London, 28 February 2017
The Cabinet yesterday approved a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to give formal recognition to the Republic of Kosovo as an independent and sovereign state by Bangladesh. The approval came from the regular weekly meeting of the Cabinet held at Bangladesh Secretariat yesterday with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. Bangladesh would be the 114th country to have given formal recognition to Kosovo. The Cabinet also approved the draft of the Jubo Niti (Youth Policy), 2017 and drafts of two acts, the Marine Fisheries Act, 2017 and the Sheikh Hasina National Youth Development Institute Act, 2017, and two agreements for avoiding double taxation and tax evasion. Parliament yesterday passed the child marriage prevention law with a provision allowing it in 'special circumstances'. According to the law, the minimum age for the marriage of females is 18 and for males it is 21, other than the 'exceptions in special circumstances'. The Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2017 was passed in voice vote when State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki placed it before the MPs. Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday said that implementation of the new VAT and Supplementary Duty Act-2012 would come into effect from 1 July 2017. The Minister said this after a meeting with Deputy Managing Director of International Monetary Fund (IMF) Mitsuhiro Furusawa at the Finance Ministry. The Minister said, IMF lauded Bangladesh as the country is moving forward to become a developed one. About the demand of the business community, the Finance Minister said, the government has already taken various steps, including increasing the limit of exemption, to make the law business friendly. Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said, the government has selected leather as the product of the year . He said, the government has increased the amount of cash incentives given on the export of different goods including leather and leather goods. The Minister also focused on diversifying both products and markets to increase the value and volume of exportable goods. The Minister said this while handing over CIP (Commercially Important Person) cards to some 164 businessmen for the year 2013 under export and trade categories at a programme at a city hotel yesterday. LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain yesterday said the local government bodies would be strengthened to implement the present government's pledge for power decentralization. The Minister said this while presiding over the 45th meeting of National Institute of Local Government (NILG) management board. The Minister said the NILG would be restructured in light of experiences of local government system of neighbouring countries and training would be given to people's representatives so they could contribute more to changing lot of the people. Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal has said the government is unable to fully utilise the total allocation of project assistance in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) of the current fiscal due to the impact of terrorist attack on Holey Artisan Bakery on July 1 last year. The Minister made this comment while briefing the reporters at the Planning Ministry in the city's Sher-e-Banglanagar area yesterday. The Minister however said the foreigners later came back and joined their work as the government had ensured their security. Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor yesterday said Mangal Shovajatra, a festival during Bengali New Year celebrations inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, will be organized across the country. He said it in an inter-ministerial meeting at Shilapkala Academy. Aiming to launch digital insurance services through countrywide digital centres, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Access to Information (a2i) Program of Prime Minister's Office and Jiban Bima Corporation at PMO Special Security Force (SSF) briefing room in the city.London, 23 February 2017
The Prime Minister Sheikh Hasiana yesterday told parliament that the government has undertaken a plan to construct two new airports apart from modernization of the existing Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The Prime Minister said, Nippon Koei Co. Ltd. is conducting the feasibility study of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib International Airport at Madaripur while land acquisition is going on for Khan Jahan Ali Airport at Bagerhat. The Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday told the young generation to learn the history of the Language Movement. She said this at a discussion at Krishibid Institution of Bangladesh in Dhaka. The Prime Minister recalled the contributions of the martyrs with deep respect. She called on the students to learn Bangla first then other languages for their better careers. Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday said there will be no crisis of gas in the country after 2018. The Finance Minister said this in the opening session of the 50 years celebration program of Sylhet Chamber. The Minister said the present government has been establishing an IT city in Sylhet's Companyganj. Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu yesterday said the government has taken steps to improve the working environment in the ship recycling sector to ensure workers' safety. The Minister was speaking at the closing session of a workshop arranged by the Industries Ministry at a city hotel on its Safe and Environmentally Sound Ship Recycling/SENSREC Project. In another occasion, at the inaugural session of a conference jointly organized by MIST and BUET, Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu yesterday said the present government is patronizing setting up of environment friendly and energy saving industries. Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed yesterday said, the government is sincere in facilitating the efforts for making housing affordable for the general public. He said this while addressing an award-giving ceremony for journalists at CIRDAP auditorium in the capital. The Minister also said, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had declared a project titled ‘One family, One house by 2021’. Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain yesterday told Parliament that Dhaka South City Corporation plans to arrange oversees jobs for hawkers as part of their rehabilitation. The Minister said, the city corporation has also decided to help hawkers if anyone is interested to join any government and private organisations as a class four worker. Information Minister Hasanul Huq Inu yesterday said, reforms in education, showing equal honor to all irrespective of creed and color, shunning bribes in economy and practicing democracy within the parties will take the country forward and fill the cultural dearth. He said this while speaking at a mass lecture on 'Cultural Dearth and Darkness in Progression' at National Museum auditorium in the city. Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan yesterday said maritime sector is playing an important role in country's economic development. He said this while speaking as the chief guest at the passing out ceremony of the 6th batch of pre-sea cadets at International Maritime Academy at Pubail. The Shipping Minster said as per the directive of the Prime Minister, the marine academies are taking 20 female cadets for every batch since 2012. Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) in its Review Economic Situation in Bangladesh (October-December 2016 period) said all major economic indicators have been showing steady improvements. It said the agriculture sector performed well, but continuous government support with inputs and finance will be needed to sustain the sector's growth.London, 20 February 2017
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina returned home yesterday wrapping up her three-day official visit to Germany where she attended the Munich Security Conference. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has sought support of international community to arrange temporary accommodation for Myanmar refugees in a healthy and safe environment in Bangladesh. She said this in a luncheon meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the sidelines of the 53rd Munich Security Conference at Hotel Bayerrischer Hof in Munich yesterday. Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh has taken the issue of extruded Myanmar citizens from humanitarian point of view. Hundreds of Rohingyas who fled to Bangladesh to escape persecution in Myanmar have returned home, community leaders said yesterday, adding that most had gone back temporarily to fetch relatives. Tens of thousands of Rohingyas have fled across the border from Myanmar's western state of Rakhine since October to escape a bloody crackdown by troops and police. United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Yanghee Lee begins her four-day visit to Bangladesh today to see situations on the ground on Rohingya issue. She will visit various locations in Cox's Bazar district where the population who had fled from Myanmar since October 9, 2016 are residing temporarily in makeshift shelters, according to a message received Dhaka from Geneva. Dhaka Metropolitan Police has taken four-tier security measures in and around the Central Shahid Minar for smooth and peaceful observance of the Shaheed Dibos and International Mother Language Day on February 21. Norway's Foreign Minister Børge Brende is set to arrive in Dhaka today on his first-ever visit to Bangladesh. He is reciprocating a visit by Bangladeshi Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali who had bilateral talks with his Norwegian counterpart in September last year. The Indian Border Security Force disagreed with decision of ‘joint investigation’ into border killings but agreed to carry out ‘joint verification’ or ‘joint appraisal’ of such incidents. As the 44th director general-level meeting between the Border Guard Bangladesh and the Border Security Force BSF began yesterday, the Indian delegation led by BSF chief KK Sharma argued that the Indian home ministry was against joint investigation into such incidents as the police, not the border forces, were responsible for investigation. The government and the World Bank yesterday launched a cash benefit programme for the poorest mothers and pregnant women. Under the Jawtno Programme, 600,000 women will receive financial help in exchange for their participation in activities to improve their children's nutrition and cognitive development, the WB said this in a statement. India and Bangladesh are set to sign a revised agreement to establish more border haats for the frontier people of the two countries, said Indian High Commissioner Harsh Vardhan Shringla. He said this yesterday in an interaction with journalists of The Daily Star during a courtesy visit to the newspaper office in the capital. The makeshift markets are turning out to be great successes in Meghalaya and Tripura, he added. Presently, four border haats are operational along the India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya and Tripura. A clash between Myanmar security forces and militants has left two soldiers injured on Bangladesh border with the country’s Rakhine state, reports Reuters. The country office of International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Dhaka yesterday handed over a car, brought in Bangladesh under a duty-free facility, to the officials of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID). Fifty-six entrepreneurs yesterday received the CIP or commercially important person's status in recognition of their contribution to the economy. Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu handed over the CIP cards for 2015 at a function at Dhaka.London, 18 February 2017
Bangladesh High Commission London confers awards to British-Bangladeshi outstanding academic achievers
London, 18 February: The Bangladesh High Commission in London, for the 11th consecutive year, organised an exceptional event to confer awards to the British-Bangladeshi brilliant students on Saturday 18 February 2017 at the Kensington Town Hall in Central London. Through the event, the High Commission awarded a total of 88 students who achieved at least 10 'A'/'A*' in GCSE and 3 'A'/'A*' in 'A' level examinations. The awardees received a crest and a certificate from the Guests of Honour and Special Guests.
To promote mother tongue Bangla and preserve the tradition, the High Commission at the initiative of new High Commissioner Md. Nazmul Quaunine for the first time awarded/recognised the students who have done exceedingly well in Bangla examination. Also, to recognise the lasting contribution to the mother tongue and for the historic song on Ekushey February 'Amar Bhaiyer Rôkte Rangano Ekushe February Ami Ki Bhulite Pari...' eminent journalist, columnist and writer Mr. Abdul Gaffar Choudhury was presented with Life Time Achievement Award.
The High Commissioner in his welcome address mentioned that for a decade the High Commission organised the event to recognise the academic excellence of the British-Bangladeshi students who have made Bangladesh proud and elevated the image of Bangladesh community in the UK. He hoped that these young boys and girls will lead in their respective fields in the future and their success would inspire the succeeding generations of the diaspora for even better achievements. He urged the students to maintain close links with their lineage and nurture their cultural inheritance. He mentioned that under the astute leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh was well on course to become a middle-income country by 2021, in the realisation of the dreams of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who led the War of Liberation to establish a prosperous Bangladesh. He viewed that a prosperous Bangladesh would be a matter of greater pride for the students and their parents.
Bangladesh Minister for Liberation War Affairs Mr. A.K.M. Mozammel Huq MP, UK Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport (Minister for Aviation) The Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon and Chairman, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Dipu Moni MP and Chair of All Party Parliamentary Group on Bangladesh Anne Main MP were present at the occasion as Guests of Honour. Besides, Members of House of Lords - Lord Sheikh, Baroness Verma; Members of European Parliament Jean Lambert MEP, Members of House of Commons- Stephen Timms MP, Paul Scully MP, and eminent journalist Abdul Gaffar Choudhury were, among others, attended the programme as the Special Guests. All the invited guests expressed great satisfaction at the excellent academic success of British-Bangladeshi students and hoped that future leaders of the UK would come out from these students who could contribute to the progress and prosperity of both Bangladesh and the UK.
Apart from the awardees and their parents, the guests included leaders of the community, business, media, academia and other dignitaries. About 500 people attended the ceremony. A cultural programme was also held to showcase the rich heritage of Bangladesh. To mark the event, the High Commission has published a 28-page Souvenir.
(Nadeem Qadir)
Minister Press
London, 15 February 2017
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the new division in Comilla will be named as ‘Maynamati Division’. From now on, there will be no division based on the name of the district concerned rather new division would come up with a different name, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal quoted the Prime Minister as saying at the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) meeting.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that false graft allegation was brought against Padma Bridge and the World Bank stopped lending loan support on the basis of that allegation. She made the comments in her introductory speech while chairing the weekly ECNEC meeting held at the NEC conference room yesterday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will leave Dhaka for Munich, Germany tomorrow on a four-day official visit to attend Munich Security Conference (MSC) and bilateral talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Issues related to Rohingya, security, migration, democracy and human rights are going to dominate the discussions during the first ever full-fledged Foreign Secretary-level consultation between Bangladesh and the European Union in Brussels today. The consultation will also highlight good governance, climate change, trade and commerce, and investment, officials of the Foreign Ministry said this to The daily Independent.
Malaysian ship ‘Nautical Aliya’ carrying relief for Rohingyas reached Chittagong port yesterday. Bangladesh Foreign Secretary (Maritime Unit) Rear Admiral Khurshid Alam, Malaysian High Commissioner Nur Ashikin Binte Mohd Taib were present at the Jetty at that time. Later, the relief goods were handed over formally through a ceremony at the jetty.
Foreign Minister AH Mahmud Ali yesterday said to parliament that some 9,640 Bangladeshis are languishing in jails of 38 countries, including India, the USA, the UK, Australia and different Middle-East states. He said this to the House while responding a written question.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said members of the Coast Guard are working ceaselessly to curb illegal infiltration, human trafficking, smuggling and piracy in the coastal areas all over the country. The force has engaged in serving the people by ensuring safety and security. He said this to a programme marking the 22nd founding anniversary of Bangladesh Coast Guard and Coast Guard Day 2017 at its headquarters in the capital yesterday.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Bangladesh yesterday signed an agreement for a $100 million loan for skill development of young workforce, especially women, to enhance job opportunities, expand economic base, and boost income. The assistance is the second tranche of the $350 million multitranche financing facility (MFF) approved by ADB in 2014 for the Skills for Employment Investment Program (SEIP). The remaining amount from the ADB assistance is expected to be utilized before the MFF period ends in 2024.
Law Minister Anisul Huq said yesterday that the World Bank (WB) is not above the law. But the Bangladesh government cannot sue the WB in view of the contract. Legal action can be taken against the WB by those affected personally, following allegations of corruption in the Padma Bridge project. He made the observations while addressing a ‘meet the press’ programme organised by the Law Reporters' Forum (LRF) at Dhaka Reporters' Unity.
The fourth Indo-Bangla Trade Fair-2017 will begin in the capital from tomorrow aiming to promote bilateral trade relation between two countries. The three-day fair will be held at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel. The announcement came at a press conference held at Dhaka yesterday.
A four-day international yarn and fabric expo begins today in Dhaka with a view to creating a one-stop biggest marketplace of Bangladesh for textile business as well as presenting the latest fabrics and trends. The exposition styled as the eleventh Dhaka International Yarn & Fabric Show 2017 will be held at International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB), which will be concluded on Saturday, said organisers at a press conference at National Press Club on Monday.
Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Mohammad Ziauddin met with Congressman Ted S Yoho in Washington DC and sought US support for economic development of Bangladesh. Republican Congressman from Florida, Ted Yoho is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Asia and the Pacific. The meeting was held on Monday. The Ambassador congratulated the Congressman on his new position as the Chairman of the Asia Pacific region which represents the maximum number of population and generates almost 80 percent of total trade in the world. Ziauddin renewed his call for Duty Free Quota Free (DFQF) market access of Bangladeshi products to the USA along with 13 other Least Developed Countries (LDCs) which are left out from US DFQF scheme, said a PID handout yesterday.
London, 14 February 2017
The Cabinet yesterday gave its final approval to the draft of the 'Civil Aviation Act, 2017' keeping the provision of death penalty or life-term imprisonment and maximum penalty of Tk. 5 crore on the charge of any willful obstruction in the flight operation that may cause life risks for any one. The approval was given in the regular Cabinet meeting held at Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. The Cabinet also approved drafts of three more Acts and 'Textiles Policy, 2017’. The Cabinet yesterday formally greeted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for challenging the World Bank asking it to prove the graft allegations over the Padma Bridge project. The Cabinet observed that the country's image has brightened further in international arena following the dismissal of allegations and recent acquittal of three people by a Canadian court in a case related to the alleged corruption in the Padma Bridge project. The Cabinet made the observation at weekly meeting held at the Bangladesh Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. President Md. Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday hoped that the members of the coast guard would work with patriotism, sincerity, honesty, courage and cordiality to ensure foolproof security of the country's maritime and coastal regions. In a message on the eve of the 22nd anniversary of Bangladesh Coast Guard and "Coast Guard Day 2017", President Md. Abdul Hamid said, the coast guard members are playing vital roles in protecting the maritime resources. In her speech, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the government has already taken various measures to build the coast guard as a capable force. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said necessary reforms have been carried out in the country's labour sector to ensure workers' welfare and improve their working conditions alongside boosting production. She said this while a delegation of Labour Friends of Bangladesh from the UK met her at her official residence Ganabhaban in the evening. The Prime Minister said the labour law has been amended while the working conditions in mills and factories improved significantly. She said the government has constructed dormitories for workers, particularly garment workers, and it has been providing healthcare facilities to them. Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader told Parliament that 40 percent work on Padma Bridge completed as of January 2017. He also told parliament that depending on the availability of funds the construction work of the second Padma Bridge on Patuaria-Goalanda point would begin in the current fiscal year. Bangladesh Bank (BB) is going to provide loan to Ready Made Garment sector with an aim to ensuring structural, fire and electrical safety in RMG factories. In presence of Bangladesh Bank Governor Fazle Kabir, the central bank yesterday inked separate agreements with 25 banks and 10 financial institutions to facilitate long-term financing for renovation works, reconstruction, replacement and fire safety in the RMG industries. India wants to work with Bangladesh on important issues like Teesta water sharing agreement and Ganges barrage project as both sides are now working to finalize dates for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's New Delhi visit. Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Harsh Vardhan Shringla met Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque at the Foreign Ministry yesterday afternoon and discussed various issues of mutual interest, including those crucial ones. Information minister Hasanul Haq Inu yesterday said, Radio initiates the demand for development, creates awareness among people for democratic needs and satisfies the cultural needs and develops it further. The Minister was speaking at the Jatiya Betar Bhaban at Agargaon on the occasion of "World Radio Day". Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) yesterday introduced a new mobile phone service - 'Voicemail Service' - in the country allowing cell-phone users to send voice mail to each other. Prime Minister's ICT Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy officially inaugurated the service at 11am by sending a voice mail to the Chairman of the BTRC from Ganabhaban. In a voicemail sent to the BTRC Chairman, State Minister for Posts and Telecommunications Tarana Halim said the country's people will be benefited through the service. Bangladesh has shown keen interest to invest in Nepal's hydropower sector. Bangladesh Ambassador to Nepal Mashfee Binte Shams speaking at an interaction organized by Energy Development Council in Kathmandu said her country was ready to invest US$ 1 billion in Nepal to pursue every possible collaboration in the power sector. Bangladesh and Cambodia are moving ahead to form a joint trade commission by signing an agreement soon, officials at the Ministry of Commerce in Dhaka said yesterday. A draft proposal in this regard has already been forwarded to the relevant authorities in Phnom Penh. The Cambodian Commerce Ministry already agreed in principal on a commission framework and was just awaiting official approval from its Bangladeshi counterparts.London, 13 February 2017
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday directed the members of Ansar and Village Defense Party (VDP) to play more proactive role against militancy, terrorism and abuse of drug in rural areas. While addressing the 37th National Rally at Ansar-VDP Academy, the Premier also asked them to be associated with development activities of the government to build Bangladesh as a prosperous and dignified nation.
Lawmakers in parliament last night said the World Bank must apologize to Bangladesh and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for maligning the government by raising the false allegation of corruption conspiracy involving the Padma Bridge project. They also called for actions against those who were “behind the World Bank's cancellation of funding for the project”.
Lawmakers from the treasury and opposition benches said, Bangladesh is now moving fast by overcoming all odds and conspiracies against the government expecting to secure a sustainable development. While taking part in the general discussion on thanksgiving motion of President's speech in the House, the lawmakers thanked President and said the country had already achieved success in the health, electricity, education, agriculture, food, communications, science and technology, industries, women and children sectors.
Bangladesh Foreign Ministry has recently sent a strong message to all foreign missions based in Dhaka and urged foreign envoys to refrain from meddling into internal affairs which may deem as curious in national issues. They have been asked not to give advice in public, how Bangladesh should function in a democratic regime.
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed yesterday said that Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have reached a consensus to sign free-trade agreement (FTA). The Minister made the optimism after having a meeting with Sri Lankan Ambassador to Bangladesh Yasoja Gunasekera at his ministry office yesterday.
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed yesterday said the TV talk-show panelists and intellectuals who raised the corruption allegations in Padma Bridge project in their bid to malign the government should now apologize. The Minister said, their allegation proved now false through the Canadian court verdict. The Minister came up with the remarks while addressing Janata Bank's annual conference-2017 at a city hotel.
In presence of Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu Bangladesh has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jordan to import rock phosphate and phosphoric acid for producing standard triple superphosphate (TSP). Under the MoU, every year Bangladesh will import 1.50 lakh metric ton rock Phosphate and 1.20 lakh metric ton Phosphoric Acid from Jordan.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday said, the Rohingya Muslims of Myanmar who entered Bangladesh illegally will be rehabilitated to Thengarchar in Hatiya on humanitarian ground and also for protecting the natural beauty of beach town of Cox's Bazar and ensure the security of tourists. The minister came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after inaugurating the 170-metre-long four-lane project for 'beautification and expansion of Saikat Road' involving Tk 3.17 crore at Kalatoli in the town.
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq yesterday called upon all who got victimized by the false allegation of graft in Padma Bridge Project to file case against the World Bank. Minister said at a freshers' reception at Mirpur Marks Medical College yesterday that after the recent verdict of Canadian court, it has been proved that there was no corruption in Padma Bridge Project.
Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud yesterday said the government has approved seven projects involving Taka 1,151.52 crore to check river erosion taking place in the coastal areas due to climate change. He said this while replying to a tabled question from a treasury bench member in the Jatiya Sangsad.
Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Sayeedul Haque yesterday said Bangladesh earned $ 2.89 billion from fiscal year 2011-2012 till the current (2016-2017) fiscal by exporting 413.57 thousand tonnes of fish. The Minister said it at the parliament while replying to a tabled question of a treasury bench member.
The government has picked 17 persons for this year's Ekushey Padak in recognition of their contributions. In an announcement, the cultural ministry yesterday said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hand over the award to the winners at Osmani Memorial Auditorium on 20 February.
The government has appointed Kamrun Nahar as the country's first-ever female Principal Information Officer (PIO). An officer of BCS 1984 regular batch, Nahar joined office at Press Information Department (PID) yesterday as her predecessor Dr Mohammad Jahangir Hossain went on retirement the same day.
