Bangladesh High Commission

London

News Brief

London, 14 January 2018

President Md. Abdul Hamid is set to witness Bangladesh Army‟s annual winter exercise at the offshore island of Swarna Dweep at Noakhali‟s Hatia upazila today. The “maneuver exercise -2017-18” would be staged at the island with army‟s 33rd and 17th infantry divisions being the key performers of the event.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has laid importance on literary pursuit to promote human values and sharpen rationalism in the society. She said, there is no alternative to engage oneself in cultivating literature for self enlightenment and fight against evil forces. The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating the three-day International Bengali Literature Conference-1424 at Osmani Memorial Hall in Dhaka yesterday. The Prime Minister said, the more the society is enriched in literature, the more it is civilised. She mentioned, the roots of all the people of Bangladesh are Bangla, Bangla language and literature. The PM said, the Bengali nation never bows down its heads and does not know how to do this. "So, we've to move in the world keeping our heads high," she said.

Former Indian President Pranab Mukherjee arrives in Dhaka today to attend a number of programmes, including the closing session of the 'International Bengali Literature Conference' in the city. Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali is expected to welcome Mr Pranab at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on his arrival in the afternoon. During his visit, he will meet President Md. Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Chittagong University will honour the former Indian President with a D.Lit. degree through a special convocation ceremony.

The three-day first phase of the Biswa Ijtema, the second largest Muslim congregation after the Hajj, ends today with the Akheri Munajat in which devotees are seeking welfare of the Muslim Ummah and their spiritual well-being. Thousands are participating in the prayer from far and wide as it is being aired live on several television channels.

A 14-member delegation headed by Foreign Secretary Mohammad Shahidul Haque is due to fly to Myanmar today to attend the first meeting of the Joint Working Group tomorrow. An agreement to start the repatriation of Rohingyas sheltered in Bangladesh is likely to be finalised in the meeting.

Government will provide financial support to assist Dhaka International Film Festival to make it a regular annual film event. Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith promised to allocate budget for the festival. „Dhaka International Film Festival has put Bangladesh on the global map. The festival is bringing to us the best films produced across the world‟ said Finance Minister, who inaugurated the 16th Dhaka International Film Festival at the main auditorium of Bangladesh National Museum on Friday. Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu attended the inauguration ceremony of the festival as a special guest.

State Minister for Information Tarana Halim has said, more women participation in cinemas would contribute to making a world respectful towards women and their rights as equal as male. "Women should be not only silent spectators. They will act, make and direct films, write scripts to transform the world into a better one", she said while speaking as the chief guest at Alliance Francaise de Dhaka yesterday. Fourth Dhaka International Conference on 'Women in Cinema' began with strong voice for women in films. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam chaired the inaugural ceremony of the two-day conference.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed has said, the Election Commission will conduct the next national election independently under the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and there will be no interference from the government side. He hoped, all political parties including BNP will participate in the polls. The Minister said this while speaking at the grand finale and prize distribution of debating competition for university students in Dhaka yesterday.

The Election Commission has started adding the "Hijra" in the gender identity section of voters' list as a mark of recognition to their right as the citizens of the country. The members of Hijra community will be able to pick the 'Hijra' gender identity alongside the 'male' and 'female' options from the coming update of the voters' list. "The Election Commission took the decision principally and it would be finalized soon," Acting Secretary to the EC Secretariat Helaluddin Ahmed told the media yesterday.

Bangladesh registered a comfortable 87-run win over Namibia in a Group C clash of the 2018 Under-19 World Cup at Christchurch in New Zealand yesterday.

Press Wing