News brief for the 29th of October 2018

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, emphasising on maintaining peace in the hills, has urged all to extend cooperation to the Land Commission to solve the land dispute in the Chattogram Hill Tracts. The Premier made the call while inaugurating 'Sheikh Hasina Chattogram Hill Tracts Complex' on Bailey Road in Dhaka yesterday. The government has done everything necessary for implementing the CHT Peace Accord and formed the Land Commission to solve land dispute in the region, the Premier added.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the country's business community to diversify their products and explore new markets across the globe for their items through availing of government support. The Premier made the urge while addressing a function titled 'Destination Bangladesh: Gateway to growth and Development' marking the 60th anniversary of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industries at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center in Dhaka yesterday. The Premier in her address expressed the hope that the economic growth of the country will be 8.25 per cent in the next year if the people reelect the Awami League again.

The Jatiya Sangsad passed four bills yesterday. The Bills are: the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution Bill-2018, the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute Bill-2018, Fisheries Quarantine Bill-2018 and the Bangladesh Technical Education Board Bill-2018. The House with Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair passed the four bills by voice votes.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammed Nasim has reiterated that the next general election will be held under the incumbent government in line with the country's constitution. The Minister said this while inaugurating the newly-constructed 250-bed Hospital building in Chuadanga yesterday.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid has said, the government will distribute around 35 crore textbooks free of cost among the primary and secondary level students in 2019 academic year. The Minister said this while talking to media at his ministry yesterday. Half of the textbooks have already reached the respective schools and the rest will be made available by December 14, the Minister added.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal issuing a strong note of warning against the drug peddlers has said, the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is relentlessly working to root out militancy from the country. The Minister said this while speaking at a gathering at Nojipur Sheikh Russel Stadium in Naogaon yesterday.

Thirty organisations have won the Joy Bangla Youth Award 2018 for their outstanding contributions to promote youth employability, education, sports and cultural activities and also to end violence against women. Prime Minister's Information and Communication Technology Affairs Adviser and Centre for Research and Information Chairperson Sajeeb Wazed Joy handed over the awards to the winners at a ceremony at the Sheikh Hasina National Youth Complex in Savar yesterday. Speaking on the occasion, Sajeeb Wazed Joy said, with massive programs implemented by the present government, now Bangladesh is known around the world as the 'digital country'. Countries such as Maldives, Bhutan, Somalia, Peru and the Philippines are taking assistance from Bangladesh to digitalise their country, he added.

Department of Information and Communication Technology yesterday signed a deal with a Chinese company in Dhaka yesterday for establishing 35,500 Sheikh Russel Digital Laboratories in educational institutes across the country. Under the 8000 crore taka project to be implemented between 2019 and 2021, high-tech laboratories will also be established at 54 public universities of the country.

A US $300 million financing agreement was signed with the World Bank in Dhaka yesterday for improving the transparency and efficiency of the Department of Social Services in its major cash transfer programs for the poorest and vulnerable people. The cash transfer modernization project will help the department to modernize its four major social protection programs using cash transfer.

Press Wing