ABUJA, Nigeria, July 9?(media) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called upon the expatriate Bangladeshis living in the oil- rich African country of Nigeria to make all out efforts in expanding markets of Bangladeshi products in the African countries.

“There is a huge demand of Bangladeshi quality products like pharmaceuticals, ready made garments, ceramics, jute and jute goods in international markets, including Europe. So you can exploit this opportunities to expand markets of these products in African countries,” she said.

The Prime Minister said this when expatriate Bangladeshis including physicians, engineers and other professionals working in the country called on her at her hotel suite here yesterday (Thursday night).

The Bangladesh’s Premier who attended the just concluded D-8 summit in Abuja, said her government is actively considering to open up Bangladesh’s mission in the west African country to remove difficulties in getting visa and further enhancing people to people contact.

In this context, she said that she had already urged the D-8 countries to ease procedure in getting business community visa for further increasing economic cooperation among the eight developing countries. Apart from this, she said her government is also considering to export Bangladeshi manpower in agriculture sector in different African countries, especially in Nigeria.

The Prime Minister said bilateral ties between Bangladesh and Nigeria has been strengthened with the formation of D-8 in 1997.

Bangladesh and Nigeria, she said, will work together in the days ahead to further strengthen economic and cultural relations between the two D-8 countries.

“We would be able to solve problems faced by the expatriate Bangladeshis living in Nigeria through strengthening bilateral relations,” she added.

About her government’s vision to build a digital Bangladesh by 2021, Sheikh Hasina said it (government) is going to introduce such an internet programme soon in which expatriate Bangladeshis and their children across the world will get the opportunities to learn Bangla perfectly.

The Prime Minister called upon the expatriate Bangladeshis to play their role as ambassadors in enhancing the image of their motherland abroad through upholding national interests.

During the meeting, the expatriate Bangladeshis expressed the hope that opening up of a Bangladesh’s mission in Nigeria will create immense opportunities for Bangladesh to expand its labour markets in the African country.

They said that as a big market size, Nigeria could be a huge market of Bangladeshi products like readymade garments, pharmaceuticals, ceramics, melamine, jute and jute goods.

Referring to the problems of getting Nigerian visa, they said these problems could be solved through establishment of Bangladesh mission in Nigeria.

They also thanked the Prime Minister for her speech in the D-8 summit for further expanding business and investment relations among the eight developing countries.

Among others, Foreign Minster Dr. Dipu Moni, Ambassador At- Large M Ziauddin, Principal Secretary M A Karim and Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Mahbubul Hoque Shakil, among others, were present on the occasion.

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Hartal : Strike !!!Virus of politics: Many discussions held by the political parties of Bangladesh. On white meeting they never support Strike, they even not get the new way rather than such a destructive and harmful event like Hartal (strike). To establish political demand if that is really the demand of maximum public, must can roar against Government. I am sorry to say that i never support such a political event which directly makes harm to public, what gain? I never clear. Hope many like me are not clear.

Time changed. we were under different political culture ,so at the beginning of independence -?we also needed Hartal as political demand.Nowfrom my core observation. AFTER39 years THE NATION LOOKING FOR THE ALTERNATIVE AND EFFECTIVE WAY TO DIFFER WITH GOVERMENT. NO MORE HARTAL IS EXPECTED.

HARTAL IS A STRAIGHT VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS !!!! –guru
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today reiterated her call upon the main opposition BNP to join the parliament and speak for the people instead of resorting to hartal that is highly detrimental to both democracy and development leading to raising people’s sufferings. There was no any issue to enforce hartal in the country, rather the issue for which you have resorted to hartal was created by you during your tenure, she said while taking part in a general discussion on the proposed national budget for 2010-2011 fiscal.

Blaming BNP for calling hartal (general strike) in a bid to increase miseries for the people, she said the present government showed utmost restraint after wining the last general election as it did not take any revenge for the BNP-backed atrocities on the leaders and workers of Awami League after 2001 election.

“Even, we, the alliance (Mohajote) government, did not bring out victory procession soon after our landslide victory in the last general election as we remained involved in the development activities for bringing welfare to the people,” she said.

Describing the heinous attacks on general people, especially an engineer, at Shahbagh crossing and setting fire on two youths by the pickets during hartal as unfortunate and barbaric, Sheikh Hasina urged the main opposition to refrain from such anti-human activities.

The Awami League Chief accused the BNP leaders of threatening the government officials not to put their signatures in any file of the government. “If the officials can not sign files, then how the problems of gas, power and water, for which you have enforced hartal, would be solved,” she posed a question to the arch political rival BNP.

The Prime Minister said that the main opposition BNP has been carrying out such heinous activities after being deprived of the scope of looting public money after losing the last general
election.

Sheikh Hasina said her government is working relentlessly aiming at fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the people for which they voted Awami League to power. “Our only objective is to build a hunger and poverty free Bangladesh after fulfilling basic rights of the people,” she added.

Expressing her confidence over ensuring welfare of the people through implementation of the national budget proposed in the house on June 10, she urged BNP not to infuse frustration into the minds of the people centering the proposed budget, which was designed to bring maximum welfare to the general masses.

In this context, she called upon all concerned including main opposition BNP to take concerted efforts in implementing the government’s new fiscal documents for building a happy and prosperous “Sonar Bangla” as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by 2021.

The Prime Minister while making her statements on the proposed budget requested the finance minister to waive income tax imposed on the sources of the saving certificates.

Apart from this, she also requested the finance minister to reduce tax on export- oriented industries, stock exchange, locally produced vaccine and small-scale trade. She also requested him to waive tax on hearing aid for the disabled people.

Thanking the officers of employees of revenue department for realizing tax more than target, the Prime Minister requested the
authorities concerned to distribute a portion of the tax among
the officials and employees.

Thanking finance minister for announcing the budget in line with the election pledges and Vision-2021 of Awami League led alliance government, the Prime Minister said special emphasis has been given on the budget to strengthen rural economy and raising living standard of 80 percent of the country’s total population living in rural areas.

Brushing aside the criticism against the budget terming it as an ambitious one, Sheikh Hasina said we have to work with high ambition for bringing welfare for the general masses. “This ambition is to raise living standard of the people of the country,” she added.

The Prime Minister said her government has been able to keep the economic wheel of the country moving despite worldwide economic recession. “Even, we have been able to keep prices of essentials under purchasing capacity of the people,” she added.

The Prime Minister in her nearly one-hour speech highlighted her government’s programmes in agriculture and food, social safety net, rural infrastructure development, health, education, power, energy, tourism, communications and trade and investment sectors.

Besides, she said her government had also taken massive progammes including construction of elevated express-way and circular way to make the capital city peacefully habitable by reducing traffic congestion in the city.

Mentioning various steps taken by her government in agriculture sector, she said agricultural cards have been distributed among 1.82 crore farmer families in the current fiscal while steps have been taken so that each farmer could open a bank account with Taka only 10.

The Prime Minister said a total of Taka 750 crore has been distributed among 92 lakh farmers while uninterrupted power supply was ensured during the Boro season. As a result, we have witnessed bumper rice, potato, jute and seasonal fruits like mango and jackfruits production this season, she added.

Regarding government’s programmes in achieving food security, the Prime Minister said special facilities have been provided to 2.2 crore people through distributing 16.04 lakh tonnes food grains under its food safety net programmes.

Besides, she said, the government has maintained a stock of 16 lakh MT of food grains to face any emergency like natural disastrous. Expressing her dismay over the past BNP government’s decision to handover the land of food godown to Chittagong EPZ at Taka only 1.00, she said it is unfortunate to take such a decision when we are facing tremendous problem in storing adequate food grains to ensure food security for our people.

In this context, she said steps have been taken to build food godown by recovering the land. Besides, she informed the house that two projects are in pipeline to get approval of ECNEC to construct 333 food godowns with 19,000 tones each across the country.

The Prime Minister referred her government’s social safety net programes and said it has increased different allowances for old, disabled to increase living standard of people.

Elaborating her government’s programmes for development of rural economy, the Prime Minister said rural economy must be strengthened aiming at ensuring overall economic uplift as the country’s economy is based on rural areas.

Referring to country’s existing power situation, the Prime Minister said her government is working relentlessly to increase the country’s power generation considering the growing demand of people.

She said the country’s power generation raised at 5, 520 MW in May this year from 3,525 MW. The Prime Minister expressed the hope that more 1120 MW power would be added in the national grid by December this year following various steps taken by the government to this end.

Giving details of her government’s programme to raise the country power generation, the Prime Minister expressed the hope that more 2,600 MW power would be generated in the country by 2015.

Calling upon the countrymen to maintain austerity in use of power, she said her government has already taken steps to distribute energy saving bulbs to save power. With the use of energy savings bulb, she said a total of 200 MW electricity would be saved per day by June next.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has undertaken short, mid and long-term programmes for increasing gas extraction in the country. In this context, she said signing of two agreements are under process for exploring two blocks in the country’s offshore areas. She said decision has made to install 356 kilometre gas transmission pipe line to provide gas in the country’s south-western region.

She said her government has already formulated a draft coal policy and upgraded energy policy. She said decision would be taken in extracting coal considering environment and interest of people, she added.

Mentioning various programmes undertaken by her government for industrial expansion and business, she said the government has finalized the draft of industrial policy and strengthened BSTI for improving quality of products.

The Prime Minister said her government has provided loan of Taka 61, 166 crore in the country’s industrial sector in the current 2009-2010 fiscal for massive industrialization.

The Prime Minister said the present government has also taken massive programes to reach the health services to the doorsteps
of people. She said her previous government had undertaken projects to set up 18,000 community clinics across the country in this regard.

But, the BNP-Jamaat alliance government after coming to power suspended the pro-people projects, she said and adding that her
present government has revived the projects to provide health service to the door steps of people.

Besides, she said steps have been taken to increase bed in thana health complex from 30 to 50 and district hospitals from 250 to 500. The prime minister also mentioned appointment of doctors and nurses to this end.

Expecting that jute will regain its lost heritage of Golden Fibre with invention of genome of jute she said the government has taken extensive programme for the development of jute and jute industries.

The jute mills have been allocated Taka 1,092 crore through cash and bank guarantee during the current financial year, she said.

Mentioning about various measures undertaken by the government for the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) she said banks and financial institutions have disbursed total Taka 23,995 crore in this sector during 2010.

Referring to initiatives for employment she said total 1,12,434 were employed during last one and a half years. The government has already undertook works for capital dredging and maintenance of rivers for bringing back their navigability, she said.

The process of construction of Padma bridge has marked much progress, she said adding assurance for US dollar 2.4 billion has already been received for construction of the bridge, which would be completed by 2013. Highlighting various measures of her government for the development of infrastructure including roads and bridges she said the government is firmly committed to economic uplift through infrastructure development.

“We want to make Dhaka as habitable,” she said adding “government has plans to construct flyovers, elevated expressways, underground roads, ring roads for reducing traffic jam and for this BRTC has already introduced 100 busses and more 700 busses would soon be collected.”

She also mentioned about various programmes of the government for resolving water crises in the city.

Mentioning about foreign policy of her government she said the past government damaged the image of the country as militancy and terrorism increased during that period. “Bangladesh is not a country of militancy, corruption, and torture of journalists,” she said adding “Bangladesh is now a country of huge potentials.”

Country’s image has increased abroad, she said adding Bangladesh has been elected at 22 organizations in the globe and Bangladesh representative was elected at CEDAW scoring the highest votes.

She referred to the efforts of her government for turning Bangladesh as a peaceful country in Asia.

Mentioning about the efforts of making the country a Digital Bangladesh she said ICT Act 2009 has already been formulated and ICT Policy 2009 has been approved for this purpose.

Besides, government has taken steps for introducing E-Post Office, mobile money, computer lab, machine readable passports, online job application, online admission, e-voting, district web portal, setting up High-Tech Park at Gazipur and also setting up
satellite.

Highlighting activities of the government during assuming power on January 6, 2009 to June 21, 2010 she said cabinet through 77 meeting has taken 487 decisions, of which 83 percent of 405 decisions were implemented.

On the other hand, BNP-Jamaat alliance government during October 10, 2001 to April 25, 2003 through 66 meetings took 237 decisions, of which 112 or 51 percent were implemented.

From January 13, 2009 to June 8, 2010, ECNEC approved 287 projects worth Taka 96,994 crore through holding 50 meeting.

Prime Minister urged all for working together for building a Sonar Bangla free from hunger, poverty and illiteracy dreamt by the best Bengali of all ages Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

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Protesting the government’s misdeeds and misrule.in protest at the misdeeds and misrule of the government, including acute shortage of power, water and gas, oppression on opposition leaders and activists, violence centring on tender manipulation, land and property grab by ruling party men, harassment of girls in educational institutions, politicisation of administration and deals signed with other countries against national interest.
Today a daylong general strike called by the main opposition party in Bangladesh. This is first such event in 3 1/2 years. The opposition party BNP had laid out the strike plan last month in protest of certain issues they have pointed out as government failure.
The general strike ( Hartal) is not a very popular mode of protest in Bangladesh. Yet opposition parties resort to this tactic more often than other means as they don’t find the alternatives to hartal as biting. One reason the opposition resort to this sort of day long general strike is because this makes the government feel insecure and vulnerable. For this same reason current ruling party Awami League resorted to 303 ( nearly a year) days of general strike since 1991.

Hartals are now more a test of the mindset of the government than anything else. Accordingly today??s hartal was an opportunity for the government to show how tolerant and democratic they are and a tool of the opposition to trap the government into exposing the government’s intolerant fascistic mindset ( if there is any).

Clearly the following photo assay shows heavy handed repressive acts of the government in a day which otherwise would have been a day of peaceful non-violent exercise of democratic right
Comments :
Hartal : Strike !!!Virus of politics: Many discussions held?by the political parties of Bangladesh. On white meeting they never support Strike, they even not get the new way rather than such a destructive and harmful event like Hartal (strike)?. To establish political demand if that is really the demand of maximum public, must can roar against Government. I am sorry to say that i never support such a political event which directly makes harm to public, what gain? I never clear. Hope many like me are not clear.

Time changed. we were under different political culture ,so at the beginning of independence -?we also needed Hartal as political demand.?Now?from my core observation. AFTER39 years THE NATION LOOKING FOR THE ALTERNATIVE AND EFFECTIVE WAY TO DIFFER WITH GOVERMENT. NO MORE HARTAL IS EXPECTED.

HARTAL IS A STRAIGHT VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS !!!!

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Bangladeshi police and protesters clash during strike,Police and opposition protesters have clashed in the capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka, amid the country’s first general strike for more than three years.

Police stopped marches and arrested about 200 people, officials say.

The strike was called by the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its allies to highlight the government’s “failures and excesses”.

It is seen as the first significant challenge to PM Sheikh Hasina since she took office in January 2009.

The BBC’s Mark Dummett in Dhaka says most Bangladeshis have heeded the strike call.

Public transport and most businesses remained shut across the country.

The BNP and it ally, Jamaat-e-Islami, accuse the government of failing tackle corruption and improve services.

They are also demanding early elections.

Bangladesh is due to hold parliamentary polls in 2013.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who leads the secular Bangladesh Awami League, said on Saturday: “The BNP and its stooges are out to frustrate democracy and create anarchy

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The Bangladesh government has announced higher allowance for 125,000 people who participated in the country’s freedom movement against Pakistan in 1971.

The amount is being raised from Taka 1,500 ($21.50) to Taka 2,000 from July 1, beginning of the next fiscal, State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Captain (retd) A.B. Tajul Islam told parliament Thursday.

The state minister said the number of freedom fighters across the country is 125,000, including 5,338 who were injured, The Daily Star reported.

Families of martyred freedom fighters are 2,500 and women freedom fighters number 162.

The government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her previous term 1996-2001 had undertaken rehabilitation activities by providing allowances to 40,000 freedom fighters.

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Hartal : Strike !!!Virus of politics: Many discussions held?by the?political parties of Bangladesh. On white meeting they never support Strike, they even not get the new way rather than such a destructive and harmful event like Hartal (strike)?. To establish political demand if that is really the demand of maximum public, must can roar against Government. I am sorry to say that i never support such a political event which directly makes harm to public, what gain? I never clear. Hope many like me are not clear.

Time changed. we were under different political culture ,so at the beginning of independence -?we also needed Hartal as political demand.?Now?from my core observation. AFTER39 years THE NATION LOOKING FOR THE ALTERNATIVE AND EFFECTIVE WAY TO DIFFER WITH GOVERMENT. NO MORE HARTAL IS EXPECTED.

HARTAL IS A STRAIGHT VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS !!!!

HARTAL : STRIKE REVIEWS .

26/06/2010DHAKA: Security has been beefed up in the Bangladeshi capital today ahead of the anti government general strike called by the main opposition BNP, amid fears of violence as the supporters of the ruling Awami League plan to thwart the day-long shutdown tomorrow.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party has announced a nationwide anti-government general strike tomorrow to oppose the ruling coalition’s policies, including “compromising national interests” by inking deals with India earlier this year.
Former prime minister Khaleda Zia, the chief of the BNP, announced the anti-government campaign on May 19 for “compromising national interests?? by signing deals with India during prime minister Sheikh Hasina??s New Delhi tour in January, oppose “tender-grabbing and extortions by government cronies?? and deteriorating utility services in the country.
The authorities and the supporters of the Awami League have said they were determined to crackdown on those creating “anarchy and disorder” in the country.
Dhaka metropolitan police has banned processions on the main roads in the capital and stepped up security to prevent any violence.
Dhaka police chief AKM Shahidul Haque told mediapersons that an additional 10,000 force will be deployed in the capital to maintain order.
He said police would not prevent the BNP from its planned strike, but actions would be taken if they try to create anarchy by vandalising vehicles or setting those on fire.
Pro-government Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) today announced that it would thwart the dawn-to-dusk general strike of BNP, triggering fears of violent clashes.
“So BCL will be on the field to prevent the strike by any means,” Mahmud Hasan Ripon, the BCL president, was quoted as saying by the bdnews24 online.
He expressed fears that the radical Islamist groups, including ‘Jamaat-Shibir’ could take advantage of the strike to create chaos in a bid to halt the trial of the war criminals accused of genocide during the 1971 ‘Liberation War’.
He asked the leaders and activists of BCL to stay on the alert tomorrow.
Law minister Qamrul Islam told reporters yesterday that the government had no plans to confront the protesters, but warned: “We will not tolerate anarchy or disorder during the hartal”.
BNP chief Zia has warned the government against creating any obstruction during the countrywide shutdown.
“The government will have to bear the responsibility of the consequences if it tries to obstruct our peaceful programme,” she warned.
BNP secretary general Delwar Hossain alleged today that the government had been arresting and harassing BNP leaders and activists across the country to disrupt the strike.
BNP-led four party alliance, including the Islamist Jammat have already declared their support to the strike.
During Hasina’s New Delhi visit, Bangladesh and India signed three agreements to jointly combat the terror menace while New Delhi announced a one-billion dollar line of credit to Dhaka.
India decided to give 250MW of power to Bangladesh from the central grid while they signed a power-sharing agreement. Bangladesh also promised not to allow its territory to be used for terror against India.
Political parties have frequently resorted to shutdowns and general strikes in Bangladesh to pressure the government, often leading to violence, political deadlock and seriously crippling its economy.
An earlier UNDP report calculated that the net loss in one day’s shutdown to around Taka 500 crore while it cost the country 3 to 4% of its GDP on an average every year between 1991 and 2000.

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Power can generate automated development of a nation .Power is priority for present Bangladesh Goverment. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is seeking Swedish investments in Bangladesh’s energy and power sectors.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made her appeal during a meeting with the outgoing Swedish ambassador Britt Falkman Hagstorm, the Daily Star reported on Friday.

Hasina told Hagstorm that besides Bangladesh’s renewable energy, power generation, oil and natural gas industries, Swedish business investment was also being sought for the country’s mineral exploration activities, information and computing technology sector, tourism, telecommunications, roads and highways, agriculture, leather, textiles, electronics, and shipbuilding industry.

Besides investment, Hasina requested Hagstorm assist Bangladesh in facilitating work for skilled professionals in both the European Union and Sweden and that his country could support the establishment and development of institutions to train skilled professionals fields such as nursing, medical aides and caregivers, hotel and hospitality professionals, with assistance for finding work for the program graduates in Sweden and European Union U countries.

In stressing the potential for increasing bilateral trade Hasina noted that in 2008-9 Bangladeshi exports to Sweden totaled $221 million.

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The relation between South Korea and Bangladesh got recharged with PRIME Minister Sheikh Hasina ,her official trip to the Republic of South Korea. The visit has been fruitful in the economic sense. Several agreements have been signed during her stay in Seoul which, on the basis of follow-up activities on the part of the two governments, can lead to gains for Bangladesh in the areas of securing funds for its economic development. Furthermore, these are likely to facilitate the use of Korean expertise for the exploitation of Bangladesh??s energy resources, expansion of new opportunities for Seoul-Dhaka bilateral trade, transfer of technology, training of Bangladeshi manpower and more jobs for Bangladeshi workers in South Korea.

The two countries have signed a deal to set up an Economic Development Fund Loan (EDFL). Under this mechanism, South Korean funds from different sources could flow to Bangladesh on easy terms and conditions to set up important infrastructures and run socially and economically important services in Bangladesh. Another deal signed for energy cooperation is of greater significance. It is expected that under this umbrella agreement or memorandum of understanding (MOU), the energy sector in Bangladesh would be aided significantly. The state of the energy sector presently is the greatest worry for Bangladesh. It has become imperative for Bangladesh to tap its substantial deposits of high grade coal to solve the worsening energy crisis. It is expected that under the Dhaka-Seoul framework for cooperation in the energy sector, Korean companies would come forward in a major way to help Bangladesh to successfully use its available hydro-carbon and related resources and produce electricity from the same. South Korean investments in Bangladesh for coal mining and power production, would this otherwise be expected to rise in the near future. It is noteworthy that South Korea is internationally reputed for experience in relevant technologies. Its investments and cooperation can be very useful for Bangladesh??s overall energy sector.

Besides, shipbuilding is proving to be a growingly prospective area for the Bangladesh economy. South Korea is a world leader in the shipbuilding industry. The joint communiqu??? issued at the end of the PM??s visit states that South Korea has agreed to extend all kinds of assistance to Bangladesh to develop the later??s shipbuilding industry. South Korean companies could also decide to invest in the shipbuilding sector in Bangladesh.

The other positive developments from the visit would be indication that Seoul might allow a further large number of Bangladeshi goods to get access to that country on a duty-free basis. Access to a greater number of Bangladeshi migrant workers has also been promised, besides the creation of more scholarships for Bangladeshi students and opportunities for training for Bangladesh??s in South Korea.

The Republic of Korea is well known in Bangladesh. There are a number of South Korean companies operating in Bangladesh and these are found to be doing a good job in creating employment and helping the training of Bangladeshi workers. Both in terms of employment creation and technology transfer and skill training, the South Korean presence in Bangladesh is, thus, noted. This process only needs to be encouraged by both sides for their mutual benefits. The visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the Republic of Korea is, therefore, likely to provide a stimulus to increase trade, investments and other forms of economic interactions between the two countries. The private sector in Bangladesh will need to be proactive to get the South Korean investors to be interested in Bangladesh in the wake of the PM??s visit to that country.

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Source : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said her government plans to procure fighter aircraft, surface-to-air missiles, helicopters and other armament to strengthen the armed forces.

She told Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) personnel Wednesday that the government had drawn up plans and set the process, including budget allocation, in motion.

‘Budget allocation for the Bangladesh Air Force under the present fiscal year is the biggest amount in the history of the force,’ she said.

She witnessed the BAF’s annual exercise WINTEX-2010 at the main fighter base at Kurmitola in Dhaka Cantonment, United News of Bangladesh (UNB) reported.

‘The present government will take all possible measures to build up the country’s air force as an up-to-date force by arming it with modern technology-based war weapons,’ New Age newspaper quoted her as saying.

Sheikh Hasina said her government was firmly committed to building a modern, knowledge-based air force that excelled in training and technology in order to ensure security of the country and its people.

A development plan had been approved for constructing infrastructure at Cox’s Bazar, located in the southeastern region bordering Myanmar, for smooth operation of fighter jets and transport aircraft to ensure security of economic activities in the maritime territories and relief operation in remote areas, Hasina said.

Defence purchases in Bangladesh have been mired in political controversy.

A court Monday acquitted Hasina of corruption charges in the purchase of eight MiG-29s that were bought during her earlier tenure as the prime minister.

She told the airforce personnel that the government of her political rival, Begum Khaleda Zia (2001-06) had kept the aircraft unused for long ‘just to get her in trouble’, the newspaper said.

A frigate purchased from South Korea for the Bangladesh Navy was also kept in mothballs for five years. It was re-commissioned in 2007.

The security analyst

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“Make best use of all facilities sponsored by our government. Increase food production to build a food-sufficient Bangladesh so that we do not have to rely on others for food. If we want to save the country, our farmers and agriculture will have to be saved,” Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said

The PM was addressing the inaugural function of the newly introduced Agri-input Assistance Card and Cash Assistance programme for the country’s farmers
The new smart card scheme for farmers designed to increase productivity and reduce fraud.
Almost 20 million small or medium-sized farms in Bangladesh will eventually get the card, which will allow them to open bank accounts with just a few cents.

It will allow the government to pay subsidies directly to them, cutting out middlemen and embezzlers.

They currently siphon off a large proportion of the government’s help.

The first use of the card will be to distribute a $100m fuel subsidy.

The cards will also contain information on the land the farmers have under cultivation, the crops they produce and the fertilisers they will need.

“An interactive database of farmers has been prepared to run in conjunction with the scheme,” said Agriculture Secretary Mustaq Ahmed, “which will help the government make detailed analysis of the inputs that farmers need.

“We can then make efficient planning for agriculture, while farmers who have never been linked to the banks will become more money-literate once they start going to them.

“They will then begin to take loans from banks – instead of rural moneylenders who charge high interest rates for farmers. It will also make farmers more aware of modern agriculture technologies.”

It is hoped that the initiatives would bring “revolutionary change to the agricultural sector

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