Sheikh Hasina
PM leaves Finland en route to New York to attend UNGA
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday left here for USA to attend the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The VVIP chartered flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the PM left Helsinki-Vantaa Airport at 4:16 pm (local time), said PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim.
Ambassador of Bangladesh in Finland (non-resident) Md Nazmul Islam saw her off her at the airport.
The flight is scheduled to land at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York at 6pm (local time).
It is her first foreign trip since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020.
She is going to join the UNGA for the 18th time as the head of government of Bangladesh and will address the UNGA general debate on September 24.
Besides, Sheikh Hasina will attend the opening session of the UNGA general debate on September 21 and other sideline events in the UN headquarters (UNHQ) on September 20-24. She will also have talks with a number of leaders during her stay in New York. The PM is expected to return home on October 1 next.
She will stay at the Hotel Lotte Palace during her stay in New York from September 19 to 25.
On September 20 (Monday), the PM will attend a closed-door meeting for a small group of HOSs/HOGs on climate change at the UNHQ at 9am, plant a tree and dedicate a bench at the UN Gardens at 11:30am in honour of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the occasion of his birth centenary, and lay a floral wreath at the Peace Memorial at the North Lawn of UNHQ at 11:50am.
Read: PM reaches Finland route to New York to attend UNGA
On Monday, Sheikh Hasina will sit in two separate bilateral meetings with EU Council President Charles Michel at 12:30pm (local time) and with Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley at 2:45pm at her place of residence. Besides, she will join a virtual event of Sustainable Development Solution Network at 4:00pm.
On September 21 (Tuesday), the PM will attend the opening session of the UNGA general debate at 9:00pm, sit in a bilateral meeting with Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in the afternoon and join Business Roundtable on US-Bangladesh Business Council at 4:00pm at the place of residence.
On September 22 (Wednesday), Sheikh Hasina will virtually attend three events. The events are the high-level meeting of the UNGA to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action at 9:00am, White House Global Covid-19 Summit: Ending the Pandemic and building back better, and a high level side event on Rohingya crisis: imperatives for a sustainable solution at 3:00pm.
On September 23 (Thursday), the Bangladesh PM will attend two programmes by sending her pre-recorded statements. These are the Leaders’ Network on ‘delivering on the UN common agenda: Action to achieve equality and inclusion’ to be organised by Swedish Mission to the UN at 8:00am, and the Food Systems Summit, as part of the decade of action to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2030, convened by the UNSG at 1:00pm.
Read: PM flies for Finland Friday morning on her way to UNGA
On Thursday, Sheikh Hasina will sit in four separate bilateral meetings with Queen Máxima of the Netherlands at the place of residence, UN Secretary-General António Guterres at 1:30pm, Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih at 2:00pm and Vietnam President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc at 2:40pm at the UNHQ.
On September 24 (Friday), the Bangladesh Prime Minister will address the UNGA 76 general debate in the morning, sit in a bilateral meeting with Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte at UNHQ, and will virtually join a community programme.
On September 25 (Saturday), Sheikh Hasina will depart New York for Washington DC by a Biman flight at 8:00am. She will stay in Washington DC from 25 to 30 September.
Hasina is scheduled to leave Washington for Dhaka on 30 September and will return home on October 1 after a short stopover in Finland.
Quader condemns BNP’s protests against PM’s visit in New York
Denouncing BNP’s street protest against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s UNGA visit in New York the Awami League general secretary on Sunday accused the opposition party of damaging the country’s image abroad. “BNP is not only creating chaos in the country, it is also conspiring to tarnish the nation’s image abroad,” said AL leader Obaidul Quader at a briefing at his residence this morning referring to BNP’s demonstration ahead PM’s arrival in New York. Condemning the BNP's deep-rooted conspiracy, Quader also said that the prime minister did not go on a visit abroad in the last 19 months due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The PM decided to attend the important 76th UN General Assembly in person considering national interest, he said. “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina did not want to miss the opportunity to speak on behalf of the people of Bangladesh in the UN forum on various issues including Corona, climate change, and the Rohingya crisis,” said Quader. He said "We are surprised to observe that BNP has started protesting before the arrival of Sheikh Hasina in New York.”
READ: Govt working to constitute EC as per constitution: Quader
He said the BNP has lost the confidence of the people due to its harmful politics. None can break the record of cruelty and political oppression set by the BNP while in power, he added. The AL leader said that no matter how much BNP tries to destroy the country’s existing stability, it will never succeed. Quader said the BNP has again started conspiring with new tactics to obstruct the establishment of democracy.
READ: Payra Bridge to be opened in Oct: Quader
Hasina places six proposals to make world more liveable
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday put forward six proposals to make the world more liveable by bringing down carbon emissions and tackle the people being displaced across the globe due to climate change.
She placed her proposals while delivering the pre-recorded speech in the ‘Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate’, convened by US President Joe Biden.
The Prime Minister, in her first proposal, asked the major carbon-emitting countries to take action to reduce their emissions to keep the global temperature rise at 1.5 degrees Celsius.
In her second proposal, Hasina renewed her call for fulfilling the commitment of an annual 100-billion-dollar climate fund by the developed countries and distributing it 50:50 between adaptation and mitigation.
The Prime Minister, in her third proposal, advised the developed countries to come forward with the most effective energy solutions along with technology transfer to the developing countries.
Also read: Hasina places 4 suggestions to deal with climate challenge
PM reaches Finland route to New York to attend UNGA
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reached Finland on Friday en route to New York to attend the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Ambassador of Bangladesh in Finland (non-resident) Md Nazmul Islam received the prime minister at the Vanta International Airport, Helsinki as she arrived there on a VVIP chartered flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines at 3:37 pm local time ( 9 am Bangladesh time).
On September 19 (Sunday), Sheikh Hasina will leave Helsinki for New York by a VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BG-1902) at 3pm (local time). The flight is scheduled to land at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York at 6pm (local time).
Read: PM flies for Finland Friday morning on her way to UNGA
It is her first foreign trip since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020. She is going to join the UNGA for the 18th time as the head of government of Bangladesh and will address the UNGA general debate on September 24.
During the two-week official visit Sheikh Hasina will attend the opening session of the UNGA general debate on September 21 and other sideline events in the UN headquarters (UNHQ) on September 20-24. She will also have talks with a number of leaders during her stay in New York. The PM is expected to return home on October 1 next.
PM flies for Finland Friday morning on her way to UNGA
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will leave for Finland on Friday morning as part of a two-week official visit to attend the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 76) in New York, USA.
It is her first foreign trip since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020. She is going to join the UNGA for the 18th time as the head of government of Bangladesh and will address the UNGA general debate on September 24.
Besides, Sheikh Hasina will attend the opening session of the UNGA general debate on September 21 and other sideline events in the UN headquarters (UNHQ) on September 20-24. She will also have talks with a number of leaders during her stay in New York. The PM is expected to return home on October 1 next.
The Prime Minister will depart Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for Helsinki, Finland, by a VVIP chartered flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BG-1901) at 9am on Friday. The flight is scheduled to land at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport at 4:00pm (local time) on Friday, said PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim on Thursday.
On September 19 (Sunday), Sheikh Hasina will leave Helsinki for New York by a VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BG-1902) at 3pm (local time). The flight is scheduled to land at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York at 6pm (local time).
She will stay at the Hotel Lotte Palace during her stay in New York from September 19 to 25.
On September 20 (Monday), the PM will attend a closed-door meeting for a small group of HOSs/HOGs on climate change at the UNHQ at 9am, plant a tree and dedicate a bench at the UN Gardens at 11:30am in honour of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the occasion of his birth centenary, and lay a floral wreath at the Peace Memorial at the North Lawn of UNHQ at 11:50am.
On Monday, Sheikh Hasina will sit in two separate bilateral meetings with EU Council President Charles Michel at 12:30pm (local time) and with Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley at 2:45pm at her place of residence. Besides, she will join a virtual event of Sustainable Development Solution Network at 4:00pm.
Read: Vaccine equity, Rohingya, climate change on top of Hasina’s UNGA agenda
On September 21 (Tuesday), the PM will attend the opening session of the UNGA general debate at 9:00pm, sit in a bilateral meeting with Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in the afternoon and join Business Roundtable on US-Bangladesh Business Council at 4:00pm at the place of residence.
On September 22 (Wednesday), Sheikh Hasina will virtually attend three events. The events are the high-level meeting of the UNGA to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action at 9:00am, White House Global Covid-19 Summit: Ending the Pandemic and building back better, and a high level side event on Rohingya crisis: imperatives for a sustainable solution at 3:00pm.
On September 23 (Thursday), the Bangladesh PM will attend two programmes by sending her prerecorded statements. These are the Leaders’ Network on ‘delivering on the UN common agenda: Action to achieve equality and inclusion’ to be organised by Swedish Mission to the UN at 8:00am, and the Food Systems Summit, as part of the decade of action to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2030, convened by the UNSG at 1:00pm.
On Thursday, Sheikh Hasina will sit in four separate bilateral meetings with Queen Máxima of the Netherlands at the place of residence, UN Secretary-General António Guterres at 1:30pm, Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih at 2:00pm and Vietnam President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc at 2:40pm at the UNHQ.
On September 24 (Friday), the Bangladesh Prime Minister will address the UNGA 76 general debate in the morning, sit in a bilateral meeting with Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte at UNHQ, and will virtually join a community programme.
On September 25 (Saturday), Sheikh Hasina will depart New York for Washington DC by a Biman flight at 8:00am. She will stay in Washington DC from 25 to 30 September.
Hasina is scheduled to leave Washington for Dhaka on 30 September and will return home on October 1 after a stopover in Finland.
Wanted to make Zia accused in 1975 killing case: Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said she had wanted to make Ziaur Rahman an accused in the Bangabandhu killing case as his involvement in the massacre was beyond doubt.
“There’s no doubt that he was involved in the 1975 carnage. I wanted to make him an accused, but then home secretary Rezaul Hayat once said dead persons cannot be made any accused. But his name (Zia’s name) should have been there as an accused (in the case),” she told Parliament.
The Prime Minister said this while delivering her valedictory speech in the 14th session of the 11th parliament.
Hasina said Bangabandhu’s killers Farooq and Rashid in their interviews with the BBC had said Zia was involved in the conspiracy. It was also stated in the books of Anthony Mascarenhas and Lawrence Lifschultz. “So, how can they (BNP) deny it?” she questioned.
Read: Evidence on Zia's involvement in Bangabandhu killing to be made public
Coups and killings
Mentioning that so many people were killed in different jails during the Zia’s regime, the Prime Minister asked the members of parliament (MPs) to take an initiative to find out how many people were hanged in different jails at that time.
“I think our MPs should take an initiative to find out how many people were killed during the Zia’s regime. So many people were hanged in every jail, particularly in Dhaka, Bogura, Rajshahi, Khulna, Cumilla and other places. There were coups one after another and hundreds of people were killed,” she said.
Hasina said a good number of army officers and soldiers and 562 air force officers and soldiers were killed during Zia’s regime.
Mentioning different activities of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman during the 1971 Liberation War, the Prime Minister questioned about his contribution to the War.
“Zia was a freedom fighter and Bangabandhu provided him with gallantry award. All these are true, but what’s his role in the Liberation War, anyway?” she said.
When Khaled Mosharraf had been injured, Major Haider took over the charge.” Zia didn’t become a sector commander rather he worked as an “Odhinayak”, Hasina said.
Referring to BNP MP Harunur Rashid, she said the MP mentioned that the casualties were high in the area where Zia was in change. If so, there is a question what he did in the war. “Whether he made an arrangement in favour of Pakistan so that our freedom fighters die? It’s my question,” she said.
Hasina said Colonel Aslam Beg, who was in Bangladesh during the Liberation War and later became the chief of Pakistan Army, wrote a letter to Ziaur Rahman during the war complimenting Zia’s works at that time.
She mentioned that Aslam Beg, in his letter, said Zia did a good job and they (Pakistan) were happy with his works. He also asked Zia not worry about his (Zia’s) wife and sons. Aslam also assured that Zia would be given more tasks in the future, said the PM.
Hasina said she has also a copy of the letter. She would bring it to read out in Parliament another day as it should remain there as record in the proceedings of parliament.
Read: 'Will prove Zia's involvement in Bangabandhu killing': Minister
UNGA: Hasina to leave for US Friday on her first foreign trip since pandemic
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to leave here on Friday on a two-week official visit to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York and other engagements with a likely stopover in Helsinki, Finland.
As per her schedule, the Prime Minister will leave for New York from Helsinki, Finland on September 19 after her stopover there on September 17-18.
She will stay in New York from September 19-24 to attend the UNGA where she is likely to address on September 24.
Wrapping up her official visit to New York, the Prime Minister will visit Washington DC where she will stay from September 25 to 30.
Hasina is scheduled to leave Washington for Dhaka on September 30 and will return home on October 1 after a stopover in Finland.
Asked about the PM's likely stopover in Finland, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen told UNB that they are working on it.
Read: PM likely to join 76th UNGA in person
Dr Momen will formally brief the media on the Prime Minister’s visit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at 3m on Thursday.
This is going to be Prime Minister Hasina’s first overseas visit since the outbreak of the Covid-19 in March 2020.
Earlier, she addressed the UNGA for 17 times and this would be her 18 times joining the UNGA.
The Covid-19 pandemic has proved to be the most challenging period the world has seen since the Second World War, said the UN Secretary-General on Tuesday.
Newly sworn in General Assembly President, Abdulla Shahid of the Maldives, opened the new 76th session, noting that his country’s flag is “flying at the highest peak today”.
He spoke of near-universal “collective anxiety” and hopelessness, not all of which is pandemic-related, saying: “The narrative must change” and that the General Assembly “must play a part in this”.
Follow health guidelines, reiterates Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday urged all to follow the health guidelines to protect themselves from coronavirus and wear masks even after getting vaccinated.
“We should follow health protocols to keep ourselves safe from Coronavirus. All, including those vaccinated, should mask up to prevent the spread of the virus,” she said.
The Prime Minister came up with her renewed call while speaking at Parliament on a condolence motion.
Parliament unanimously adopted a condolence motion expressing profound grief at the demise of Jatiya Party MP for reserved women seat and a presidium member of Jatiya Party Prof Masuda M Rashid Chowdhury.
Speaking on the condolence motion, leader of the House and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the demise of Prof Masuda caused a huge loss to society. “She was a very learned person…these days such a knowledgeable person is rarely seen,” she said.
Hasina said she was a teacher, politician, social worker, women entrepreneur, and engaged in children and women sports with versatile qualities.
Read: Take Covid-19 vaccine, follow health guidelines: PM Hasina
The Prime Minister said had Prof Masuda been lived longer she could have contributed more to society.
Hasina expressed her profound shock as the 11th Parliament is taking condolence motion one after another due to the deaths of its members.
Jatiya Party chairman and deputy leader of the opposition GM Quader, opposition chief whip Masiur Rahman Ranga, Anisul Islam Mahmud, BNP MP Harun Ur Rashid, Jatiya Party MP Nazma Akther, AL MP Moslem Uddin Ahmed, Jatiya Party MP Lazi Firoz Rashid, AL MP Abdus Sobhan Miah, Jatiya Party MP Shamim Haider Patwary, AL MPs Syeda Johra Alauddin, Simin Hossain Rimi and Washiqua Ayesha Khan also spoke on the condolence motion.
Prof Masuda M Rashid Chowdhury passed away on Monday at the age of 70. She was elected MP for the first time in 2019 from reserved seats for women in parliament.
Bangladesh-New Zealand T20 series: PM greets Tigers for going 2-0 up
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Friday congratulated the Tigers for their second consecutive win against touring New Zealand in the five-match T20 series.
Bangladesh beat New Zealand by 4 runs in the low-scoring second T20 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium to go 2-0 up in the series.
Read: PM greets Tigers for first ever T20 win against New Zealand
Chasing 142 runs, the Kiwis needed six off the last ball but managed just a single as the Tigers continued their winning streak – sixth in seven games.
Prof Ali Ashraf was a versatile person: Sheikh Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday paid tributes to late Prof Ali Ashraf praising his versatility as a seasoned parliamentarian , teacher, businessman and politician.
“He (Ali Ashraf) was a knowledgeable person. He was a professor, did business and also politics. We’ve lost a versatile parliamentarian, which is very unfortunate for us,” she said, participating in the discussion over a condolence motion placed to express profound grief at the death of sitting MP Prof Ali Ashraf (Cumilla-7).
Sheikh Hasina said Prof Ashraf served as deputy speaker in 7th Parliament and also discharged his responsibility competently in all other forums including different parliamentary committees as either chairman or member.
She said Ali Ashraf always protested the August 15 carnage and met her in London in 1980. He also testified against the killers in the 1975 November 3 jail killing case.
She said that the veteran parliamentarian was elected MP in five parliamentary polls.
Talking about his Cumilla-7 constituency (Chandina), the prime minister said Bangabandhu’s killer Col (Abdur) Rashid hailed from Chandina. But Begum Khaleda Zia brought the killer to Parliament and made him the leader of opposition in the House.
READ: PM mourns former AL lawmaker Mizanul Haque's death
“Ziaur Rahman awarded the killers (of Bangabandhu) giving them indemnity and jobs in different foreign missions of Bangladesh. But Begum Khaleda Zia perhaps went one step forward and brought a killer in the parliament,” said Sheikh Hasina.
She said Khaleda Zia brought two killers of Bangabandhu -- Col Rashid from Chandina and Maj Huda from Chuadnga-- in Parliament through the 1996 February 15 voter-less election that boycotted all other political parties.
The PM said Prof Ashraf later was elected MP from the constituency. The new parliamentarians could learn many things from the five-time lawmaker. “We lost a seasoned parliamentarian,” she said.
Mentioning the names of different books written by Prof Ashraf, the PM said he was also a good writer beyond his political life. He wrote 15 books on contemporary politics, economy and international affairs. The young parliamentarians can learn a lot from his books.
Sheikh Hasina said the professor also published a research-based book titled “Rural Economy and Development of Bangladesh,” which will greatly contribute to building Bangladesh in future.
READ: PM mourns death of journalist Zahiduzzaman Faruk
She prayed for salvation of the departed soul and expressed deep sympathy to his family members.
At the beginning of the 14th session of the current parliament, Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury moved the condolence motion, expressing deep shock at the death of the sitting MP, seven former MPs including an ex-state minister and some noted personalities.
The Parliament adopted the condolence motion unanimously by a voice-vote following discussion.
Besides, Law Minister Anisul Huq, Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam, Deputy Opposition Leader Ghulam Muhammed Quader, Opposition Chief Whip Mashiur Rahman Ranga, AL MPs Mazibul Hoque (Cumilla-11), Matia Chowdhury (Sherpur-2), Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim (Gopalganj-2) and Muhammad Faruk Khan (Gopalganj-1), Jatiya Party MPs Kazi Firoz Rashid (Dhaka-6) and Anisul Islam Mahmud (Chattogram-5), Ganoforum MP Sultan Muhammed Mansur Ahmed (Maulvibazar-2), Tarikat Federation MP Syed Nazibul Bashar Maizvandary (Chattogram-2) and Bikalpadhara MP Abdul Mannan (Laxmipur-4) participated in the discussion.
The Parliament also expressed deep shock at the death of a state minister and six former MPs. They are Afaz Uddin Ahmed (MP of 9th Parliament from Kushtia-1), Tofazzal Hossain Sarkar ( MP of 1st Parliament from Rangpur-22), Jamal Uddin Ahmed (MNA, 1970 from Dhaka-13), Khurram Khan Chowdhury (MP of 2nd, 4th, 5th and 8th parliaments from Mymensingh-5, 8 and 9), Md Reza Khan (MP of 4th Parliament from Jamalpur-5), former state minister for cultural affairs Prof Jahanara Begum (MP of 5th and 6th parliaments from a reserved seat and Rajbari-1), and Anwar Hossain (MP of 4th parliament from Dhaka-8).
The House also deeply condoled the death of a number of noted personalities including freedom fighter and legendary singer Fakir Alamgir, noted lyricist Fazl-e-Khuda, (known for his famous song Salam Salam Hajar Salam), Freedom fighter and the High Court Division Justice Amir Hossain, freedom fighter and former PM’s Principal Secretary SA Samad, Bangladesh’s true friend British journalist Simon Dring and legendary German footballer Gerd Muller.
Besides, it mourned the death of the physicians and health workers at home and abroad, the members of administration and police, political leaders, business and social dignitaries, government and private employees, who lost lives in the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Parliament expressed profound shock at the casualties in some recent incidents including Rupganj fire in Narayanganj, lightning strike in Chapainawabganj, Haiti earthquake (a Caribbean country), and the recent accidents taken place at home and abroad. The House also conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved families.
A one-minute silence was observed and a munajat was offered seeking the eternal peace of the departed souls. AL MP Md. Hafiz Ruhul Amin Madani (Mymensingh-7) conducted the munajat.
As per the tradition, the day’s business of Parliament was adjourned after the adoption of the condolence motion over the death of the sitting Awami League MP in order to pay respect to him.
Prof Ashraf, also a valiant freedom fighter, died on July 30 last. He was born at Gallai village in Chandina Upazila in 1947.
According to the obituary reference, Ali Ashraf, who completed graduation (in 1967) and post-graduation (1968) degrees in economics from Dhaka University, was a successful businessman and industrialist. He became a Member of Parliament in 1973, 1996, 2008, 2014 and 2018.