PMO
Punishment needed to stop playing with people’s lives: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday stressed the need for proper punishment to the perpetrators of the recent countrywide mayhem to stop them from playing with the lives of the people.
“It is a very painful situation. So many people are now injured and killed,” she said in an emotion-choked voice while visiting Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) in the afternoon to see the injured who came under attacks during the recent countrywide mayhem.
She went to the emergency unit of DMCH at 4:30 pm and inquired about the condition of the injured.
The PM reiterated her call to the people of the country to find the culprits behind such heinous acts.
“They should be given appropriate punishment so that none can play ducks and drakes with the lives of the people anymore,” she said, adding that she never wanted anyone to lose their dear ones in this country.
“I never wanted such a ‘procession of death’ would take place. But such a thing happened in Bangladesh today,” said Hasina.
She said her government has been implementing all necessary steps for elevating the socio-economic condition of the people and a better life for the people.
“My question is what have they gained from it. So many people lost their lives! So many families were affected!” she added.
The premier prayed for the salvation of the departed souls and wished quick recovery of the injured.
“We’ll do whatever is needed for their treatment. There was no deficiency in providing them with treatments,” she said.
She said the physicians, the health minister and the state minister for health have been visiting the injured patients and ensuring the proper treatment.
Sheikh Hasina said she would visit more hospitals where the injured are undergoing treatment.
She asked the countrymen to pray so that the people would get rid of this militancy and oppression.
The prime minister said that Jamaat-Shibir, BNP and Chhatra Dal have been carrying out these destructive acts taking advantage of the quota movement.
“They’ve no sense of humanity, no love and affection for the country, no sense of responsibility towards the country. And they do not consider human beings as human beings,” she said.
The premier asked the countrymen to be united against this barbarism and such heinous incidents.
“We accepted all demands (placed by the students). Then why is it (movement) again? That is my question. Is it to create scope for militancy?” she said.
The prime minister extended her sincere thanks to the physicians for giving treatment towards the injured.
Health Minister Dr Samanta Lal Sen, State Minister for Health Dr Rokeya Sultana and local lawmaker AFM Bahauddin Nasim, among others, were present.
The prime minister visited the vandalised metro rail station at Mirpur 10 in the capital on Thursday morning and ransacked Bangladesh Television (BTV) Bhaban on Friday morning to see the extent of damage after these establishments came under attack during the violence.
PM Hasina visits DMCH to see the injured in recent mayhem
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday afternoon visited Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) to see the injured who came under attacks during the recent countrywide mayhem.
She went to the emergency unit of DMCH at 4:30pm and inquired about the condition of the injured, who are now undergoing treatment there after being attacked during the student movement for reformation of quota in public service.
The premier gave the necessary instructions to the hospital authorities for proper treatment of the victims.
Earlier, the prime minister visited the vandalised metro rail station at Mirpur 10 in the capital on Thursday morning and ransacked Bangladesh Television (BTV) Bhaban on Friday morning to see the extent of damage after these establishments came under attack during the violence.
Health Minister Dr Samanta Lal Sen, State Minister for Health Dr Rokeya Sultana and local lawmaker AFM Bahauddin Nasim, among others, were present.
PM Hasina visits BTV Bhaban in Rampura to inspect damage
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday morning visited Bangladesh Television (BTV) Bhaban to see the extent of damage after it came under attack during the recent student violence.
She inspected different parts of the BTV Bhaban which was set on fire by a mob during the student movement for reformation of quota in public service.
Senior officials of the BTV including its Director General Md Jahangir Alam, briefed the prime minister about the damages of the state-owned television centre.
A video presentation was made highlighting the damages in the BTV Bhaban and BTV headquarters located in the same premises in the city's Rampura.
On Thursday, the prime minister visited the vandalised metro rail station at Mirpur 10 in the capital.
People must come forward to resist culprits: PM Hasina on metro rail mayhem
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said the people of the country must come forward to ensure that the perpetrators of the recent countrywide carnage face trial and get punishment.
“They (people of the country) have to try these culprits, I am seeking justice from them,” she said after visiting the vandalised metro rail station at Mirpur-10 in the morning.
She said that everyone involved in metro rail construction is now tears witnessing such destruction.
“Why did they do this? I am working tirelessly to upgrade the living standard of the people of this country, and I have done that, no one can deny that,” she said.
She also said that when Bangladesh is progressing to the next level conspirators are there to pull the country back.
PM Hasina visits vandalised Metro Rail station at Mirpur-10
“Why, that is my question and I do not know who will give the answer,” she said.
With an emotion-hoked voice, Hasina said the infrastructures that provided services, comfort and convenience to the mass people have been destroyed.
She said that the government has to overcome so many hurdles to construct the metro-rail and it was completed before the schedule.
She said that the metro rail eased the sufferings of mass people who earlier had to wait for hours in traffic jams.
“Why this type of attack on metro rail, that is my question,” she said.
She said that the metro rail and its services were of international standard.
“But what a grave scene of destruction I have seen here! it is not believable that people of this country can do this. But that has been done here,” she said.
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The prime minister accused the BNP-Jamaat clique of taking the advantage of students' quota reform movement to unleash the devastating destruction.
She said that in the last 15 years she has done everything for the welfare and happiness of the people.
“I have ensured food security, power, medicare, education and communication. Who are the beneficiaries of these developments? The mass people of the country. Why is there such anger on this metro rail, that is my question,” she said.
She said that the highest efforts were given from the government to convince the quota reform movement activists that the matter is in the court and the government is doing its best to get a result which will not disappoint them.
“But they did not stop, they did not agree to have patience till the verdict of the apex court comes. still now they are pressing their demands, at first it was one point, now it is eight point,” she said.
The prime minister said that a situation was created giving the BNP-Jamaat nexus the opportunity for carrying out this kind of mayhem.
“Who are the worst sufferers? I do not know how long it would take to restore this metro rail and the vandalised stations,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina inspected different parts of the station which was totally devastated in the recent mayhem centering the student movement for reformation of quota in public service.
Senior officials of the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) briefed the PM regarding the destruction and the future plan to reopen the Mirpur-10 and Kazipara stations.
Some unidentified people went on a rampage at Mirpur-10 and Kazipara metro stations last Friday causing significant damages.
Metro rail services were suspended on July 18 amid demonstrations by students demanding quota reform in public service.
PM Hasina visits vandalised Metro Rail station at Mirpur-10
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday (July 25, 2024) morning visited the vandalised metro rail station at Mirpur 10.
She inspected different parts of the station which was totally devastated in the recent mayhem centering the student movement for reformation of quota in public service.
Senior officials of the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) briefed the PM regarding the destruction and the future plan to reopen the Mirpur-10 and Kazipara stations.
Some unidentified people went on a rampage at Mirpur-10 and Kazipara metro stations last Friday causing significant damages.
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Metro rail services were suspended on July 18 amid demonstrations by students demanding quota reform in public service.
Officials at DMTCL indicated that the reopening schedule will be declared once the inquiry committee, formed to assess the damages, submits its report within 10 working days.
The inquiry committee was formed on July 22 to assess the extent of the damages to the metro rail and to determine when it can be made operational again.
Additional Secretary Mohammad Zakaria, who is additional director of the metro rail MRT Line-6 project, is leading the committee.
The government opened the metro station for public on March 01, 2023), nearly two months after the inauguration of the country’s much-awaited metro rail.
The main construction work of the project started in 2017.
The cost of the country’s first ever metro rail project stood at Tk 33,472 crore. Notably, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) provided Tk 19,719 crore in the form of a loan to support the project, while the Government of Bangladesh funded the remaining amount.
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In the beginning, the estimated cost of this project was about Tk 21,000 crore. The cost increased due to the construction of an additional 1.6 km section from Motijheel to Kamalapur, acquisition of new land for each station, and the addition of various new facilities.
The prime minister formally inaugurated the Uttara-Agargaon section of MRT-6 line of the Metro Rail on December 28, 2022.
It was a target by BNP-Jamaat to destroy the economy: PM Hasina on recent mayhem
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said she had an apprehension that the BNP-Jamaat nexus might unleash destructive activities across the country to cripple the economy and hold back the nation’s march towards prosperity.
“…they (BNP-Jamaat) tried to prevent us from holding the election (January 7), but we held it. Then they thought the election would not be accepted by all, but it was accepted. Finally we formed the government. But I had an apprehension that there would be a strike like this (recent violence),” she said.
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The prime minister was exchanging views with editors and heads of news of various media outlets at a meeting organised by Editors’ Guild at her office (PMO).
Hasina mentioned that before and after the election in 2013-14 the BNP-Jmaat clique unleashed arson attacks and killings that left hundreds of people killed and thousands injured.
“It was little bit understandable that this (the activities and movement of the students) was a grave conspiracy,” she said.
But, she said, “I did not want to see any incident which might lead to unwanted situation creating instability in the country.” “It was a target to destroy the country’s economy,” she said.
She questioned the level of understanding of the people who supported the recent mayhem designed to cripple country’s advancement and prosperity.
Hasina, also the chief of Awami League, said that the only goal of the vested quarter is to harm the country’s independence and halt the continuation of democracy that Bangladesh has been enjoying for the past 15 years.
She reiterated that she never intended to deploy army personnel in the field while the students were there for the sake of their security.
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“While they (students) declared that they are not involved in the ongoing subversive activities then we called the army,” she said.
She also said that she did not want to impose curfew as the country has been passing through a democratic environment for 15 years.
She requested the people to resist those who have done this harm to the country.
“They have destroyed all the structures built for their welfare and livelihood. They have struck all those structures. Who will be the worst sufferer? Of course the mass people will suffer. Now it is the responsibility of the mass people to resist these terrorism and militancy,” she said.
She put emphasis on creating mass awareness against the militancy that unleashed the destructive activities.
“If the people do not become aware then what could we do or how much we could do alone,” she wondered.
She also mentioned that the targets of this recent mayhem were the Awami League, freedom fighters and pro-liberation forces.
The prime minister said that when all the demands of the students agitating for quota reformation were accepted why they provided scope to the militants for carrying out such heinous activities.
“One day the quota-reform movement activists have to answer to the nation: why they gave such opportunity to them for causing such ruins to the country,” she said.
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PM’s press secretary M Nayeemul Islam Khan moderated the programme.
Editors’ Guild president Mozammel Babu, senior journalist Abed Khan, Bangladesh Pratidin editor Nayeem Nizam, DBC TV CEO Monzurul Islam, Bhorer Kagoj Editor and Jatiya Press Club general secretary and Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shymol Dutta, Jugantor Editor Saiful Alam, Jatiya Press Club president Farida Yasmin, Dhaka Journal chief editor Syed Istiaque Reza, Head of News Nagorik TV Dip Azad, Daily Amader Somoy and The Business Post Executive Editor Mainul Alam, Bangladesh Journal editor Shajahan Sarder, DBC news editor Zayedul Ahsan Pintu, Ashish Saikat of Independent TV, Bangla Tribune editor Zulfiquer Russell, head of News of 71 TV Shakil Ahmed, editor Energy and Power Mollah Amzad, Head of News of Kings News Nazmul Huq Saikat and Mamunur Rahman Khan of RTV.
PM invites Malaysia to install full manufacturing facilities for Perodua cars in Bangladesh
- Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday (July 24, 2024) invited Malaysia to install full manufacturing facilities for their Perodua cars in Bangladesh.
She said this when outgoing Malaysian High Commissioner Haznah Md. Hashim called on her at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
Prime Minister’s Press Secretary M Nayeemul Islam Khan briefed reporters after the call on.
At the meeting, the envoy mentioned that the local PHP Motors is assembling Perodua cars here.
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PHP Motors, a concern of PHP Family, has tied up with Perodua, a top Malaysian automobile brand, to assemble their cars and SUVs in Bangladesh and sell them in the local market.
During the meeting, both the Prime Minister and the Malaysian envoy also discused the longstanding and continuing relationship between the two countries since the government of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
PM’s Press Secretary also said that speaking on the issue of the current situation, the envoy said she has confidence in the Prime Minister’s ability to restore normalcy.
“You’re handing the situation well and the matter is purely Bangladesh’s domestic affairs,” PM’s Press Secretary quoted the Malaysian envoy as saying.
The high commissioner said that Malaysian business entities’ cumulative investment rose to USD 5 billion in Bangladesh – mainly propelled by the two telecommunication companies, Robi and Edotco Bangladesh as they reinvested their profits here.
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She mentioned that a good number of Malaysian students are studying in agricultural universities, medical colleges and other institutions in Bangladesh.
To this end, the high commissioner extended gratitude to the premier for it.
Highlighting their health faculties, the envoy said many Malaysian hospitals are comparable to those in Singapore considering the services offered and lower costs.
“Bangladeshis can avail the health facilities there as more than 70 of the physicians in Singapore are from Malaysia,” she added.
Ambassador-at-Large Mohammad Ziauddin was present among others during the meeting.
PM urges AL members to stand by the poor affected by violence
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday called upon her party members and the affluent section of the society to stand beside the poor and low-income people who have been affected by recent unrest and “complete shutdown” across the country.
PM Hasina to address the nation this evening
In a statement the prime minister asked her party’s leaders and activists at all levels and its well-wishers and associate bodies as well as the well-off people to extend their assistances for the poor and low-income people.
The PM said the lives and livelihood of the common people have got disrupted due to the recent incidents and complete shutdown programmes following the quota movement. Besides, BNP, Jamaat-Shibir in organised ways torched and vandalised different public and private structures and houses including Metro-rail, Expressway, BTV Bhaban, Setu Bhaban, Durjug Babasthyapana Bhaban (Disaster Management Bhaban).
She said a lot of public and private vehicles including buses and trucks were damaged by setting those on fire.
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In this context, the government on July 20 was forced to impose curfew for the sake of the security of public life and properties and brining the livelihoods to normalcy, said PM Hasina.
The income activities of the low-income people and those who live hand to mouth are being disrupted. The low-income people particularly rickshaw-pullers, van-pullers, vendors, small businessmen, day labourers, transport workers and the people of many other professions have fallen into serious troubles, she said.
“In this situation, I’m making a sincere call to the leaders and activists of our party Bangladesh Awami League and its associate bodies from the central level to the grassroots level to extend their hands of assistances to the affected people,” said the PM.
She hoped that the leaders and activists of AL and its associate bodies would help the general people in this critical time as they stood beside the affected people during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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“Alongside, I would to like to request the affluent section of the society to stand beside the poor and working people in their areas and to extend their hands of humanitarian assistances to them,” said the Prime Minister in the statement signed by PM’s Speechwriter Md Nazrul Islam.
PM Hasina orders judicial probe into violence, killings during job quota protests by students
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday announced a judicial enquiry to ensure fair and just trial in the recent unwanted incidents including killings.
She also unequivocally announced that steps will be taken to ensure that those who committed the murders, looting and terrorist activities, whoever they are, will get the appropriate punishment.“On whose instigation the conflict started, who for what purpose pushed the country to an anarchic situation, will be investigated and found out,” she said.
The prime minister said this in a televised address to the nation at 7:30pm.
The speech was aired by Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar, private TV channels and radio stations simultaneously.
Hasina in her 8 minute speech expressed her grave concern regarding the safety of the protesting students.
“These terrorists can create an environment of conflict at any time and harm them,” she said.She appealed to the parents, guardians and teachers of the students to be vigilant about the safety of their children.
“At the same time, the safety of students of all educational institutions has to be specially monitored,” she said.
The prime minister said that the government appealed to the Supreme Court against the High Court verdict to reinstate the quota system.
She mentioned that a date of hearing has been fixed in the Appellate Division.
She said that the court has created an opportunity to hear the students if they have any statement.“There is an opportunity to resolve the issue through this legal process, Despite the opportunity to resolve this legal process, don't allow the criminals to protest on the streets,” she said.
She specially requested everyone to wait patiently till the Supreme Court verdict.
“I believe our student society will get justice from the high court, they will not be disappointed,” she hoped.
“InshAllah, in the spirit of the Liberation War, we will make our beloved motherland a smart Bangladesh with the cooperation of all,” she declared.The prime minister said that In 2018, in view of the student movement, the government issued a circular canceling the quota system in government jobs.“Subsequently, the High Court quashed the 2018 government circular in favour of maintaining the quota for the freedom fighters. The government appealed to the Supreme Court to uphold the circular and the court fixed a date for hearing,” she said.At this time, she said, the students again started a movement with the demand of quota reform.“The government has shown considerable patience and tolerance since the beginning of this movement," said the PM.She mentioned that the police rather cooperated in ensuring the security of the protesters. When the agitators expressed their desire to submit memorandums to the President, they were given an opportunity and security arrangements were also made.“The regrettable matter is that some vested interest groups started making different kinds of speeches and terrorist activities centering this movement to fulfil their ambitions. As the matter has been appealed to the High Court, I am urging everyone to be patient,” she said.Hasina said that It is a matter of great regret that some quarters took the opportunity of this movement to indulge in acts of terrorism to fulfil their ambitions.“As a result, all the events that have happened centering the innocent students' movement are very painful and sad. How many precious lives have been lost unnecessarily. Who knows more than me the pain of losing your loved ones?”She expressed her deep condolences over the deaths and conveyed sympathy to their families.“I condemn every killing. All the events that happened were never desirable," said the prime minister in a sombre tone.She said that In Chattogram , terrorists brutally threw down students from the roof of a multi-storied building to kill them and severed the tendons of many students.She also said that terrorists hit many students with sticks and sharp weapons. One died, many fought with the death. In Dhaka, Rangpur and Rajshahi universities, the residences of a vice-chancellor and student halls were set on fire and vandalised.She said that common pedestrians, shopkeepers were attacked, even ambulances carrying patients were blocked.Students in the girls' halls are being attacked and assaulted. Provosts have been threatened and assaulted in resident halls. The teachers were assaulted, she said.
PM Hasina to address the nation this evening
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will address the nation this evening.
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“She will address the nation at 7:30 pm,” PM's speech writer M Nazrul Islam told UNB.
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The speech will be aired by Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar, private TV channels and radio stations simultaneously.
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At least six people were killed and scores were injured yesterday as violent clashes spread across the country among students, police and Bangladesh Chhatra League activists centering the students’ demand for reforming quota system in government jobs.