August 28,2010

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday described as "historic" the High Court verdicts on the 5th and 7th amendments to the constitution saying these would pave the way for continuation of the constitutional process in the country. Sheikh Hasina made the comments while speaking before an Iftar Mahfil jointly organized by Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka Union of Journalist (DUJ) at Jatiya Press Club. The Prime Minister's comments came a day after the High Court verdict declaring the 7th amendment to the constitution illegal that had legitimized the military rule of former President H M Ershad. The Prime Minister said her government and she personally believe in people's power and protecting all democratic rights of the people. "We want to establish that the owner of the republic is people," she added. The Prime Minister in her speech blasted the BNP-led four- party alliance and the last caretaker governments for their "misrule and corruption" during the last seven years when terrorism, militancy, prices of essentials and corruption surpassed all records. Sheikh Hasina said her present government after taking office has been successful to prevent corruption, terrorism, militancy and price spiral of essential commodities. She said the country achieved remarkable success during the last one and a half years of the government in the economic sector as the foreign reserves have exceeded all previous records. Sheikh Hasina said her government had been able to keep the inflation rate at 6 percent, increase income-generating activities along with creating employment opportunities for about 2.50 lakh people. Mentioning her government's firm stand against terrorism and militancy, Sheikh Hasina said the government steps to prevent the social menaces would continue in the greater national interest.

August 27,2010

Bangladesh Awami League today paid rich tributes to National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam by placing wreaths at his grave beside Dhaka University Central Mosque on the occasion of the 34th death anniversary of the poet. After placing the wreaths, the AL leaders offered fateha and munajat seeking eternal peace of the departed soul and observed a minute's silence as a mark of respect to the memory of the rebel poet. AL Presidium members Advocate Yusuf Hossain Humayun and Satish Chandra Roy, Textiles and Jute Minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui, Food and Disaster Management Minister Dr Abdur Razzak, AL Acting General Secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif, Organizing Secretary Ahmad Hossain, Information and Research Secretary Advocate Afzal Hossain, Assistant Office Secretary Mrinal Kanti Das and central leaders Mirza Azam and Sujit Roy Nandi were present on the occasion, among others.

August 26,2010

Tomorrow 27th August is the 34th death anniversary of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. To observe the day, Awami League will pay tribute to the national poet. Awami League leaders will place floral wreaths at the of National poet at 10 am in the morning to pay homage to the poet and will also offer Fateha and Dua Mahfil. Awami League acting General Secretary Mahbub-ul-alam in a press release urges party central and other unit leaders, workers, supporters and well-wishers to attend the program at 10 am at the graveyard of the poet. 

August 26,2010

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Thursday asked the Iranian government to take proper steps to legalize undocumented Bangladeshi workers living there. She made the call when the newly appointed ambassador of Iran Hossein Aminian Tousi paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister at her office. The Prime Minister said her government gave importance to the relationship with Iran. She mentioned that the foreign policy of her government is ‘friendship with all, malice towards none.’ The Prime Minister and the Iranian envoy discussed the issues of bilateral interests, trade and climate change. The Iranian ambassador conveyed invitation to the Prime Minister on behalf of his President to visit Iran at a convenient time.

August 25,2010

China will provide all out support to the poverty alleviation programme undertaken by the present democratic government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The assurance came when the visiting Chinese Director for the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development of China (CPAD) Fan Xiaojian paid a courtesy call on the Bangladesh Premier at her office here today. During the meeting, the Chinese leader appreciated the present government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for taking different programes aiming at alleviating poverty, ensuring women empowerment and rural development. "The programme undertaken by the present Awami League government like the past for alleviating poverty, ensuring women empowerment and its pro-people 'ekti bari.ekti khamer' project is highly praiseworthy,' he added. Sheikh Hasina and the Chinese leader discussed wide ranging bilateral issues including the friendly relations that exist between the two countries and expansion of trade and business between Bangladesh and China. During the meeting, the Prime Minister underlined the need for taking a common programme for alleviating poverty in the two friendly countries. She said the development achieved by China during the last couple of years in socio- economic sectors even under the worldwide economic recession is certainly commendable. Sheikh Hasina said the main objective of her government is to ensure improved life of people through alleviating poverty and the government is working relentlessly to this end. Regarding her government's efforts for expansion of education in the country, Sheikh Hasina said like the previous one the present government has undertaken various programmes including food for education to ensure education for all as it believes that without education a nation can not prosper. In this context, she said the previous Awami League government from 1996- 2001 could attain 65 percent literacy rate up. But, she regretted that the rate could not be increased later as the successive BNP-Jamaat government did not take any initiative to raise the country's literacy rate.