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PM asks youth to work for forming cooperative

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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday, November 5, called upon the country’s youths to engage in inspiring people to form cooperatives for boosting food production and pulling the country ahead further.

“The youths will have to come forward. We can go a long way if the youths do their activities in bringing village people together as everyone will have the responsibility,” she said.

The premier was addressing a function on the 51st National Cooperatives Day at Bangabandhu International Conference Center, BICC as the chief guest, joining virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban in Dhaka.

She told the youths not to chase after the job but rather get involved in food production activities such as poultry and fish cultivation by forming cooperatives.

Referring to the 100 special economic zones being established by the government, she said, “you (youths) can set up food processing factories there, which will not only meet the local demand but also can help export abroad.”

Sheikh Hasina said she believes that the country could attain desired economic success through cooperatives.

She also urged all to work in combination to overcome the crisis that was created in the country due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukraine war as well as sanctions and counter-sanctions.

With State Minister for Rural Development and Cooperative Swapan Bhattacharjee in the chair, Register and Director General of the Department of Cooperatives Dr. Tarun Kanti Sikder delivered the welcome address.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam and Rural Development and Co-operative Division Sectary Md. Mashiur Rahman also spoke as a special guest.

A total of nine Samobay Samity (cooperative associations) and one person were given National Cooperative Award-2021 on the event.

On behalf of the prime minister, Md Tazul Islam handed over the award. Each awardee was conferred with a gold medal and a certificate.

At the outset of the function, a video documentary on national cooperative day was screened. The theme of the day is “Bangabandhu’s Philosophy, Development of Cooperative.

The prime minister said cooperatives are absolutely essential for agricultural production, life and livelihood of the people in the country.

“Cooperatives create enormous scopes in a densely populated country like ours. Paying attention to it, we will have to strengthen cooperatives,” she said.

She stressed the need for giving utmost importance to cooperatives for the development of the country’s people.

Sheikh Hasina said her government is working for the people and wants to create scopes so that every individual can improve their life and livelihood.

She said her government opened every sector for private entrepreneurs so employment is generated.

Talking about inflation, the premier said the price of every commodity has soared throughout the world due to the war and Covid-19, which affected Bangladesh also and almost all the countries are now suffering from high inflation.

“Everyone has to run using its reserve (of foreign currencies). Also, we are to do it for the well-being of the common people of the country,” she added.

She said that now Bangladesh needs to purchase fertilizers, fuel and edible oil at very high prices amid high transportation costs for the sake of the people and agricultural production.

The head of government said although the country has cent per cent electricity coverage, but now they are facing much trouble in generating power as imports of fuel and gas are being hampered due to the war.

“I hope that we can overcome this situation,” she said, referring to the measures taken by the government such as solar power, coal-fired power plant as well as the import of power from Nepal and Bhutan.

She, however, reiterated her call to the countrymen to put concentration on savings and exercising austerity as well as boosting food production.

She once again requested all not to spare any inch of land uncultivated but rather made a call to produce whatever they can.

She said the current progress of Bangladesh should in no way be interrupted.

Though the Covid-19 and current war and sanctions slowed down the progress to some extent, the government’s goal is to go forward overcoming this situation and build the country as Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she added.

Sheikh Hasina said her government’s goal is that the rural people would get civic facilities, improved life and lead a decent lifestyle.

In this context, she mentioned several schemes, including “My House My Farm” (Amar Bari Amar Khamar) and “My Village My Town” (Amar Gram Amar Shohor) programmes, which were taken by her government for the development of rural people.

“We want to transform every village into a town,” said the prime minister.

She stressed the need for the construction of modern houses through cooperative societies to make modern flats affordable for the villagers as well as to protect arable lands by stopping the indiscriminate construction of homes everywhere.

The government has also started a project titled “Palli Janapad” to construct modern houses in a planned way for the rural people, she said.

The premier said her government took the ‘My House My Farm scheme’ and micro-saving project under the scheme so that the poor people don’t need to bear the burden of micro-credit rather they can save money and take loans, forming a cooperative society under it.

If they save Tk200, the government would add another Tk200 to it till two years and the money would remain deposited in Palli Sanchay Bank, she added.

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Settle disputes through dialogue, say ‘no’ to wars: PM Hasina at UNESCAP meet

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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (25 April) called for speaking out against all forms of aggression and atrocities, and say ‘no’ to wars.

“We must speak out against all forms of aggression and atrocities, and say ‘no’ to wars,” she said adding that Bangladesh supports the UN Secretary General’s ‘New Agenda for Peace.

The prime minister was addressing the 80th Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) held at the ESCAP Hall (2nd floor), United Nations Conference Center (UNCC) here.

She arrived in Bangkok on Wednesday on a six-day official visit to Thailand.

The PM said the pre-condition for sustainable development is lasting peace and security.

“We must settle regional disputes and tension through dialogue. Our mutual respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity must remain paramount,” she said.

Hasina called upon the Asia-Pacific region, especially ASEAN, to redouble their efforts to end Rohingya crisis as all efforts at regional connectivity, integration, and prosperity will continue to be marked by a missing puzzle without it.

“The origin of their crisis has been in Myanmar, and its solution also lies in Myanmar,” she declared.

“As long as that solution remains out of reach, all our efforts at regional connectivity, integration, and prosperity will continue to be marked by a missing puzzle. Let us redouble our efforts to put that puzzle back in place,” she said.

She said that in August 2017, when thousands of Rohingya men, women, and children from Myanmar fled to Bangladesh, Bangladesh offered them temporary shelter.

“With an ever growing population, this has now become one of the largest humanitarian situations in the world,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said that In the backdrop of ongoing armed conflicts in Myanmar, the Rohingya repatriation process is also getting delayed.

“This is creating serious security risks within and beyond our territories,” she said.

She called upon the Asia-Pacific region, especially ASEAN, to play a proactive role in resolving the volatile situation in Myanmar.

“We must ensure that the Rohingya can go back home in safety and dignity at the earliest possible,” she said.

The prime minister said that the Asia-Pacific region must stand united against its common enemies of poverty and hunger.

She said Bangladesh has reduced poverty from 41.51 percent to 18.7 percent between 2006 and 2022.

It also reduced extreme poverty from 25.1 to 5.6 percent during the same period.

“We remain confident about eradicating extreme poverty by 2030,” she said.

She mentioned that Bangladesh has made notable progress on food security, with focused interventions on maternal and child nutrition.

“Our current priority is to address inequalities through income distribution, asset ownership, and social protection,” she said.

The prime minister said that Asia-Pacific region must put up a united front in tackling the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and transboundary pollution.

“We need to push for ambitious climate financing goals beyond 2025 at COP-29. We need to cooperate on cross-border water management and air quality improvement. We must all prepare for growing extreme weather events,” she said.

In this connection, she suggested looking into Bangladesh’s experience in disaster risk reduction.

“We appreciate UN-ESCAP’s support in improving our early warning capabilities,” she added.

Briefly describing various development programmes and achievements of her govebrment, the prime minister said that much of the development gains are affected by climate impacts.

“As a low-lying delta, Bangladesh has no option but to invest heavily in climate resilience,” she said.

She mentioned that Bangladesh is already recognised as a global leader in climate adaptation.

“We are happy to share our traditional and innovative solutions with other vulnerable countries,” she said.

She said that Bangladesh has urged developed and emerging economies in the region to raise their time-bound emission reduction targets.

“For economies in transition, it is important to have a just energy transition.”

In Bangladesh, she said, “we are working on long-term energy security with a sound mix of clean and renewable energy.”

“We shall continue to do our part in pursuing a circular and low-carbon economic growth pathway.”

She underscored the need for increased and easy access to financing and technology from both the public and private sectors.

“I invite UN-ESCAP to help build the capacity of climate-vulnerable countries to mobilise adequate international climate financing.”

PM Hasina said that Bangladesh now provides critical links to the Trans-Asian Highway and Railway networks.

“Our physical and digital infrastructures are being developed to foster regional trade and connectivity.”

She said Bangladesh offers access to the Bay of Bengal for land-locked territories in its neighbourhood.

“We stand ready to work together with all regional partners through mutual understanding and cooperation,” said the prime minister.

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Bangladesh-Qatar Strengthen Ties with 10 Cooperation Deals

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Bangladesh and Qatar signed 10 cooperation documents on Tuesday, including five agreements and five MoUs, aimed at strengthening ties and elevating relations to new heights.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani witnessed the signing of the documents.

The five agreements cover cooperation in the legal field, promotion and protection of mutual investments, avoidance of double taxation, maritime transport, and the establishment of a Joint Business Council (JBC) between FBCCI & QCCI.

The five MoUs include cooperation in sports and youth, manpower employment (Labour), diplomatic training, education, higher education, scientific research, and between Qatar Ports management Company “MAWANI QATAR” and Chittagong Ports Authority.

Earlier in the morning, PM Hasina warmly welcomed and received Emir Sheikh Tamim at her office.

They had a tête-à-tête meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office, followed by a bilateral meeting.

After signing the visitors’ book, the emir headed for Bangabhaban where the president received him.

A high-level Qatari delegation led by Qatar’s emir is on a state visit to Bangladesh at the invitation of the president and the prime minister.

During the ceremony, a road and a park in Dhaka were named after Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani.

The park, constructed in Kalshi area of Mirpur under Dhaka North City Corporation, and the road from Mirpur ECB point to Kalsi Fly Over were named after Emir of Qatar.

Now, the road and park are known as Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani Avenue and Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani Park.

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FBCCI Pushes for SME Participation in Global Trade Fairs

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The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) is urging for greater involvement of marginal, small, and medium enterprises in international trade fairs. This initiative aims to spotlight Bangladesh’s promising products on the global market.

FBCCI President Mahbubul Alam made the call during the first meeting of the organisation’s Standing Committee on National and International Trade Fairs and Foreign Delegations. He emphasised the need to provide marginal, small, and medium enterprises with the space and resources to effectively display their products at these events.

“The participation of marginal, small, and medium enterprises is crucial at both national and international levels,” Mahbubul Alam said. “This will allow us to export Bangladesh’s promising products and open new markets.”

The FBCCI president informed that his organisation is actively discussing and collaborating with the government to make this a reality. He also proposed organising roadshows in neighbouring countries and Europe to revive the country’s handicraft industry and increase export opportunities for these products.

Standing Committee Chairman Nuruzzaman echoed Mahbubul Alam’s sentiments, highlighting Bangladesh’s vast potential and young population. “We need to move beyond the garment sector and focus on product diversification and market creation,” Nuruzzaman said.

Achieving this, he acknowledged, will require close collaboration with the Export Promotion Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority.

FBCCI Senior Vice President Md Amin Helaly pledged the organisation’s support in facilitating increased exports through participation in foreign trade fairs. He stressed, however, the importance of raising awareness among Bangladeshis about the country’s diverse and promising products.

The meeting concluded with an open discussion where participants expressed keen interest in organising and participating in various sectoral fairs, both domestically and internationally, under the FBCCI’s umbrella.

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