News brief for the 11th of September 2018

 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said, Bangladesh plans to import 9,000 MW power by 2041 from neighbouring countries, expecting New Delhi to stay beside this endeavour in a video conference with her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. The PM said this while jointly inaugurating with her Indian counterpart three projects in power and railway sectors yesterday. The Indian Prime Minister said, with the inauguration of three projects, a golden chapter has been opened up. The event marked the groundbreaking of Agartala-Akhaura railway link and rehabilitation of Kulaura-Shahbazpur section of Bangladesh Railways. The two Prime Ministers along with the West Bengal and Tripura Chief Ministers Mamata Banerjee and Biplab Kumar Deb opened the three projects by unveiling the e-plaques.

 

The Cabinet has given final approval to the draft of 'Bangladesh Shishu Academy Act, 2018' and 'Motor Cycle Shilpa Unnayan Neetimala, 2018'. The approval was given in the weekly meeting of the Cabinet with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair yesterday.

 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sought investment from Estonia for mutual benefits of the two countries and mentioned that the government is setting up 100 special economic zones. The PM said this as Estonian Foreign Minister Sven Mikser paid a courtesy call on her at her Jatiya Sangsad Office yesterday.

 

President Md. Abdul Hamid asked the university authorities to maintain a congenial academic atmosphere. The President made the call as a delegation of Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University led by Vice-Chancellor Professor A H M Mostafizur Rahman called on him at Bangabhaban yesterday.

 

The new United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, has called upon the Human Rights Council to adopt a resolution to be forwarded to the General Assembly for endorsement to establish a mechanism to bring the perpetrators of the atrocities against Rohingyas in Myanmar. She made the urge in her opening statement to the 39th session of the Council in Geneva yesterday.

 

ADB and the government of Bangladesh have signed agreements for US$350 million in loan and US$7 million in a grant for a project to develop two power lines in support of Bangladesh’s national target of electricity for all by 2021. ERD and ADB signed the agreements at the ERD in Dhaka yesterday.

 

Election Commission will announce the schedule of the 11th Jatiya Sangsad election at any moment after 30 October, EC Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed said this yesterday. The EC has already completed 80 per cent of the polls preparations, he added.

 

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Public Administration has suggested taking measures for raising the age limit for entry into and retirement from the government services. The parliament body will forward recommendations to the Ministry of Public administration in this regard.

 

The holy Ashura will be observed in the country on September 21. The National Moon Sighting Committee took the decision at a meeting in the Islamic Foundation yesterday.

 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of an accused in the Agartala Conspiracy Case and former president of Mathbaria Upazila Awami League in Pirojpur Corporal (retd) MA Samad.

 

Press Wing