London, 19 November 2018

Election Commissioner Md Rafiqul Islam has said, the Election Commission will take a decision over the videoconference of BNP’s ‘fugitive’ acting chairman Tarique Rahman, who is convicted on various charges, after reviewing the relevant laws. He said this to the media at the Nirbachan Bhaban in Dhaka yesterday.

Awami League has submitted a written complain to the Election Commission to take action against BNP fugitive acting chairman Tarique Rahman for his involvement in the party’s nomination process through videoconference. A delegation of AL led by its Presidium Member Lt. Col. (retd) Muhammad Faruk Khan submitted the complain to the EC at the Nirbachan Bhaban in Dhaka yesterday.

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader has urged the Election Commission to look into whether convicted and fugitive BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman can take part in the election process or not. The Minister said this while talking to media at his ministry yesterday.

Daily Leadership, one of the most influential Nigerian dailies has mentioned Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as one of the world leaders with humble lifestyles in its feature story titled 'World Leaders with Humble Lifestyles'. Two of the most outstanding achievements of Sheikh Hasina are her leadership roles and success behind the trials of Bangabandhu killers and the persons who committed crimes against humanity in 1971, the prestigious daily mentioned.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan has urged all concerned not to hold any open air function on the 31st night to welcome the English New Year-2019 due to security reason on the occasion of parliamentary election scheduled to be held on December 30 next. The Minister said this to the media at his ministry yesterday after a meeting on security on Christmas Day and 31st night.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed has said, the BIMSTEC (the Bay of Bengal Initiative for MultiSectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) needs to be more vibrant for effective negotiation in regional trade. The Minister made the remark while inaugurating the 21th meeting of BIMSTEC Trade Negotiation Committee in Dhaka yesterday. A total of 35 representatives from Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand are taking part in the two-day long meeting.

Finance Minister A M A Muhith has underscored the need for giving opportunity to the business community for ‘capital export’ as the country’s economy has been widening gradually. The Minister said this while inaugurating a training course at Bangladesh Institute of Capital Market in Dhaka yesterday.

The government will procure 6 lakh tonnes of parboiled Aman rice from farmers across the country from December 1. Food Minister Advocate Quamrul Islam said this to the media after a meeting of the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee at his ministry yesterday.

Primary and Mass Education Minister Md. Mostafizur Rahman has said, the government will take decision on holding Primary School Certificate examinations upon implementation of the national education policy-2010. The Minister said this to the media while visiting JSC examination centre at the Viqarunnisa Noon School and College in Dhaka yesterday.

Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Mustafa Jabbar has said, all educational institutes across the country will get ICT laboratories and multimedia classrooms within the next two years. The Minister said this while distributing laptop among trainees and educational institutes at Bangladesh Computer Council Auditorium in Dhaka yesterday.

Newly appointed US Ambassador-designate to Bangladesh Earl R Miller arrived in Dhaka yesterday to begin his Bangladesh assignment. Miller, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, served as the US Ambassador to Botswana, a position he held since 2014.

Press Wing