News brief for the 20th of September 2018
Ambassadors of Germany and North Korea to Bangladesh separately presented their credentials to President Md. Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban yesterday. The envoys are Peter Fahrenholtz from Germany and Pak Song Yop from North Korea. Welcoming the Ambassadors, President hoped that the bilateral relations with the countries will further be expanded during their respective assignments in Bangladesh.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said, Bangladesh will place its proposals on the future action plans over the Rohingya crisis in different multilateral meetings during the upcoming 73rd United Nations General Assembly. The PM said this while replying to a question-answer session in the Jatiya Sangsad yesterday. There is no scope for the long-term stay of Rohingyas in Bangladesh adding, the government will send back the Rohingya people to their homeland.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said, the government firmly believes in freedom of press, but attention needs to be given so that no one can use this with childish attitude. The PM said this while distributing cheques of financial assistance from Journalists Welfare Trust among sick, financially insolvent and injured journalists in accidents at a function at Prime Minister’s Office in Dhaka yesterday. She urged journalists to play a constructive and responsible role which would be helpful for country's development. The Premier announced giving Taka 20 crore more donation to the Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust Fund.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has enquired about the physical condition of the injured opener of Bangladesh national cricket team Tamim Iqbal over the phone yesterday. Tamim sustained a critical injury during Bangladesh’s match against Sri Lanka in the opening match of ongoing Asia Cup Cricket being held in UAE.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given financial assistance of Taka 20 lakh to popular film and drama actor Afzal Sharif. The PM handed over a cheque for the amount to ailing Afzal Sharif at her office yesterday for meeting costs of his medical treatment.
The Parliament has passed the Digital Security Bill-2018, Road Transport Bill-2018 and Making Dawrae Hadith Certificate in quami Madrasah Equivalent to master's Degree Bill-2018. The bill was passed by MPs in a voice vote in the Parliament yesterday.
The government has made mandatory for all travelling on public money to fly Biman Bangladesh Airlines to destinations where it operates flights. The Prime Minister Office yesterday issued a circular in this regard.
The Cabinet committee on purchase yesterday approved a project, involving Tk 1,077.58 crore, for protecting Naria and Jazira Upazilas in Shariatpur from Padma erosion. The approval was given at a meeting with Finance Minister A M A Muhith in the chair in Dhaka yesterday.
The government is set to take special security in over 30,000 puja mandaps across the country for the peaceful celebration of the Durga Puja. The decision was taken in a meeting on overall law and order ahead of the Durga Puja at the Home Ministry at Secretariat yesterday.
.Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserve increased 4.41 times in the last 10 years from fiscal 2008-09 to 2017-18 riding on the steady garment exports and inflow of remittances, according to the Bangladesh Bank. Foreign exchange reserve stood at US$32.94 billion in fiscal 2017-18 which was US$7.47 billion in fiscal 2008-09.
The International Criminal Court has begun a preliminary examination into the allegations of crimes committed by Myanmar by forcing deportation of thousands of Rohingyas from Rakhine to Cox’s Bazar. The preliminary examination will enable the ICC prosecutor to carry out a full investigation. ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said this in a statement posted on the website of the court on Tuesday.
Bangladesh beat Lebanon by 8-0 goals in the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship at Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Dhaka yesterday.
Bangladesh will take on Afghanistan in their second match of the Asia Cup Cricket in Dubai today.
Press Wing
