Tuesday, December 3

News brief from Bangladesh High Commission London


Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday in Parliament underscored the need for releasing those now in jails for no crime and said the victims can also ask for compensation from the authorities concerned.

The Prime Minister said some NGOs and government legal aid-providing agencies have taken steps to get these detained persons released from jail.

The Prime Minister also expressed her hope that the present Election Commission will take every step to hold fair, neutral and credible elections as per their constitutional responsibilities.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina came back home yesterday afternoon after wrapping up her three-day official visit to Indonesia. A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying the Prime Minister and members of her entourage landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 3:05 pm.

Parliament yesterday passed the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation Bill, 2017 by voice vote. Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan placed the bill before the House, with Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.

Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu said Bangladesh is the best place for investment in South Asia. He said Bangladesh government is providing different incentives, including cash incentives and tax-exemption to foreign investors.

The Minister said this when a Japanese delegation called on him yesterday. In the meeting, Marubeni, A Japanese Company agreed to construct a LNG terminal in port city of Chittagong.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday in separate messages on the eve of the World Kidney Day 2017, urged all to work together to create awareness among the people about prevention and treatment of kidney disease.

Law Minister Anisul Huq said Bangladesh is committed to making further efforts in realizing the civil and political rights of people irrespective of their age, sex and color. He said this during a two-day interactive dialogue between a high-level delegation of Bangladesh and members of the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva.

The committee appreciated Bangladesh for submitting its initial report on ICCPR.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said the number of new arrivals from Myanmar in Bangladesh since October 9 last has reached 73,000 Rohingya. He said this in an address at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva yesterday.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid yesterday told Parliament that the government is going to nationalize 275 non-government colleges across the country.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal called upon all citizens to be united and raise voice against extremist forces and distortion of religion that they could not carry out any conspiracy against the country.

He was addressing a huge view-sharing meeting at Government Madrasha Maidan in Rajshahi city yesterday.

State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak yesterday said that at least 30 per cent participant in all technology capacity development programmes in the country is women. He said this in Google Women Techmakers Conference in Dhaka as the chief guest.

Bangladesh and India yesterday signed a MoU on a project for the construction of a girls’ school in Khalishpur, Khulna. The signing was held at the Economic Relations Division, Ministry of Finance.

Bangladesh Investment Development Authority Chairman Kazi M Aminul Islam yesterday said that they are focusing on ease and simplicity of doing business in the country. He said this while addressing a seminar at IBFB seminar hall as chief guest.

Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Mohammad Ziauddin met with Congressman George Holding in Washington DC on Tuesday and discussed issues of mutual interests, including women empowerment, counter terrorism and duty free quota free (DFQF) market access.

Net inflow of Foreign Direct Investment in the first seven months of the current fiscal year increased by 8.6 per cent, according to the latest statistics of the Central Bank.

The data showed that Bangladesh received some $975 million during July-January period of FY17as FDI in net terms. In gross terms, inflow of FDI was $1710 million, which was seven per cent higher.

Bangladesh exports rose 3.2 per cent to $22.8 billion in the first eight months of the current fiscal year 2016-17, against the same period in last fiscal year. The Export Promotion Bureau said this yesterday.

 – Press Wing London, 09 March 2017