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Awami League Unveils ‘Smart Bangladesh’ Vision in Election Manifesto
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also the President of Awami League (AL), presented the party’s election manifesto, focusing on the vision of “Smart Bangladesh.”
The announcement took place at the AL manifesto program held on December 27, 2023, at Sonargaon Hotel in the capital. Sheikh Hasina emphasized the party’s commitment to building a modern, technology-oriented nation, outlining key priorities, including a Universal Health System and a balanced approach to import and export trade.
Addressing the gathering, Sheikh Hasina reflected on AL’s past achievements, mentioning the successful implementation of Vision 2021 outlined in the 2008 election manifesto. She underscored the importance of balanced import and export trade to ensure stability in foreign exchange supply, advocating for stringent measures to recover defaulted loans.
The Prime Minister highlighted the significance of policy interest rates in controlling money supply and inflation, expressing the party’s commitment to extending credit for self-employment opportunities for trained youth. Sheikh Hasina unveiled the pillars of “Smart Bangladesh” – Smart Citizens, Smart Government, Smart Economy, and Smart Society – essential for global competition in the fourth industrial revolution era.
In a bid to eradicate hunger and poverty, Sheikh Hasina pledged to transform Bangladesh into a smart, developed country by 2041. The healthcare sector’s modernization featured prominently in the manifesto, with plans for a Universal Health System, digital healthcare initiatives, and the establishment of international-standard specialized hospitals.
The manifesto emphasized advancements in basic health and family welfare services, continuation of free primary healthcare and medicine distribution through community clinics, and the introduction of health IDs for every citizen. Sheikh Hasina also announced support for the country’s Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) industry, controlled antibiotic use, and improved mental health and autism healthcare facilities.
AL’s manifesto aligns with Sheikh Hasina’s goals of achieving a developed nation status by 2041, building on the long-term action plans outlined in previous election manifestos. AL’s commitment to perfecting democracy and overcoming challenges was echoed by General Secretary Obaidul Quader, who highlighted Sheikh Hasina’s inspirational leadership and the party’s resilience in the face of conspiracies and terrorism.
In the upcoming election, AL’s manifesto will prioritize 11 key issues, including commodity price stability, youth education and employment, Smart Bangladesh initiatives, integrated agriculture systems, affordable healthcare, financial sector efficiency, universal pension, law enforcement accountability, and combating communalism, terrorism, and militancy.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecasted that the ongoing mild to moderate heat wave affecting six regions of the country will persist for the next 24 hours from 9 am today.
The heat wave is currently sweeping over the Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions, as well as the districts of Tangail, Kishoreganj, and Naogaon. According to the BMD, this weather pattern is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.
In addition to the heat wave, light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty winds are likely to occur in parts of the Khulna, Barishal, and Chattogram divisions. Isolated showers may also affect a few areas in Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions, with moderately heavy rainfall expected in some locations across the country.
Despite these weather conditions, the BMD noted that daytime and nighttime temperatures are expected to remain largely unchanged across Bangladesh.
On Wednesday, the highest temperature in the country was recorded at 37.5 degrees Celsius in Rangpur of Rangpur division, while today’s minimum temperature was 24.0 degrees Celsius, observed in Rangamati and Feni districts of Chattogram division.
Meanwhile, rainfall recorded over the last 24 hours, up until 6 am today, measured 54 mm in Sandwip of the Chattogram division.
In Dhaka, the sun is set to set at 5:58 pm today and will rise again at 5:47 am tomorrow.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has filed 17 cases against Beximco Group’s Vice-Chairman, Salman F Rahman, and 27 others, accusing them of laundering approximately Tk1,000 crore ($83 million) under the guise of export trade. This development was confirmed by Additional Superintendent of Police Azad Rahman through a notification on 18 September.
The investigation, conducted under the Money Laundering Prevention Act, found that Salman F Rahman and his brother, ASF Rahman, who serves as the Chairman of Beximco Group, were involved in laundering around Tk1,000 crore. This was done through the export of goods linked to 93 Letters of Credit (LCs) from Janata Bank PLC between 2021 and 2024. However, the proceeds from these exports were not repatriated to Bangladesh.
The CID revealed that the accused individuals, through an organised operation involving their affiliated companies, exported goods with the malicious intent of transferring money abroad. The probe indicated that they deliberately failed to return the export proceeds, violating multiple sections of the Money Laundering Prevention Act.
According to the CID, Salman F Rahman and his associates used their influence and collaborated with an organised criminal group to launder money. This resulted in 17 cases being filed by the CID’s financial crime unit at Motijheel Police Station.
Salman F Rahman, who has long been a prominent figure during Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule, is now facing an in-depth investigation by the CID’s financial crime unit. The investigation focuses on significant allegations of money laundering and financial misconduct, as highlighted in a preliminary report from the CID on 1 September.
Salman is also accused of laundering Tk33,470 crore abroad, allegedly obtained through loans from seven banks over the past 15 years. Of this, Tk21,681 crore was borrowed from state-owned Janata Bank, while Tk5,281 crore came from IFIC Bank, where Salman previously served as chairman.
In addition to these allegations, Salman is believed to have profited Tk6,600 crore through manipulation of the capital market and is accused of failing to repatriate Tk1,485 crore from export proceeds.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has predicted light to moderate rain or thundershowers, accompanied by temporary gusty winds, in all eight divisions of the country over the next 24 hours, starting from 9 AM today.
According to the BMD forecast, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions are likely to experience light to moderate rain or thundershowers, while Dhaka and Barishal divisions may see similar weather at a few locations. In Rajshahi, Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Khulna divisions, rainfall is expected in one or two places, with some areas potentially experiencing moderately heavy showers.
The BMD also stated that both day and night temperatures might rise slightly across the country.
On Tuesday, the highest temperature was recorded at 36.5 degrees Celsius in Rajarhat, Rangpur division, while today’s lowest temperature was 24.6 degrees Celsius in Tetulia, also in Rangpur.
In the last 24 hours up to 6 AM today, Cumilla in the Chattogram division recorded 3 mm of rainfall.
The sun is expected to set at 5:58 PM today and rise at 5:46 AM tomorrow in Dhaka.
