Sheikh Hasina
PM greets Tigers for first ever T20 win against New Zealand
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday congratulated Bangladesh Cricket Team for their first ever T20 win over New Zealand.
Bangladesh team outplayed New Zealand by seven wickets in the first T20 played at Sher-e-Bangla national cricket stadium.
Read: Bangladesh overpower New Zealand on tricky surface
With this win, the host country is leading the five- match T20 series with 1-0.
PM: Govt has arranged to bring one crore Covid vaccine doses a month
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday told Parliament that the government has taken steps to get over one crore coronavirus vaccine doses every month.
“Steps have been taken to ensure more than one crore vaccines every month,” she said.
She made the statement while answering a tabled question from ruling party MP Shahiduzzaman Sarker during PM’s question-answer session.
Sheikh Hasina said that as per the schedule Bangladesh will get two crore vaccine doses each month from Sinopharm from next October. Until December some six crore jabs will come from Sinopharm, she said.
She also said that so far (August 30) some 1,82,89,018 persons got first dose of vaccine while 78,40,169 persons got second shot. In total 2,61,29,187 doses of vaccines have been given.
Read: Decision on vaccinating school students soon: DGHS DG
“Collection of vaccines is on while providing the shots free to the people,” she said.
The prime minister said that the government has established contacts with all vaccine producing organisations.
Stay alert as anti-liberation forces conspiring against Bangladesh: Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday urged all to remain alert as anti-liberation forces along with their companions are still conspiring against Bangladesh taking assistance from abroad.
"War criminals, defeated forces, August-15 killers and their children are still conspiring against Bangladesh. They’re plotting against the country," she said.
Read: Bangladesh to be turned into a global aviation hub: Hasina
The Prime Minister said this while addressing a programme of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) at Krishibid Institution, Bangladesh (KIB) marking the National Mourning Day.
She joined the programme virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.
Hasina said the evil forces are pampered by some international forces which had acted against Bangladesh’s Liberation War. "The nation must remain alert about it."
Referring to the nation-building hectic efforts of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she said the defeated forces staged the August-15 massacre when they saw Bangladesh cannot be stopped from its economic march forward. "We’ve to move forward keeping that in our mind."
Hasina said the defeated forces took their revenge with the August-15 carnage and distorted the history of Bangladesh after that, its struggle to liberation and independence.
The Prime Minister alerted all that Bangladesh has many enemies and massive hurdles in every step of its development journey.
"Our path of progress is not smooth. It’s rather full of hurdles, but we’ve to move forward overcoming all the odds and obstacles, and we’re doing that," she said, adding Bangladesh has stood out on the world stage in the last 12 years.
Talking about Ziaur Rahman and his engagement in the Liberation War in 1971, Hasina said there is no instance that Ziaur Rahman fired a single shot at the Pakistani forces.
"No one can prove that."
Read: Promote small investors: PM to BEZA
She mentioned that Mustaq, Rashid and Farooq during their interviews with the BBC admitted that Ziaur Rahman was always with them. "Zia was the source of all power (for them), he betrayed," she said.
The PM said she sometimes thinks that these people, who had always visited Bangabandhu’s house for various purposes, including personal matters, killed the Father of the Nation. “How could they do that!”
The Prime Minister highlighted the sacrifice of her mother Bangamata Fazilatunnesa Mujib saying that her mother was beside Bangabandhu throughout her life.
"My father could fully engage in the service of the country as he got such a companion beside him…this is a rare instance," she said.
Sheikh Hasina, the chief patron of BCL, asked the BCL activists and leaders to work for the country being imbued with patriotism and follow the ideals of the Father of the Nation.
Awami League presidium members Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Abdur Rahman, BCL president Al Nahean Khan Joy and general secretary Lekhak Bhattacharjee also spoke at the programme.
At the beginning of the programme, a one-minute silence was observed to show respect to the martyrs of the August 15 massacre.
The Prime Minister, earlier, unveiled the covers of books titled ‘Matribhumi’ and ‘Joy Bangla Magazine’.
Cox's Bazar Airport set to get a spectacular maritime runway
Bangladesh is set to add another feather to its development journey with the formal groundbreaking inauguration of the runway extension work along the Sea at Cox's Bazar Airport on Sunday.
This maritime runway, the first of its kind in Bangladesh, is seen as a major step towards promoting Cox’s Bazar, the country's popular beach town, to an international metropolis.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to virtually inaugurate the groundbreaking ceremony and unveil the foundation stone of the runway extension at 10am, said an official.
Read PM inaugurates work on Cox's Bazar Airport’s runway upgradation
Apparently inspired by Hong Kong International Airport, the government of Bangladesh has taken the runway expansion project at the Cox's Bazar Airport by reclaiming land from the sea.
Upon completion of the project, all types of large aircraft will be able to take off and land on the maritime runway, officials said.
The US$ 185 million project will help boost the development of Cox’s Bazar and the neighbouring regions, they said.
Read Bangladesh unlocks tourism
The government is currently implementing a large number of projects in Cox's Bazar under a mega plan to develop the tourism city like Singapore and Hong Kong.
GLG on AMR: Hasina seeks technology transfer to ensure equitable access to medical facilities, antibiotics
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has sought continued collaboration from global leaders to keep up the momentum for ensuring equitable access to affordable and effective antibiotics and other medical facilities through technology transfer and sharing of ownership.
“Let’s work at the same time for partnership for investment in Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) containment,” she said on Tuesday.
The Prime Minister made the plea in her pre-recorded speech at the Second Meeting of Global Leaders Group (GLG) on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
She said the AMR challenge requires sustained action across sectors. “I’m pleased to see the finalisation of the action plan in this regard. I’m also happy to support the GLG priority advocating for financing and implementation of multisectoral National Action Plans, with a One Health approach,” she said.
Read: Don’t be hesitant about taking Covid test: PM to rural people
Hasina said she was glad to approve the comprehensive communication strategy for the GLG. “We’ll do our part to raise the profile of the GLG work through different networks.”
She mentioned that financing across sectors is essential to reduce the burden of AMR. “I look forward to hearing your ideas on what the GLG can do to increase sustainable financing to directly address AMR.”
The Prime Minister gave importance to the need to make sure that adequate funding is available for the national action plan implementation, research and development, and for ensuring equitable access to new innovations.
“Needless to say, we need to prioritise political action to achieve our goal,” she said, adding that AMR should be embedded in implementation of SDGs.
Talking about her own country, Hasina said Bangladesh has developed a six-year (2017-2022) National Strategic Plan and National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance Containment.
Read: Better housing: Hasina distributes flats among 300 low-income families
“The Bangladesh AMR Response Alliance has also been formed.”
She mentioned that Laboratory-based AMR surveillance for both human and animal health are being conducted regularly to ensure WHO categorisation.
“We’ve also been providing AMR surveillance data to WHO GLASS Platform for the last two years.”
PM congratulates new Malaysian counterpart Ismail Sabri
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Saturday congratulated her Malaysian counterpart Dato' Sri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob on his assumption of office and conveyed to him the full support of her government as well as Bangladeshi people.
The trust and confidence that Malaysian people reposed in him throughout his political career are exemplary, Sheikh Hasina said in a felicitation message sent to the Malaysian prime minister.
She expressed confidence that Malaysia would further prosper and progress to its desired goals under Ismail Sabri's dynamic and visionary leadership.
Bangladesh and Malaysia enjoy an excellent bilateral relationship based on shared faith, fraternity, cooperation, and prosperity, Sheikh Hasina reiterated.
Both the countries are committed to strengthening and broadening the comprehensive and cooperative partnership in various areas such as education, human resources, trade, investment, tourism, manufacturing, and agriculture, in compliance with achieving shared benefit and win-win outcomes, she said.
Also read: UAE lauds Bangladeshi workers' contribution to its development
Sheikh Hasina expressed satisfaction with Malaysia as the country hosts a substantial number of Bangladeshi nationals in different sectors who contribute to Malaysia's development and the economic prosperity of Bangladesh.
READ: Maintain Bangladesh's current development pace: PM to secretaries
She looks forward to working closely with Ismail Sabri on mutual interests in the bilateral, regional, and global context for the mutual benefit of the two peoples.
Attack on Hasina’s motorcade: absconding convict held in city
Police have arrested a man who had been on the run since he was given a 10-year jail term for an attack on the motorcade of then-opposition leader Sheikh Hasina in Satkhira district.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s intelligence wing held absconding Arifur Rahman Ranju from the city’s Hazaribagh area on Friday.
Ranju, a former Chhatra Dal leader, confessed to leading a group of 50 people in carrying out the attack on Aug. 30 in 2002 at Kalaroa in Satkhira district. Sheikh Hasina was returning to Dhaka after attending a meeting in Kalaroa.
Also read: Sheikh Hasina's convoy attack: Ex-BNP MP, 2 others get 10-yr imprisonment
A court in Khulna held trial of the 50 attackers, including Ranju, in a case over attempt on the life of Sheikh Hasina, the current prime minister.
Detective Branch (DB) Additional Commissioner AKM Hafiz Akhter told reporters at DMP's media center on Saturday that Ranju started student politics in 1993 at Kalaroa College. He used to lead college Chattrd Dal.
After the investigation charge sheets were issued against 50 people. On February 3, the court sentenced Ranju to 10 years in jail. Ranju had been on the run ever since, he said.
Also read: Verdict in PM’s convoy attack case to be delivered Thursday
The additional commissioner informed that Ranju would be taken to court at Satkhira Saturday to complete further legal procedures.
Aug 21 attack wouldn’t have been possible without then govt’s patronage: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said it was not possible to carry out an attack like that of August 21, 2004 had there been no direct patronage from then BNP-Jamaat government.
"They (BNP-Jamaat govt) thought that I had been killed (in the grenade attack), but when they came to know that I didn’t die they allowed four criminals to flee the country," she said.
She said the then BNP-Jamaat government assembled the terrorists and militants for carrying out such an attack and gave them a safe passage to flee abroad.
Sheikh Hasina made the allegation while addressing a discussion marking the August 21, 2004 grenade attack.
READ: PM mourns death of journalist Zahiduzzaman Faruk
Awami League organised the event at its Bangabandhu Avenue central office. The Prime Minister attended the event virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.
"No one dared to dream that there would be arges grenade attack (on the rally) attempting to kill in broad daylight," she said.
Recalling the barbaric carnage, Sheikh Hasina alleged that then Prime Khaleda Zia and her government staged grenade attack as killings is their habit.
She said that Bangabandhu killers Dalim and Rashid were among those criminals while the other two were militant Tajul and one jailer.
After the attack, she said, police lobbed teargas shells and charged baton on AL leaders and workers instead of rescuing the victims.
Hasina said even BNP-Jamaat-backed doctors did not attend the injured AL leaders and activists at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and no patient was allowed to enter Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Medical University.
Referring to some remarks made by Khaleda Zia before the grisly grenade attack and planting of twin bombs — one of 76 kg and another of 84 kg — in Kotalipara, the Prime Minister said, “Before every attack, Khaleda Zia used to say Awami League won’t be able to go to power in 100 years. And right before the grenade attack, she said even Sheikh Hasina would never be the leader of the opposition,” she said.
The then government destroyed the evidence of the gruesome attack while an army officer faced trouble as he wanted to preserve an unexploded grenade used in the attack, she said. “They tried to erase all the evidences of the attack.”
"And all know about a staged drama by the government," she said pointing to the Joj Mia issue which was later proved false.
The Prime Minister said ruling BNP-Jamaat did not allow AL to discuss the matter in Parliament although many of the injured were MPs and she was the leader of the opposition.
She said that Almighty Allah repeatedly saved her from various types of attacks including the August 15 and August 24 to materialise something that only He knows.
Referring to the ongoing pandemic she said that the government always remains beside the people of the country as it strictly follows the ideology of Father of The Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
"Inshallah, we will be able to establish developed and prosperous Golden Bangladesh that was dreamt by the Father of the Nation," she said.
AL presidium member Matia Chowdhury, general secretary Obaidul Quader, joint secretary Dr. Hassan Mahmud, AL central working committee member Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, organising secretary SM Kamal Hossain, Dhaka South Unit of Awami League president Abu Ahmed Mannafi and Dhaka North Unit of Awami League president Sheikh Bazlur Rahman also spoke at the programme joined by senior leaders of the party.
The barbaric grenade attack was carried out on an anti-terrorism rally of Awami League on Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital on August 21, 2004 during the BNP-Jamaat government aiming to wipe out the AL leadership.
READ: PM talks tough against corruption by public servants
Twenty-four people, including then president of Mohila Awami League and late President Zillur Rahman’s wife Ivy Rahman, were killed and over 500 others suffered splinter injuries in the grisly attack and many of them became crippled for life.
Sheikh Hasina, the then opposition leader, narrowly escaped the attack but sustained hearing impairment due to the impact of the repeated grenade blasts near the truck-dais of the huge public rally. AL men saved her life creating a human shield surrounding her during the attack.
PM talks tough against corruption by public servants
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said public servants will face tough punishment if anyone indulges in corruption.
“As we are providing various facilities, we will not tolerate any corruption,” she said.
The prime minister said this while speaking at a meeting with all secretaries of the public service.
Held at the NEC auditorium, the prime minister joined it from her official residence Ganobhaban.
She said the government wants to build a skilled, pro-service oriented and accountable administration which will accelerate the development of the country.
READ: Maintain Bangladesh's current development pace: PM to secretaries
“That will be much more effective as we want to establish good governance in the country,” she said.
Terming corruption a disease, Hasina laid emphasis on getting rid of the menace.
“You have to take stern action against it, whenever you see anyone indulging in corruption take immediate steps. There must be a reward for any good job, but punishment must be given for any involvement in corruption,” she said.
Talking about the coronavirus vaccines, the prime minister said the government has taken measurers to produce those in the country.
“Besides, we will procure whatever the amount of vaccines we need, we have taken the steps,” she said.
Hasina also emphasised theneed for reopening of the educational institutions and asked authorities concerned to take quick move regarding this.
“Not only universities, but also schools have to be reopened; this is the most important matter now, kids are suffering from mental pain staying at homes (for a long time), we have to give attention to this issue,” she said.
She asked secretaries to maintain the current pace of development in the country.
“We have to continue our activities so that Bangladesh could maintain its forward march in the future like it is doing now,” she said.
Hasina said the government has laid the foundation to take the country forward in the days to come.
Referring to the perspective plan and delta plan, "We have to make much progress in the future, we have taken that plan."
She asked the secretaries to make sure that all plans are implemented for the country’s development keeping the perspective plan and delta plan in mind.
READ: PM says her main goal is to fulfill Bangabandhu’s dream of building Sonar Bangla
Hasina said the prime task of the government is to provide a better life to people at the grassroots.
“People could get free from poverty, get a developed life, get a chance to avail of all the basic rights, including food, clothes, shelter, medicare and education,” she said.
Hasina asked all to work sincerely so that the Independence that came at the cost of blood of millions must not fail.
“We will take Bangladesh forward as a developed and prosperous country as we have we already attained the recognition as a developing country,” she said.
She thanked the secretaries for their sincerity and cooperation in working for the country and its people.
“What we need most is the mentality to work for the development of the country and change the fate of its people. You have that mentality and we got (that from you), as a result we have been able to advance the country,” Hasina said.
She asked the secretaries to take care of the development projects that the government has taken so that the country could maintain the economic development.
PM says her main goal is to fulfill Bangabandhu’s dream of building Sonar Bangla
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said her prime goal is to build a happy and prosperous Bangladesh and uplift the people by transforming the tragedy of August 15 into a source of power.
“Inshallah, Bangladesh will become a developed and prosperous Sonar Bangla (Golden Bengal) free of hunger and poverty as dreamt by my father. Inshallah, that dream will be implemented,” she said.
The PM said this in her pre-recorded speech that was played at a programme on the occasion of 46th anniversary of the martyrdom of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members and the National Mourning Day.
The programme was organised by the National Implementation Committee for Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's 100th birth Anniversary Celebration.
Also read: PM vows to find out masterminds of August 15 massacre