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Envoys of India, China, Russia and four other countries congratulate Hasina on her big election victory
The envoys of India, Russia, China, Bhutan, Philippines, Singapore, and Sri Lanka paid a courtesy call on Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganabhaban on Monday (January 08, 2024) morning.
Besides, the delegation of Aga Khan Diplomatic Representatives also met her.
Read more: Visiting foreign observers describe National Election 2024 in Bangladesh as ‘free, fair and safe’
On behalf of their respective countries and organisation, they congratulated Hasina on her party’s absolute victory in Sunday's 12th National Parliamentary Election, according to a release from PM’s press wing.
The delegates expressed their firm commitment to continue cooperation with Bangladesh, it said.
The prime minister thanked them and sought their cooperation in the development and advancement of Bangladesh.
Read more: India congratulates PM Hasina on election victory, hopes for ‘even stronger momentum’ in ties
PM Hasina to address election rally in Faridpur Tuesday
Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina will address an election rally in Faridpur town on Tuesday.
Local administration has taken all necessary preparations as the AL chief is scheduled to address the rally on Government Rajendra College premises in Faridpur district town at 3 pm.
A temporary podium was made at the east side of the Government Rajendra College field.
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A festive mood has been prevailing among the leaders and activists of Awami League ahead of the party chief’s visit, said Shah Md Ishtiaque Arif, general secretary of Faridpur district unit AL.
Security has been beefed up in the town centering the rally.
Separate sitting arrangements were made for male and female supporters while a cleanness drive was conducted in the district town, said the AL leader.
Besides, roadside trees and the rally venue have been painted.
There will be a gathering of around one lakh people, Ishtiaque hopes.
President of district unit AL and also boat candidate for Faridpur-3 constituency Shamim Haque will preside over the rally.
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The AL-backed candidate from three other constituencies in Faridpur will also be present there.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited Faridpur on March 29, 2017 and addressed a public rally at the same venue.
PM pays tribute to Bangabandhu at Tungipara
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday paid rich tributes and offered prayers at the mausoleum of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
She paid homage by placing a wreath at Bangabandhu's grave and joined a prayer this afternoon seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of Bangabandhu and other martyrs of August 15, 1975 carnage.
After laying the wreath, she stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of the architect of independent Bangladesh.
Read: PM Hasina directs restoration of canals and rivers of Dhaka the soonest
PM Hasina’s Family members and Awami League (AL) leaders were present.
Sheikh Hasina, also president of the Awami League, on a personal trip reached her ancestral home at Tungipara in Gopalganj by road after crossing the Padma Bridge this afternoon.
Read: Consequences won't be good if BNP, Jamaat foil upcoming polls: PM Hasina
After spending tonight at her Tungipara residence, she is scheduled to leave for Dhaka tomorrow.
We are determined to hold free and fair vote: PM Hasina tells South Asian ECs
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday reiterated that her government is determined to make the upcoming national election free and fair.
The prime minister made the statement while a group of incumbent and former election commissioners from India, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Nepal called on her at her Sangsad Bhaban office.
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They are: Former Chief Election Commissioner of India Dr. SY Quraishi, Chairman of Election Commission of Maldives Fuwad Thowfeek, Chairman of Election Commission of Sri Lanka RMAL Rathnayake, Election Commissioner of Nepal Sagun Shumsher JB Rana and Former Election Commissioner of Nepal Ila Sharma.
They are visiting Bangladesh at the invitation of the Election Monitoring Forum (EMF), a polls watchdog consisting of incumbent and former election commissioners from the neighbouring countries.
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PM's press secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed the reporters after the meeting.
The prime minister mentioned that the election commission of Bangladesh has been constituted under a law passed by parliament.
"Under the act of 2022 the chief election commissioner and other commissioners have been appointed. Besides, the government has given absolute budgetary independence to the election commission," she said.
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Hasina, also the president of the ruling Awami League, said that the EC has already set several examples of smoothly conducting elections including parliamentary by-elections and local government elections.
The prime minister said that female candidates alongside males can contest in three hundred seats of Jatiya Sangsad, while there are also 50 seats reserved for women proportionally from the political parties representing in the parliament.
Referring to the 2018 general election, Hasina said that BNP took part in that by nominating 700 candidates in 300 seats while changing their candidates time and again.
"Even, the BNP withdrew their candidates from the polls on the day of voting to make the election controversial," she said.
The prime minister told the visiting ECs how votes were rigged in the past by the military dictators and BNP. She said BNP founder Ziaur Rahman seized power illegally violating the constitution and declared himself as president although he was thr Chief of Army Staff.
"The military dictators ascended to the state power unconstitutionally and later formed political parties," she added.
About politics of the BNP, She said the party has now no leadership and its top two leaders are convicted for their misdeeds and crimes.
During the meeting, the delegation members said, they discussed the issue of next general election in Bangladesh with the Election Commission.
"The EC of Bangladesh is very confident in holding it in a free and fair manner," former Chief Election Commissioner of India Dr SY Quraishi said.
He said that the Indian Election Commission takes over the administrative power of the government during the election time.
Don’t need any lesson on how to hold free, fair elections: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday said she should not be lectured about the arrangement of free and fair elections as it has been her party, Bangladesh Awami League, which established the voting rights of the people in the country.
“No need to teach me about free and neutral elections. Because, we’ve established the voting rights of the people of Bangladesh through struggles and movements under the leadership of Awami League,” she said told a press conference here.
The premier said this while replying to a question at the press conference arranged at her official residence Ganabhaban here in the afternoon about the outcomes of her recent visit to the United States to join the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
She said since such elections were held, the people voted for her party time and again. “This economic development has happened now as we’ve been in power in a row (for three consecutive terms).”
Hasina, the AL president, wondered why so many questions come now regarding the election.
“Has it become a matter of headache for all that a country has progressed so rapidly? I am also doubtful if it is an attempt that how it (this progress) can be destroyed now?” she said.
Bangladesh is due to hold the next general election in the first week of next January.
The PM said she told the international community that once Bangladesh had the government of the army, by the army and for the generals. It has changed now, she said, adding “It is we who have established the government of the people, by the people and for the people.”
Sensing foul play in the call for free and fair elections, she said, “I doubt why all are talking much about free and fair elections when the country is marching forward economically. I’ve suspicion. Actually, it is an attempt to thwart the election,” she added.
In an oblique reference to BNP, she said those who know that they won’t get votes in the election are now currying favour everywhere (with foreigners).
“I don’t know if those who are in international stage understand the ground reality, but they’ve been harping on the same string and playing the broken record,” said the PM.
On Wednesday last, PM Hasina returned home from London after wrapping up her 16-day official visit to the US and the UK.
Deputy Leader of Parliament Matia Chowdhury, Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader and State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam and Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim MP, among others, were present on the dais.
None raises anything about caretaker government: PM
The PM said a firm no when asked if the US national security advisor Jake Sullivan said anything regarding the caretaker government during his recent meeting with her.
“No. No one said anything regarding the caretaker government…. None asked me anything about it,” she said.
The premier questioned whether anyone can seek the caretaker government after bitter experience under the system during the 2007-08 period. “It is BNP that destroyed the system,” she said.
BNP won’t be spared if it engages in violence again: PM
Mentioning that the government is not obstructing the BNP’s movement, she said they continue their programme drumming up the people.
It is good that some money goes to the pockets of the common people as they (BNP) are waging a movement using the money earned through looting and money laundering, she said.
“I asked not to tell them anything. Let them do movement. But if they want to do any harm to the people such as arson violence and such things, then we won’t spare them,” she said, adding that the people will resist them also this time if they unleash violence like in the past.
Those who shout on streets can’t be counted as opposition: PM
Answering a question, Sheikh Hasina said it is definitely essential that there is an opposition party in the country, but those who have no single seat in Parliament can’t be counted as the opposition.
She questioned how those who don't contest in elections or can’t come in Parliament through polls can't be called the opposition.
Noting that Bangladesh follows the Westminster-type of democracy, she said those who have seats in the opposition bench of Parliament are considered as the opposition in the democratic system.
“If anyone continues to bark on the streets , it is not counted as the opposition in the foreign countries,” she said.
In reply to a question, the prime minister said her party will pick the candidates for the next parliamentary elections, considering who are more acceptable to the people and who gained trust and confidence of the people by their works.
“We will consider those who have credibility among the people. I conduct a survey after every six months,” she said, adding that if anyone loses their position, the person is asked to work more and win the hearts of the people through work.
As her attention was drawn as BNP remarks that the PM returned home with empty hands from her recent foreign visit, she said BNP leaders are resorting to falsehood through loudspeakers. “It is their habit to tell lies. They try to undermine everything,” she added.
The premier asked the people of the country not to pay heed to the falsehood spread by BNP leaders.
She said they (BNP leaders) continue to announce a specific date to oust the government. “Let them do it. We don’t have any problem. I don’t mind it…. if the movement continues, it is good for her party,” she said.
The AL president said if a movement continues, AL leaders get revitalised because of the movement.
PM reaches Dhaka from London
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reached Dhaka from London after wrapping up her 16-day official visit to the US and UK.
PM leaves London for Dhaka
A commercial flight (BG-208) of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the enturage of the prime minister landed at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 12:15 pm.
The flight earlier departed from London's Heathrow Airport around 9:10 pm (local time) on Tuesday.
Brighten Bangladesh's image abroad: PM Hasina says in London
The prime minister arrived in London from Washington DC on September 30 via a British Airways flight.
In London, from September 30 to October 3, Sheikh Hasina attended reception hosted by the Bangladeshi community and held several courtesy calls with some dignitaries, including a delegation of the All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) led by Rushanara Ali, MP, chair of APPG on Bangladesh and Rohingya and the UK shadow minister for investment and small business.
PM's tour of US, UK set to wrap up Tuesday
During her stay in New York from September 17 to 22, the premier attended the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session and other high-level side and bilateral events.
In Washington DC from September 23-29, Sheikh Hasina attended a reception accorded to her by Bangladeshi expatriates in the United States and visited the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC.
PM mourns Sajeda Chowdhury's death
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed shock and deep grief at the death of Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, presidium member of the Awami League and deputy leader of the House.
Sajeda, Faridpur-2 MP, breathed her last at 11:40pm at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka.
Sheikh Hasina also prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and extended her heartfelt sympathy to the deputy leader of the House and her family.
PM condoles death of Kishoreganj AL leader
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Advocate Quamrul Ahsan Shahjahan, a valiant freedom fighter and president of Kishoreganj district Awami League.
She prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family.
Also Read: PM mourns death of agriculturist Dr Samiul Alam
Advocate Quamrul died early in the morning at the age of 77.
He left his wife, children, family members and a host of relatives and well-wishers.
In a separate message, AL general secretary Obaidul Quader expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Advocate Quamrul.
Increase oxygen supply, Corona beds: PMO
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Thursday directed the authorities concerned to increase oxygen supply and corona beds in hospitals across the country to ensure the treatment of Covid-19 patients.
Read:4 Covid patients die in Pabna hospital amid oxygen crisis
The PMO also urged those who are showing Covid-19 symptoms to stay home and directed the local administration to make sure that the patients with corona symptoms are kept in isolation.
The directives came from an urgent meeting held virtually with divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners to work out measures to protect the public health and ensure coordination in the ongoing government activities to check the transmission of coronavirus in the country.
Read: Quader sees no oxygen crisis
The PMO issued the directives at a time when Bangladesh is struggling with a catastrophic second wave of the Coronavirus leaving hospitals across the country overwhelmed with Covid-19 patients.
PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus joined the meeting from the PMO end and presided over it.
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Senior Secretary of Health Services Division Lokman Hossain Miah and PMO Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah, among others, attended the meeting.
Covid-19 crisis: PM Hasina reiterates firm solidarity with India
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has reiterated firm solidarity with India in a letter addressed to her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.
She conveyed condolences and prayers for victims of this unprecedented devastation taking place in India due to Covid-19 pandemic, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday.
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The Prime Minister pledged to combat the pandemic together with all-out support from Bangladesh.