London, Wednesday, 19 December 2018

Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has floated her party manifesto for the upcoming elections pledging to keep the country on the track of prosperity. The Premier said, we will devote ourselves to build a nice future for all and ensure inclusive development while unveiling the manifesto at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka yesterday.The manifesto focuses on 33 sectors to be dealt with two strategic plans –the SDG and Delta Plan 2100 – to eradicate hunger and poverty, promote education and build a secular nation. The manifesto selected 'Somridhir Agrojatrai Bangladesh' as the slogan ahead of the 11th parliamentary elections.

Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina pledged to fulfil the new voters’ expectations with Bangladesh and advance the country further by flourishing their talent. The Premier said this while addressing public rallies in Bandarban and Kishoreganj through video-conferencing from her Sudha Sadan residence at Dhanmondi in the capital yesterday.

President Md. Abdul Hamid has asked the judges to ensure hassle-free justice for the litigants including the poor ones within the shortest possible time. The President has said, it’s people’s fundamental right to get justice, there is nothing to show kindness or sympathy to the justice-seekers. The President said this in a written statement which was read out in a function at the Supreme Court Judges’ Complex in Dhaka yesterday on the occasion of Bangladesh Supreme Court Day 2018.

Chief Election Commissioner K M Nurul Huda yesterday asked the officials concerned including Returning Officers and law enforcement agencies to ensure equal opportunity for all candidates during the upcoming general election. He was addressing a meeting with members of the law enforcement agencies in Chattogram division. The CEC said a level-playing field has already been ensured and the candidates are now carrying out their electoral campaign freely.

The Election Commissioner Rafiqul Islam directed concerned officials to maintain caution while publishing the results of the 11th parliamentary elections. The concerned officials will have to maintain caution in information and result management activities to keep the Election Commission out of any embarrassing situation. The Election Commissioner said this at a training programme at the Nirbachan Bhaban in Dhaka yesterday.

The Election Commission has allocated Taka 271,83,32,584 for maintaining law and order during the 11th general election. This was informed by the EC to Ministry of Home Affairs. The EC is planning to set a three-tier security for the law enforcement during the polls. It has decided to deploy army as striking force from December 24. Units of army and navy will be deployed outside the polling booths as striking forces, while RAB, BGB, Coast Guard and Armed Police Battalion teams will patrol the area as mobile teams.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed handed over the Commercially Important Person (CIP) cards among the awardees at a function at the TCB auditorium in Dhaka yesterday. The government has awarded the CIP cards to 178 businessmen for their extraordinary performance in export in 2016. Speaking at the function, the Minister said Bangladesh’s export is moving forward by achieving remarkable success in the world trade due to diversification of export products and exploration of export market.

Bangladesh has topped the South Asian countries in gender equality for the third consecutive year, ranking 47th among 144 nations. It has also moved 25 notches up in the Global Gender Gap Report 2017 published by the World Economic Forum on Thursday. The country was at the 72nd position among the same number of countries in last year's index. It was ranked 64th among 145 nations in 2015.

Press Wing