PM Hasina
'You're the man who brought glory for Argentina': PM tells Emiliano Martinez
Goalkeeper of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 winning Argentine team, Emiliano Martinez, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the latter's office today (July 03, 2023).
During the meeting, the PM appreciated the Argentine footballer for his stellar performance that contributed to Argentina lifting the Football World Cup 2022 trophy.
Martinez presented a signed Argentine jersey to the PM during their meeting.
"You are the man who brought glory for Argentina. I wish you all the success," she was quoted as saying.
Messi mania grips Argentina in 1st match as World Cup champs
PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.
Sheikh Hasina said football is the most popular sport in the world and Bangladeshis are passionate about it.
She mentioned that her family is also a sports-loving one. "My father and grandfather were footballers," she said.
The premier said her government has been constructing upazila-level mini-stadiums across Bangladesh to promote football and other sports.
Read more: Indonesia to Host Argentina In a Friendly Football Match on June 2023
Emiliano Martinez, the Golden Gloves winner of FIFA World Cup 2022, was overwhelmed after learning of Bangladesh's huge fanbase.
"I'm very happy to be here and happy to know about the passion for football among Bangladeshis," he said.
Indian organizer and sports promoter Satadru Dutta and personal manager of Martinez, Santiago Liotta, are among the visiting delegation members.
LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam, PM's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Swapan Bhattacharjee, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam, PM's Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah, Sheikh Helal Uddin MP and Sheikh Tonmoy MP were present at the meeting between PM Hasina and star Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Read more: Messi mania grips Argentina in 1st match as World Cup champs
UN officials praise Bangladeshi peacekeepers during meeting with PM Hasina
United Nations Under-Secretaries General Jean-Pierre Lacroix and Catherine Pollard jointly paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganabhaban on Sunday (June 25, 2023).
In the meeting, they discussed different issues including the UN peacekeeping operations, climate change and women security, PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told reporters.
The UN officials said the world body has successfully completed 75 years of its peacekeeping operation.
Read: Discrimination, sexual abuse have no place in Peacekeeping Missions, Dhaka says
They highly praised the Bangladeshi peacekeepers for their contribution to maintain peace.
In this regard, the prime minister told the UN officials that Bangladesh has been contributing to the UN peacekeeping missions for three decades with dedication and professionalism.
She said Bangladesh is the largest troops contributing country for the UN peacekeeping missions. "Some 7,500 Bangladeshi males and females are employed in nine UN peacekeeping missions around the globe," the press secretary quoted her as saying.
Catherine Pollard thanked the prime minister for Bangladesh's contribution to the trust fund to check sexual exploitation and abuse.
In reply, Hasina said Bangladesh is deeply committed to women security and increasing women's participation in UN peacekeeping.
Read: UN USG for Peace Operations Lacroix to attend 1st peacekeeping ministerial preparatory meeting in Dhaka
She reiterated her government's zero tolerance policy against sexual exploitation and abuse.
She said Bangladesh has taken serious punitive measures against the individuals who were found guilty through investigation in this regard.
Talking about climate change, the PM said Bangladesh is a vulnerable country and her government is implementing mitigation and adaptation programmes with its own funds.
Ambassador-at-Large Mohammad Ziauddin, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Lieutenant General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun and Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the United Nations Muhammad Abdul Muhith were present at the meeting.
Read more: Evolution of UN Peacekeeping into 4th generation will create new challenges for third world countries including Bangladesh: BIPSS president
AL wins election through people's vote, not by rigging: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said Awami League does not need to rig vote for winning any election as it has public trust.
“Rather, Awami League gets the votes of the people through its work for the masses, by attaining confidence and trust from the countrymen,” she said.
The prime minister said this while delivering her introductory speech in the Awami League Central Working Committee (ALCWC) meeting held at her official residence Ganabhaban.
The Awami League chief said that whenever her party lost in any election, it was done through conspiracy.
“By vote dacoity, (conspirators) deprived Awami League of getting its actual votes or seats, or tried to defeat Awami League,” she said.
‘Does BNP want to come to power by selling St. Martin’s island?’ — PM Hasina asks
She said that whenever people of the country got the chance to cast their votes freely, they cast their votes for Awami League.
In this connection, she mentioned the election held in 2008 which was held under a caretaker government.
In that election, she said, the grand alliance led by Awami League won, defeating the 20-party alliance led by BNP.
“They got only 29 seats and another seat from a by-election, in total 30 seats, all should remember that the people did not cast votes for the terrorist party BNP,” she said.
The prime minister said that because of the dismal result BNP did not contest in the election in 2014 vowing to resist the vote.
She said that the voting rights of the people have been ensured by the Awami League government through a long struggle.
PM says recent visits to Switzerland, Qatar will accelerate multi-dimensional relations
Describing BNP as a terrorist party the PM said it has no love for the people.
She said the world is passing through a critical economic consition due to the Ukraine War, sanctions, counter sanctions, and COVID-19 pandemic.
Talking about the forex reserves of the country, the prime minister said that the current level is good enough for import of food items for five months.
In this connection, she pointed out that it is safe to have reserve for three months of food import in crisis moment.
She also mentioned that with some foreign exchange the government has formed a fund to maintain the big development programmes in the country for the welfare of the people.
“And this amount of money is not calculated in the reserve amount,” she said.
Coast Guard to be built as a modern force: PM Hasina
Briefly describing various development activities of the country in the last 14 years, the Awami League president said that this development spree will be continued if only her party remains in power.
She urged the people to remain alert and vigil about the party of terrorists, party of war criminals and killers- BNP.
“They never wanted welfare for the people and their prime task is to do evil for the people, they can only kill people,” she said.
Referring various elections including local government election that were held recently, the PM said no one can complain about these elections.
“ I tell those who are making noises about elections people could cast their votes freely under AL government. We have done our job. We have proved that,” she said.
She mentioned that there is no scope to raise any question about elections.
She said that the countries who are putting Bangladesh elections under microscope can see these elections.
“Just consider these elections, how people spontaneously cast their votes in these election, why questions are arising after all these,” she said.
Hasina said that Awami League always believes in democracy and human rights.
She said that the democratic process of the country is continuing for the last 14 years and a half defying both man-made and natural calamities.
“It is now stable and continuing, the country’s forward march is going on and will continue towards Smart Bangladesh,” she said.
‘Does BNP want to come to power by selling St. Martin’s island?’ — PM Hasina asks
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday questioned if opposition BNP wants to come to power by giving guarantee to sell Saint Martin’s island.
“BNP came to power in 2001 by giving undertaking to sell gas. Now they want to sell the country. Or do they want to come to power by undertaking to sell St. Martin’s island?” she said.
The premier was addressing a press conference arranged at her official residence Ganabhaban over the outcomes of her recent visits to Switzerland and Qatar.
Hasina said she is the daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and doesn’t want to come to power by selling any resource of this country.
“Now if I say that I will lease out St. Martin’s island or our country, there will also be no problem for me to stay in power. I know that,” she said.
Read: PM says recent visits to Switzerland, Qatar will accelerate multi-dimensional relations
But the PM said she would not allow anyone to play ducks and drakes with the fate of the people of Bangladesh. “We’ll not allow any act like carrying out terrorist activities in any place or attacking anyone by using the land of my country,” she added.
“We believe in peace. We believe in peaceful cooperation,” said PM Hasina, adding that Bangladesh didn’t engage in quarrels with Myanmar even after some 11 lakh Myanmar refugees took shelter in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh continues negotiation with Myanmar on the issue, she said, adding that her government believes in the policy ‘Friendship to all and Malice towards none.’
“We didn’t go for engaging in fights or quarrels with them (Myanmar),” said the prime minister.
Hasina visited Qatar from May 22 to 25 to attend the Qatar Economic Forum-2023 and visited Switzerland from June 13 to 16 to join the "World of Work Summit: Social Justice for All," a summit of ILO.
Read: Coast Guard to be built as a modern force: PM Hasina
Replying to a question on election-time government, the prime minister said there is no constitutional scope to hand over power to an unelected government.
She said there is a judgment of the higher court that an elected head of government shall be replaced by another elected head of government. And the constitution was also amended accordingly, she added.
“Everybody knows it. Why are they trying to create a constitutional crisis even after knowing it? What is the motive? It means to destroy the democratic process,” said the premier.
She said the motive to create a constitutional crisis is to destroy the ongoing democratic process and socio-economic progress, which has been continuing for the last 14 years.
Now it is up to the people of the country whether they want the continuation of democratic trend, economic development and the welfare of the people or they want again the situation Bangladesh faced during the last caretaker government, she said.
Noting that the BNP and some other parties have taken to the streets, the PM wondered what their problem is and where the sources of their finance.
She said the upcoming general election will be held on time as per the Constitution and the electoral laws.
In reply to another question, Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh will join BRICS in order to reduce dependency on a single bloc in the international stage.
Read: DSCC Mayor Taposh urges all to complete animal sacrifice within 2 days of Eid-ul-Azha
“We’ll join BRICS as we’ve been engaged since the preparation of its formation. But we could not be a founding member of it. Now we’ve sought to be its member. We want so as we won’t remain dependent on any single one in the international stage,” she said.
She said Bangladesh doesn’t want to remain dependent only on dollars, rather it wants to carry out purchasing goods with other currencies as well.
Responding to a question regarding inflation and illegal hoarding of goods, the PM said the government is trying to contain inflation to ease the sufferings of the people.
She said the government is taking actions against those who are engaged in illegal hoarding of goods, which led to the price-hike of commodities.
Answering a question, PM Hasina said the government has taken a decision to provide free foods to 10 million people ahead of the Eid-ul Azha.
In reply to a question regarding a campaign over repression toward monitories, the PM said a propaganda started in this regard, which may increase further ahead of the next election.
Mentioning that communal harmony prevails in Bangladesh, she asked the people of the country not to pay heed to the false propaganda.
Coast Guard to be built as a modern force: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said Bangladesh Coast Guard will be developed as a modern and time-fitting force to carry out its growing responsibility.
“Our (its) responsibility will go up in future. Keeping eyes on it, we’ve our own thoughts that we’ll build this Coast Guard as a modern and time-befitting,” she said.
The premier was addressing the commissioning ceremony of five locally made state-of-the-art vessels of Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG) at BCG Patenga Berth in Chattogram through a videoconferencing from her official residence Ganabhaban here in the capital.
PM Hasina commissions five modern Coast Guard vessels
The five commissioned vessels are two inshore patrol vessels named 'BCGS Apurba Bangla’ and 'BCGS Joy Bangla,' two tugboats named 'BCGT Pratyay' and 'BCGT Pramatta' and a floating crane named 'BCGFC Shakti.'
The two inshore patrol vessels were built by state-owned Dockyard and Engineering Works Limited in Narayanganj, while two tugboats and the floating crane were made by the Khulna Shipyard.
Hasina said her government added 154 modern and faster ships and vessels of various sizes to the Coast Guard fleet in the last 14 years since 2009.
Besides, 4 offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), and 10-meter and 20-meter modern rescue boats from Japan were added to the BCG fleet, she said, adding that a dockyard is also being constructed at Ghazaria for the construction, repair and maintenance of Coast Guard ships and vessels.
“Bangladesh Coast Guard will rise to a new level of self-sufficiency or capability if ships are built at its own yard,” she said.
PM to brief media on the outcome of her Switzerland visit on Wednesday
The PM said an initiative has been taken to install the digital connectivity between the Coast Guard and Bangabandhu Satellite-1 aiming to bring a revolutionary change in the BCG communication system in the deep sea for national interest and security, and safety of people's life and property.
Besides, drone technology has been added to Bangladesh Coast Guard to ensure the security to the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals in Bhasanchar, she said.
Noting that there is a huge potential of the country’s blue economy, Hasina said Bangladesh needs to utilize its sea resources and ensure security to the marine resources.
So, the government has taken a plan to strengthen this force further by adding two more all-weather and deep-sea Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), a hospital ship, a hovercraft and several high-speed vessels within the 2026-2030 period, she said.
“The Coast Guard will have sufficient manpower and will be a mature, sophisticated and exemplary smart force from 2031 to 2041,” she added.
The PM asked all the members of Bangladesh Coast Guard to uphold the image and dignity of their force by bearing the spirit of patriotism and performing their duty with honesty and integrity.
Director General of Bangladesh Coast Guard Rear Admiral Ashraful Hoq Chowdhury, on behalf of the PM, handed over the commissioning forman (order) to the commissioning commanders of the five new vessels.
Bangladesh won’t give in to any external pressure: PM Hasina says at SSF anniversary
The premier unveiled the name plates of the new vessels added to the BCG fleet. The commissioning parade of the newly commissioned vessels took place.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and Senior Secretary of Public Security Division Mustafizur Rahman spoke at the commissioning ceremony, while BCG Director General Rear Admiral Ashraful Hoq Chowdhury delivered the welcome speech.
The new vessels are equipped with ultramodern machinery, sensors and surveillance radar. The inshore patrol vessels have three automatic cannons, which will play a vital role in protecting ourselves and running operational activities.
The vessels have surveillance capacity of 96 nautical miles and the cannons' range is 4 kilometers and the ships are able to identify anything like other vessels, criminals or enemies within this range while the cannons will help the BCG conduct operational activities smoothly.
With the commission of the vessels, the operational activities of the BCG is expected to accelerate along with increase in the capacity to prevent stealing at commercial ships at the outer anchor, control human and drug trafficking through sea, patrol along the blue economy borders and conduct rescue operations in case of natural calamity and maritime accidents.
PM Hasina commissions five modern Coast Guard vessels
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday (June 21, 2023) commissioned five locally made state-of-the-art vessels of Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG) that will further strengthen the maritime law enforcement force.
The five vessels are two inshore patrol vessels named 'BCGS Apurba Bangla’ and 'BCGS Joy Bangla,' two tugboats named 'BCGT Pratyay' and 'BCGT Pramatta' and a floating crane named 'BCGFC Shakti.'
Read: PM Hasina orders measures to contain inflation
The premier commissioned the vessels at BCG Patenga Berth in Chattogram through a videoconferencing from her official residence Ganabhaban here in the capital.
The two inshore patrol vessels were built by state-owned Dockyard and Engineering Works Limited in Narayanganj, while two tugboats and the floating crane were made by the Khulna Shipyard.
The new vessels are equipped with ultramodern machinery, sensors and surveillance radar. The inshore patrol vessels have three automatic cannons, which will play a vital role in protecting ourselves and running operational activities.
Read: PM Hasina for peaceful resolution of Ukraine crisis
The vessels have surveillance capacity of 96 nautical miles and the cannons' range is 4 kilometers and the ships are able to identify anything like other vessels, criminals or enemies within this range while the cannons will help the BCG conduct operational activities smoothly.
With the commission of the vessels, the operational activities of the BCG is expected to accelerate along with increase in the capacity to prevent stealing at commercial ships at the outer anchor, control human and drug trafficking through sea, patrol along the blue economy borders and conduct rescue operations in case of natural calamity and maritime accidents.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and Senior Secretary of Public Security Division Mustafizur Rahman spoke at the commissioning ceremony, while Director General of Bangladesh Coast Guard Rear Admiral Ashraful Hoq Chowdhury delivered the welcome speech.
Read: PM to brief media on the outcome of her Switzerland visit on Wednesday
PM takes regular commercial flight on the way home from Geneva, exchanges pleasantries with passengers
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday (June 17, 2023) surprised passengers of a regular commercial flight of the state-run Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
On her way back home from Geneva, she roamed around the fight and exchanged pleasantries with the passengers.
Also Read: PM returns home from Switzerland
Passengers on the fully packed commercial flight of Biman were pleasantly surprised when she went to their seats and asked about their wellbeing.
“Many of them were surprised and astonished having their Prime Minister just beside their seats on the flight,” PM’s speechwriter M Nazrul Islam told UNB.
Sheikh Hasina, elder daughter of the Father of the Nation, also obliged their requests for photographs.
Also Read: Next general election to be held in time: PM Hasina tells Geneva reception
She spoke to children with great affection and took several of them on her lap.
Some of the passengers expressed their opinions to the Prime Minister on various issues, including development of the country in the last 14 and a half years.
Also Read: Bangladesh’s economy has a dignified position now: PM
PM returns home from Switzerland
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has returned home from Geneva, wrapping up her three-day official visit to Switzerland.
A regular flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the prime minister and her entourage landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport early Saturday (June 17 at 1:55 am).
Earlier, the flight took off from Geneva International Airport at 11:50am local time (3:50pm Bangladesh time) on Friday.
The Prime Minister exchanged pleasentaries with the passengers in the flight and inquired about their well-beings.
Read: PM leaves Geneva for home ending 3-day visit
The PM went to Geneva on June 13 to attend the "World of Work Summit: Social Justice for All" held on June 14 and 15 in the Swiss city.
She addressed the plenary session of 'World of Work Summit 2023' at Palais de Nations on Wednesday.
The ILO's summit is a high-level forum for global voices to address the need for increased, coordinated and coherent action in support of social justice.
The summit brought together over a dozen heads of state and government, high-level representatives from the United Nations, other international organizations, and employers’ and workers’ organizations.
Read: Next general election to be held in time: PM Hasina tells Geneva reception
Hasina also had two separate meetings with President of South Africa Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa and President of Malta Dr George Vella.
Besides, she held meetings separately with UNHCR chief Flippo Grandi, Prince Rahim Aga Khan, President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset and Director General of International Labour Organisation (ILO) Gilbert F. Houngbo there on the day.
After the meeting with Swiss President Berset, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Knowledge and Skills enhancement between Bangladesh and Switzerland was signed.
In the evening, the PM attended a dinner with high level dignitaries hosted by the ILO Director General at its headquarters.
Read: WTO chief meets PM Hasina, wants Dhaka to reduce subsidies on fisheries
On June 15, she joined “A talk at the WEF”, followed by a meeting with WEF founder Prof Klaus Schwab at WEF Office.
She also addressed an event on “New Economy and Society in Smart Bangladesh” organised by the World Economic Forum (WEF) there.
Besides, Qatar Minister of Labour Dr Ali Bin Samik Al Marri and WTO Director General Dr Okonjo-Iweala separately met her at her place of residence.
Hasina also attended a civic reception in the evening.
Read more: PM takes regular commercial flight on the way home from Geneva, exchanges pleasantries with passengers
Many BNP leaders secretly preparing for elections: Quader
Bangladesh's Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader has said that a number of BNP leaders are busy taking secret preparations to run in the election.
He came up with the remarks at a rally organized by Dhaka Metropolitan North Awami League against the "anti-state conspiracy of BNP-Jamaat" in the capital's Mirpur this afternoon (June 16, 2023).
He said many parties will participate in the election.
Read: Fakhrul must apologise for derogatory remark on election: Obaidul Quader
"There will be no shortage of political parties to join the polls. No matter how BNP conspires, the election will be held in this country," Quader added.
Quader said BNP fears losing in the next election. He said that the election of Bangladesh cannot be prevented by anyone's visa policy and sanctions.
"We do not interfere with anyone so we do not want interference from any foreign country in our elections. We are going to hold the elections as per law. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will remain the head of the government during the elections," he said.
Read: BNP would only say election was fair if AL gets defeated: Quader
Quader said the country's people have confidence about the elections and they will not be confused by BNP's statements over elections.
"The BNP is now holding a road march after getting imbalanced and this road march will finally turn into a fall march," he said, adding that the BNP has no path.
The AL general secretary said BNP has no control over its own party men while its activists became candidates in many city elections ignoring the command of BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Read: Participate in election to see whether you even get 10% votes: Information Minister to BNP
"Now many of BNP leaders have started running from here and there to participate in the upcoming national elections," he said.
Among others, AL joint general secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, organising secretary Afzal Hossain, Dhaka North City AL president Sheikh Bazlur Rahman, general secretary SM Mannan Kochi and Swechchhasebak League president Gazi Mejbaul Hossain Sacchu, spoke at the rally.
Bangladesh's sovereign right to pursue independent policy must be respected by all: Foreign Ministry
Bangladesh says it expects respect from all concerned towards the country's sovereign right to pursue independent domestic as well as foreign policy based on the motto “friendship to all, malice towards none”, as conceived by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday (June 15, 2023) noted the remarks made by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the context of some recent comments made by the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
“In this connection, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh would like to underscore that Bangladesh, like any self-respecting country, attaches highest importance to the values of sovereignty and freedom to decide its own course of action—both domestic and foreign—for the betterment of its people, to realise the dream of the Father of the Nation by implementing the visions laid by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” the ministry said.
Read: EMF seeks cooperation of MoFA for inviting foreign observers
On Wednesday, China said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's remarks against US sanctions were "not just the strong position of the Bangladeshi people, but also the mind of a large part of the international community, especially the developing world."
"We have noted the recent remarks by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Indeed, while turning a blind eye to its own racial discrimination, gun violence and drug proliferation problems, a certain country has long been interfering in the internal affairs of Bangladesh and many other developing countries under the pretext of democracy and human rights," said Spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Wang Wenbin, commenting on sanctions on Bangladesh.
He said Bangladesh and China have been traditionally friendly neighbours.
Read:Russia a tested friend; no adverse impacts on existing relations: MoFA Spokesperson
"We firmly support Bangladesh in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, upholding independent domestic and foreign policies, and pursuing a development path that suits its national realities," said the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson.
He said they stand ready to work together with Bangladesh and other countries to oppose all forms of hegemony and power politics, uphold the UN-centred international system, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and build a community with a shared future for mankind.
Read more: Bangladesh plans to send medical, rescue teams to Türkiye: MoFA spokesperson