News brief for the 07 November 2018

The cabinet has approved the draft of the ‘Export Policy 2018-21’ with a view to infusing dynamism into export operations, enhance competitiveness in trade and commerce and thus strengthen the position of Bangladesh in the competitive world. The approval was given at the cabinet meeting yesterday with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. The cabinet also approved in principle the drafts of the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation Act-2018 and Bangladesh Sugarcrop Research Institute Act-2018.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged tannery owners to pay due attention to industrial waste management to check pollution. The Premier made the urge while inaugurating the Savar Tannery City through a video conference from her office yesterday. The Premier also inaugurated Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Industrial Park at Gazaria, Munshiganj and BSCIC Industrial Park in Sirajganj.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said, the government wants the people to elect their representatives as per their choice through a peaceful election in the country. The Premier said this in her speech in the dialogue between the Awami League-led 14-party alliance and the Left Democratic Alliance at Ganabhaban yesterday. Earlier in the afternoon yesterday, the Premier attended similar dialogue with the leaders of twelve islamic parties.

All four technocrat ministers submitted their resignation letters to the Cabinet Division yesterday as asked by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ahead of the polls. The technocrats who submitted their resignation letters are: Post and Telecommunications and ICT Minister Mostafa Jabbar, Science and Technology Minister Architect Yeafesh Osman, Religious Affairs Minister Principal Motiur Rahman and Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Nurul Islam BSc.

Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury has said, the government has taken a programme to enhance skill of the Parliament Members and the officials of the Parliament Secretariat. The Speaker said this while inaugurating a two-day workshop titled ‘Leadership Training for Secretariat Officials of Bangladesh Parliament’ at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban yesterday.

Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury left Dhaka last night for London to join the Women MPs of the World Conference. The Speaker will return home on November 10 next. The UK Parliament is going to hold the first ever Women MPs Conference that begins tomorrow.

Chief Election Commissioner K M Nurul Huda has said, there is no scope to defer the announcement of polls schedule, but the elections can be delayed if all political parties want. The CEC said this while talking to media at the Nirbachan Bhaban yesterday. Meanwhile, the Election Commission yesterday issued an official letter asking the authorities concerned to send nomination forms and other polling materials to field level on November 8.

The holy Akheri Chahar Shamba, an important day for the Muslims marking the recovery of Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (SM) from his prolonged illness, is being observed across the country today. All educational institutions remain closed in observance of the day.

The High Court has formed a five-member committee to examine the water supplied by Dhaka WASA through pipeline in the capital. A High Court division bench yesterday formed the committee with representatives from the agencies concerned.

Press Wing