natural and manmade disasters as well as socio-economic and infrastructural development alongside protecting the country’s sovereignty.
She mentioned their important role in the development of the country’s communication system and facing the Covid-19 pandemic.
Hasina said the members of Bangladesh Army brought honour and dignity for Bangladesh by demonstrating their outstanding dedication, dutifulness and professionalism in the establishment of global peace and different foreign missions, which undoubtedly have brightened the image of the country in the world arena.
On behalf of the Prime Minister, Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed handed over the national standards to the respective commanders of 4, 12 and 20 field regiments artillery, 5 Air Defence Artillery, Riverine Engineering Battalion, 1 and 2 Signal Battalions, Army Aviation group and NCO Academy as well as reintroduced the flag to the commanders of the Mujib Regiment and Rowshan Ara Regiment Artillery.
READ: Identify new market trends to diversify export: Hasina
The Prime Minister said the human and compassionate approach of the Army members while discharging their duty everywhere, including in foreign countries, impress the common people,’ she said.
Talking about her government’s activities for the modernization of the Armed Forces, she said, “Our armed forces have been strengthened and achieved enough progress in the last 13 years.”
The forces have particularly been making a special contribution towards curbing militancy and terrorism, the Prime Minister said.
She said her government that was formed in 1996 established the National Defence College and Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training (BIPSOT) to make the army a time-befitting force and improve its training quality.
Coming to power in 2009, her government formulated the Forces Goal-2030 and the Defence Policy 2018 in line with the Defence Policy 1974 framed by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she mentioned.
The Prime Minister congratulated the members of the units which were conferred upon the national flag and asked them to uphold the dignity of the flag.
READ: South Asian nations should work together: Hasina
She said Bangladesh is marching forward defying hundreds of adversities as her government’s goal is to build a hunger- and poverty-free developed and prosperous Bangladesh as dreamt by the Father of the Nation.
“Bangladesh will continue to march forward with the spirit of the great Liberation War. We’ll move ahead keeping our heads high on the world stage,” she added.
At the event, the Prime Minister virtually witnessed a smartly turned-out parade of the members of the units.
Nepal can use Mongla and Paira ports, Hasina tells envoy
Bangladesh on Sunday offered Nepal to use its both Mongla and Paira ports.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made the offer when Nepalese Ambassador Dr Banshidhar Mishra met her at her official residence Ganobhaban.
PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.
The Prime Minister said Bangladesh is developing Syedpur Airport as a regional one and Nepal can use that airport.
READ: Don’t waste food as crisis looms over many countries: Hasina
She recalled with gratitude Nepal's support during Bangladesh’s Liberation War.
The Nepalese envoy sought cooperation from Bangladesh for the development of their agriculture sector.
He also praised Bangladesh’s overall development saying that they are moved by its economic development.
The envoy thanked the Prime Minister as Nepal always gets Bangladesh beside them during their needs and recalled its medical assistance after a massive earthquake hit their country.
He thanked the Prime Minister on behalf of his country's President and Prime Minister as she sent Haribhanga mango as a gift.
READ: Hasina calls for hunting down culprits of Cumilla incident
Ambassador-at-Large Mohammad Ziauddin and Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus were present at the meeting.
Don’t waste food as crisis looms over many countries: Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday urged all to stop wasting food as many countries in the world are going to face a famine-like situation.
“Wasting food has to be reduced. There’s a scarcity of food on one side of the world and heavy wasting on the other… there shouldn’t be any food wasting,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said this while addressing the World Food Day held at Hotel InterContinental joining from her official residence Ganobhaban.
The theme of this year is “Our actions are our future -- Better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life”.
The Prime Minister urged scientists to think about the reuse of excess food and conduct research in this regard.
READ: Hasina calls for hunting down culprits of Cumilla incident
She asked all to remain vigil so that Bangladesh never runs into a food crisis and no one can conspire to push the country into a famine. “All need to be watchful. Inshallah, we’ll fulfil the demand for food and ensure food security.”
Hasina added that there will be no food scarcity in the country as the government has taken numerous programmes and projects in this regard.
Underlining the importance of research, she said, “Research works need to be carried forward as this is a continuous process.”
Talking about various types of research-driven inventions that the Bangladeshi scientists achieved, including drought resilience and flood resilience rice for ensuring food security in the country, she said, “I think the scientists of Bangladesh are the best in the world.”
The Prime Minister said the government has introduced a land zoning system to protect arable lands of the country. “We’ll surely go for development but by preserving the arable lands,” she said.
Hasina mentioned that the government is taking various types of preparations so that the country does not lag behind in food production during the upcoming fourth industrial revolution.
“Our aim is to ensure food security along with nutrition. For that, we’ve given importance to protein production,” Hasina said.
READ: Unesco-Bangabandhu Prize: Hasina to visit France in mid-Nov
Briefly describing the remarkable success in Bangladesh’s food production in the last 12 years, Hasina said Bangladesh will export food items to earn foreign exchange after fulfilling the local demand.
Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder, Agriculture Minister Dr. Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim and Senior Secretary of Agriculture Minister Md Mesbahul Islam also spoke at the event.
A documentary on food production of the country was screened at the programme.
Hasina also unveiled a book titled ‘Agricultural Development in Bangladesh’ and a portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with a new variety of paddy ‘Bangabandhu Rice-100’ invented by BIRRI scientists.
The Prime Minister also directed all concerned to give due importance to marketing and processing of agriculture products alongside boosting their production.
She urged the farmers to utilize their land saying that not a single inch of land should be left uncultivated.
Elaborating various agriculture and farmer-friendly measures taken by her government during 1996-2001 and since 2009, Hasina said Bangladesh has now become a self-reliant country in food production due to the various pragmatic steps.
The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction that the production of vegetables, fruits, onions, dairy and other agriculture items has increased substantially and those are now available throughout the year.
Besides, she said, Bangladesh now ranks 11th in the world in terms of food production due to the coordinated efforts of the scientists, farmers and time-befitting steps of the government,
Hasina mentioned that all concerned will have to focus on quality and standard of food products and their processing, not only for the country but also for their exports.
PM returns from UNGA trip
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina returned home on Friday night from her journey to attend the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, USA.
A VVIP chartered flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the Prime Minister and her entourage landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 11:13pm, said PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim.
On Thursday afternoon (local time), she left Washington for home wrapping up her two-week official foreign tour. Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA M Shahidul Islam and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations Rabab Fatima saw her off at Dulles International Airport there.
On her way to Dhaka, the aircraft reached Helsinki, the Finish capital at 9:00am (local time) and then departed the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport for Dhaka after a two-hour stopover there.
Read: PM opens Bangladesh House in Maryland, USA
On September 17, the Prime Minister left Dhaka to attend the 76th UNGA in New York. She reached New York on September 19 after a two-day stopover in Finland.
During her stay in New York from September 19 to 24, Sheikh Hasina addressed the UNGA general debate (September 24), attended high-level events and bilateral talks with heads of governments, states and organisations.
She also planted a honey locust tree and unveiled a bench at the UN gardens dedicating these to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the occasion of his birth centenary.
Later, the Prime Minister went to Washington DC on September 25.
During her stay in Washington, Sheikh Hasina opened the newly constructed ‘Bangladesh House’ and planted a fringe tree on its premises.
PM to return home from USA Friday
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will return home on Friday night wrapping up her two-week official tour to attend the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
She is scheduled to leave Washington DC Thursday afternoon (local time) by a VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airline for Helsinki, the Finish capital, PM’s Assistant Press Secretary MM Emrul Kayas told UNB.
Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA M Shahidul Islam and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations Rabab Fatima will see off her at the airport in Washington.
The aircraft carrying the Prime Minister will reach Helsinki-Vantaa Airport on Friday morning (local time) and then the flight will depart the airport for Dhaka after a two-hour stopover there.
Read: Bangladesh’s UNGA participation shows its stronger presence in multilateral forum: Officials
The aircraft is scheduled to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 10:15 pm on Friday.
On September 17, the Prime Minister left Dhaka to attend the 76th UNGA. She reached New York on September 19 after a two-day stopover in Finland.
During her stay in New York from September 19 to 24, Sheikh Hasina addressed the UNGA general debate (September 24), attended high-level events and bilateral talks with heads of governments, states and organisations.
She also planted a honey locust tree and unveiled a bench at the UN gardens dedicating these to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the occasion of his birth centenary.
Read: PM opens Bangladesh House in Maryland, USA
Later, the Prime Minister went to Washington DC on September 25.
During her stay in Washington, Sheikh Hasina opened the newly constructed ‘Bangladesh House’ and planted a fringe tree on its premise.
Bangladesh’s UNGA participation shows its stronger presence in multilateral forum: Officials
Bangladesh has once again demonstrated its “stronger and diversified” presence in multilateral forum through in-person participation during the 76th UN General Assembly (UNGA), officials said.
“Bangladesh’s participation at the UNGA led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has further elevated the country’s stronger and vibrant presence in multilateral forum,” said a senior official.
UN General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid closed the UN High-Level session, crediting “sound mitigation measures” and high vaccination rates for its success.
Earlier, the UNGA President invited Bangladesh's Permanent Representative (PR) to the United Nations Ambassador Rabab Fatima to chair part of the general debate of the UN General Assembly’s 76th session.
Shilpakala Academy celebrates PM Hasina's 75th birthday
Observing the 75th birthday of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) organized a handful of programmes including exhibitions and cultural events on Tuesday.
The celebrations began with a national children's painting competition, which BSA hosted across the country.
Hundreds of children and teens from various educational institutions in Dhakaparticip ated in the painting competition at the National Art Gallery.
A month-long special exhibition based on the exclusive art camp titled “Sheikh Hasina: Bishwajoyi Nondito Neta'' which was participated by 75 renowned female painters and artists of the country featuring the life and works of PM Sheikh Hasina, was inaugurated by BSA Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky at 5 pm at the National Art Gallery.
Read: Bangladesh celebrates Hasina’s 75th birthday
The month-long exhibition is open for everyone from 11 am to 8 pm till October 27. Visitors can explore the exhibition maintaining adequate health guidelines.
A book-launching ceremony was organized at the National Theatre Hall auditorium at 6:30 pm, as part of the celebration programmes. BSA DG Lucky unveiled the publication of the book titled “Manobotar Jononi Sheikh Hasina: Nibedito Pongktimala”, which contains 75 selected poems written by 75 noted poets of the country.
Following the book-launching event, a special cultural night was held at the venue participated by renowned artists and performers. Singers Sabbir Zaman, Homayra Bashir, Ronti Das, Abu Bakar Siddiqui, Romana Islam, Shafi Mandal and BSA Baul team performed songs at the event.
BSA dance artistes showcased special dance performances and its acrobatic team enthralled the audiences with game shows, while poet Tarik Sujat and Jharna Rahman recited special poems dedicated to the Prime Minister.
Read: Hasina’s birthday celebrated amid mass vaccination campaign
Earlier, a 7-day online event including discussions and cultural programme was organized from September 20-26 at BSA’s Facebook page and YouTube channel, featuring the life and activities of the Prime Minister.
Marking her birthday, more than 600 children and cultural activists across the country made a one-minute greeting video each, of which 75 videos have been posted on the academy's Facebook page and the rest will be phased out on the academy's Facebook page and YouTube channel, according to its Public Relations Officer Hasan Mahmud.
Modi wishes Hasina on her birthday
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has greeted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on her 75th birthday.
"Warmest good wishes on your 75th birthday! Wish you many more years of health and success in service to the people of Bangladesh," reads the message shared by the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.
Read: Bangladesh celebrates Hasina’s 75th birthday
The Chinese Embassy in Dhaka also greeted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
"Our warmest wishes to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on her birthday! Wishing her a long and prosperous life with continued success in taking Bangladesh to great heights!," said the Embassy in a message shared on its verified page.
Read: Hasina’s birthday celebrated amid mass vaccination campaign
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's birthday was celebrated on Tuesday.