“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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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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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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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:

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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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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Unlike last year, the government is no longer fresh in the seat, and stakes are high. This year is the time for the government to deliver.

As the finance minister in Sheikh Hasina’s cabinet, AMA Muhith faces perhaps the biggest challenge of his career this time. He had previously held the same position in former President HM Ershad’s cabinet as well.

In its second budget, the present government is set to table over Tk 132,000 crore for the upcoming fiscal year, against a revised budget of Tk 110,523 crore for the outgoing year. The annual development programme outlay has been proposed at Tk 38,500 crore against Tk 28,500 crore in the revised expenditure.

Analysts say the most challenging issues for this budget will be over gas, electricity and infrastructure. People are looking up to the government to see how and what portion of the total budget will be allocated to meet the growing demand for energy and infrastructure — the prerequisites to strong economic growth.

Prof Mustafizur Rahman, executive director of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), said the government faces daunting challenges in some critical areas next year.

??The coming year will be critical in terms of deliberations in areas like energy and infrastructure,?? says Rahman.

He said the government promised to generate 9,500 megawatts of electricity in five years, and people will want to see that power generation begins immediately.

Dr Mustafa K Mujeri, director general of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), anticipates the main challenge for the government to be in boosting investment, which will ultimately lead to higher economic growth.

??Investment is a must for growth, and vis-???-vis, adequate infrastructure is a must for investment,?? Mujeri says.

The growth rate of gross domestic product (GDP) has dropped to the lowest in seven years — standing at 5.5 percent — in the outgoing fiscal year. Investment as a percentage of GDP has also been plunging for the past few years.

According to the analysts, employment generation is becoming a big challenge in the wake of declining investment, particularly in the industrial sector. People will also wait and see how the budget tackles city traffic congestion and implements a Digital Bangladesh.

The expectations of all the productive sectors — manufacturing, medium and small industries, and services — also remain high, as growth in these areas has been sliding for several years.

The revival of business confidence for new investment, public-private partnerships, a reversal of the export contraction and a return of foreign investment, are all big challenges.

Better governance and efficient budget administration are also major challenges, analysts said. Handling additional subsidies for fertilisers and electricity are big challenges as well.

Last, but not the least, it is necessary to control inflation, and mobilise revenue or internal resources, to meet all these expectations, they said.

The CPD executive director said people will wait to see how the government implements infrastructure projects under the much-talked-about PPP.

The BIDS chief stressed raising public sector investment to create a congenial atmosphere for private entrepreneurs. Mujeri said public sector investment in Bangladesh is the lowest in the region.

He said there are a lot of expectations, but it will not be possible to implement all in just a year.

??The government has to set priorities,?? the BIDS boss said.

However, there are some who expect the least from the budget.

??I do not have any such expectations. The finance ministry has a lot of priorities, and politicians always see what is the most beneficial for the masses,?? says Helal Ahmed Chowdhury, managing director of Pubali Bank.

??The banking industry is not top on its agenda.”

However, Chowdhury wants to see expedited efforts in implementation of the four-lane Dhaka-Chittagong Highway and Padma Bridge.

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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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The Prime Minister was addressing the country’s renowned `alem and ulema’ (Islamic scholars) at Ganobhaban here this evening.

Allama Ahmad Shafi, director general of Darul Ulum Muinul
Islam Hathazari Chittagong and chairman of Bangladesh Qawmi
Madrasa Board, presided over the function.

Describing Islam as a religion of peace and tranquility, she said there is no room for terrorism and militancy in Islam.

Sheikh Hasina expressed her government’s firm stance against militancy and terrorism and sought support of the Islamic
scholars to this end.

The Prime Minister categorically told them that her government never said anything to discard `Bismillah’ from the country’s constitution. “Rather, we said that we will not do anything which goes against the Quran and Sunnah,” she added.

Listing her government’s programmes for incorporating religious education in the school curriculum, Sheikh Hasina said
the government had already directed all concerned to make religious education compulsory.

“We gave the directives as we think that complete education is not possible without religious education,” she said and urged
the Islamic scholars to give their suggestions about the curriculum of qawmi madrasas to incorporate those in the draft
education policy.

Expressing her satisfaction over the role of `ulema and mashayekh’ (Islamic scholars) for building character of the
people, Sheikh Hasina told them to play a due role in keeping the people away from all sorts of misdeeds, including drug abuse and repression on women.

“You should let the young people know that it is anti- Islamic activities and Islam does not support it. Then crimes
will come down,” she said.

She also sought cooperation from the Islamic scholars to find ways so that no girl is deprived of her rights on property.

Referring to her role in different international forums in favour of Islam, the Prime Minister said she had protested in
those forums whenever anybody uttered the words, `Islamic terrorist’.

“I vehemently protested the words and told them that there is no room for terrorists in Islam as Islam is a religion of peace
and harmony and terrorists have no religion and border,” she added.

After her repeated protests in different international forums, the Prime Minister said, the people from across the world
have kept them away from uttering such words like “Islamic terrorist”.

Listing her government’s activities for the sake of religious education, she said it had already introduced mosque- based education and increased the salary of imams and muajjins. “Even, we have included the `alem and ulema’ to take action
against terrorism and militancy,” she added.

Among others, Hazrat Maulana Abdus Sobhan, Hazrat Maulana Nur Hossain Kashemi, Hazrat Maulana Junaid, Hazrat Maulana Anwar Shah, Hazrat Maulana Ashraf Ali spoke on the occasion.

Awami League Religious Affairs Secretary Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah gave the address of welcome.

Later, a munajat was offered seeking peace, progress and prosperity of the country. Renowned Islamic scholar Allama Ahmad
Shafi conducted the munajat.

The Islamic scholars in their speeches appreciated the government’s initiatives for religious education across the country and its steps for welfare of the country’s `alem and ulema’ (Islamic scholars).

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China and Bangladesh signed a series of agreements on oil, gas, mineral and agricultural cooperation during a four-day official visit to China by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The two countries issued a joint statement in Beijing on Friday, in which both sides agreed to build a “closer comprehensive partnership of cooperation” to better contribute to regional and world peace and counter global challenges.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of China-Bangladesh diplomatic ties. The two countries would hold commemorative activities in Beijing and Dhaka to further enhance bilateral friendship, the statement said.

While maintaining high-level contacts and political ties, the two countries planned to take active measures to expand bilateral trade, ease the trade imbalance and enhance cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, transportation and infrastructure.

China is to provide preferential tariff treatment to more Bangladeshi products, while Bangladesh would encourage more enterprises to participate in the Shanghai World Expo and other commodity fairs in China to boost exports, the statement said.

The two countries also signed agreements on a concessional loan offered by China to Bangladesh and the construction of the seventh Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge at Kajirtek.