Day: September 10, 2023

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today emplaned for home from here after attending the G20 Summit held on September 9-10.

A flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, carrying the premier and her entourage members, departed from the Palam Airport in New Delhi at 01:08 pm (IST).

State Minister for Commerce and Industry of India Anupriya Singh Patel saw the prime minister off at the airport.

The flight is scheduled to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka at 03:30pm (local time).

Earlier, on September 8, the premier arrived here and attended the G20 Summit at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

During the visit, she had a bilateral meeting with her Indian counterpart at his official residence in the afternoon of September 8.

Before the bilateral meeting, three MoUs were signed between the two neighbouring countries.

Three MoUs are: "cooperation in the agriculture research ", "cultural exchange" and "simplification of financial transactions between the common people of the two countries".

At the G20 summit, on September 9, the Bangladesh premier attended different sessions and delivered two speeches under the main theme of the summit "One Earth, One Family, One Future".

During "One Earth" and "One Family" sessions, Sheikh Hasina pointed out how to address the challenges like climate change, economic recovery after Covid pandemic, war in Europe resulting in the severe disruption of global supply of the essential commodities such as fuel, food and fertiliser.

The prime minister also presented the experience of Bangladesh's incredible success in various socio-economic fields during the tenure of the current government before the participating world leaders.

On September 10, the second and last day of the G20 summit, the Bangladesh prime minister along with the other world leaders paid homage at the Memorial of Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat.

She also joined the concluding session of the conference where the "G20 New Delhi Leaders Declaration" was adopted.

During her tour, the premier, as well, had bilateral meetings with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Argentine President Alberto Angel Fernandez, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

India's G20 presidency began in December 2022 and during this presidency term, it invited a total of nine countries including Bangladesh to attend all the G20 summit.

The invited countries are- Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain and United Arab Emirates.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said United States (US) President Joe Biden's very warm and cordial chats with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina marked a deep-rooted good relation between Dhaka and Washington.

"He (Biden) has all the intensions to build good relations with Bangladesh," the foreign minister said in a media briefing last night on the Bangladesh premier's daily engagements in New Delhi.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina returned Dhaka this afternoon after attending the G-20 Summit in New Delhi in India at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

During the media briefing, Momen said Biden earlier remarked that "America has a very beautiful relation with Bangladesh in the last 50 years and it will be further strengthened and solid in the next 50 years".

"Today, we have seen the sample of it," he added.

Replying to a query, Momen said: "It (talks among Biden, Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Rehana and Saima Wazed in two separate occasions including in dinner in a very cordial environment) is the evidence that we have a deep and solid relation with Washington and we will further strengthen it in future."

He said the USA is very keen to further consolidate the relationship with Bangladesh and for which they are sending their people and holding talks.

"They (American government) are not putting any pressure on us rather the media exaggerates," he said.

In a reply to another question, the foreign minister said Joe Biden, Sheikh Hasina and PM's daughter Saima Wazed had talks for 15 minutes at Bharat Mandapam International Exhibition Centre at Pragati Maidan in the Indian capital on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit.

"When our Prime Minister was talking to President Biden, he was very happy and fully enthusiastic and the discussion took place in very cordial and warm environment," he said.

As the Bangladesh premier and her daughter were talking to Biden, PM's Ambassador-at-Large Mohammad Ziauddin took out his cell phone to take a picture of that moment, he added.

"President Biden took a selfie with his cell phone as well," Momen also said.

During the talks with Biden, Momen said the Bangladesh premier apprised the US president of her initiatives to give the Bangladesh people a beautiful and dignified life.

"Bangladesh is my family as I have lost my father, mother and brothers who were brutally killed on August 15 in 1975. I am doing everything possible for Bangladesh people's welfare," Momen quoted premier as saying.

Sheikh Hasina said she has taken an initiative to give every homeless and landless people a house free of cost as part of her government’s move that none will remain homeless in Bangladesh.

The US president said he knew about her efforts taken for Bangladesh's overall development and praised Sheikh Hasina's leadership.

According to Momen, during the talks, the premier invited Biden to visit Bangladesh at his convenient time.

The US president then accepted the premier's invitation and expressed his desire to visit Bangladesh.

The foreign minister also enunciated the chats between PM's daughter autism expert Saima Wazed and American President Joe Biden, saying, Saima Wazed told him that she has been working with autism and had worked in Florida.

The US president has shown interest with Saima Wazed's works and wanted to know about her works, Momen said, adding, "Saima then gave her business card to Biden".

Biden also invited Saima Wazed to visit the USA.

The foreign minister said the US president had also cordial chats with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana in presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

At that time, Sheikh Hasina praised Biden for his speech at the G20 Summit, Momen said.

Replying to another question, he said the prime minister had also cordial talks with other global leaders that included Japanese and Italian prime ministers, German chancellor and Egypt president.

"The people of Bangladesh should be proud of Sheikh Hasina," Momen continued.

Asked for comments about adverse comments by some groups regarding the exclusive photographs and chats of Biden with Sheikh Hasina and her daughter Momen said it was very regretting.

"It will be very sorrowful if someone raises questions in this regard," he said.

The foreign minister said a section of people earlier also had questioned about the respect showed to the Bangladesh premier by her British counterpart.

Asked if there was any political talks between Sheikh Hasina and Modi Momen said "when we were there, there were no political talks".

But, he said, the two premiers informed each other that the elections would be held both in India and Bangladesh next year.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

A Dhaka court today ordered to send BNP leader

Amanullah Aman to jail, in a graft case filed by the Anti-Corruption

Commission (ACC) in 2007.

Earlier, Aman surrendered before the court of Judge Abul Kashem of the

Special Judge's Court-1 this morning, as per the orders of the High Court.

The court however, scrapped his plea and ordered to send her to jail, defence

lawyer Nazrul Islam told BSS.

On August 7, 2023, the High Court released the full text of the 281-page

judgment stating that the couple has to surrender before the lower court

concerned within 15 days and uploaded it on its website.

Prior to that, a High Court division bench comprising Justice Md Nazrul Islam

Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat pronounced the judgment on May 30,

upholding BNP leader Aman Ullah Aman and his wife Sabera Aman's jail sentence

of 13-year and three-year terms respectively, in a case for amassing illegal

wealth beyond known income source.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on March 6, 2007, filed the case with

Kafrul Police Station in the capital against the duo.

The Special Judge Court on June 21, 2007, handed down the verdict. The couple

filed an appeal against the judgment and the High Court on August 16, 2010,

had acquitted them, allowing their appeal.

The ACC however, challenged the acquittal order. The Appellate Division on

May 26, 2014, scrapped the High Court verdict and ordered a fresh hearing on

appeal in the case.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today returned home from New Delhi after attending the G20 Summit in India.

A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying the premier and her entourage members landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) at 03:38pm.

Earlier, the flight departed from the Palam Airport in New Delhi at 1.08pm (IST).

On September 8, the premier had been to New Delhi and attended the G20 Summit at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

On the same day, she had a bilateral meeting with her Indian counterpart at his official residence in the afternoon.

Before the bilateral meeting, three MoUs were signed between the two neighbouring countries.

Three MoUs are: "cooperation in the agriculture research ", "cultural exchange" and "simplification of financial transactions between the common people of the two countries".

At the G20 summit, on September 9, Sheikh Hasina attended different sessions and delivered two speeches under the main theme of the summit "One Earth, One Family, One Future".

During "One Earth" and "One Family" sessions, the Bangladesh premier pointed out how to address the challenges like climate change, economic recovery after Covid pandemic, war in Europe resulting in the severe disruption of global supply of the essential commodities such as fuel, food and fertiliser.

She also presented the experience of Bangladesh's incredible success in various socio-economic fields during the tenure of the current government before the participating world leaders.

On September 10, the second and last day of the G20 summit, the Bangladesh prime minister along with other world leaders paid homage at the Memorial of Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat.

She also joined the concluding session of the conference where the "G20 New Delhi Leaders Declaration" was adopted.

During her tour, the premier, as well, had bilateral meetings with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Argentine President Alberto Angel Fernandez, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

India's G20 presidency began in December 2022 and during this presidency term, it invited a total of nine countries including Bangladesh to attend all the G20 summit.

The invited countries are- Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain and United Arab Emirates.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu, Sept 10: Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba today said first elected Prime Minister and people's leader BP Koirala was his political inspiration.

At an inaugural ceremony of the three-day 'BP Literature Festival' organised here by the NC, he regarded Koirala, also founder member of the NC, as a multi-dimensional personality. "He (Koirala) was an inspiring and exemplary thinker in the political sphere. He is also regarded as an immortal figure in literature even today. We have pursued the path shown by his political thoughts."

Saying efforts are on to prosper the country based on his thoughts, the former Prime Minister said all political parties have not only been attracted to his thoughts but they are also following them.

He expressed the hope that the Festival would distribute knowledge on an array of activities including political thoughts propounded by BP, his literary works, his struggle and social, economic, religious and cultural aspects, to the young generation.

"BP was a high ranking leader and a famous litterateur who believed in simplicity. When we met him, he would ask us to become a good person. He deeply read Marx and Gandhi. He would consider Gandhi's thought relevant when it comes to love, peace, non-violence and democracy. He would relate to Marx when it comes to economic equality."

Now, the NC has adhered to the multiparty governance system and the democratic socialist economic system as its principle and ideology, he said.

"BP was not only a national level leader but was famous at the international level as well. He was a political thinker and a litterateur. We would speak up against all sorts of discriminations. He fought for inclusion, justice, equality and freedom for people, and he stood firm for nationality, democracy and socialism," he said.

The Nepali Congress (NC) has hoisted the Festival, 2080 BS commemorating the 110th birth anniversary of the NC founding leader BP Koirala.

The event kicked off today at 9:00 am at the NC central office, Sanepa of Lalitpur.

Organised in collaboration with various other organisations including the Nepal Writers' Association, a poetry symposium, gazhal recitations, musical performances, an art exhibition, documentary screenings and a photo exhibition are among the attractions of the festival, said Min Bahadur Bishwokarma, chief of the Information, Communications and Publicity Department of the NC. The opening session of the festival witnessed the screening of a documentary titled "Hijacking for Democracy."

Source: National News Agency-Nepal

Kathmandu, Sept 10: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' today held high-level political talks in the run up to his visit to the United States of America to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and subsequent visit to China.

In the discussions held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Minister in Singha Durbar, the Prime Minister was advised to prioritize the establishment of balanced diplomatic ties with the neighbours, to review the implementation status of agreements, to pay heed to security affairs of mutual concerns, and to promote the Nepal's non-aligned foreign policy. In addition to this, the Prime Minster was urged for well preparedness for securing benefits from the visit.

Parties representing in the Federal Parliament, top political leaders, former prime ministers and former foreign ministers were present in the meeting.

In the meeting, the Prime Minister was confident that his upcoming China visit would remain productive and the government was making necessary preparations for making the trip successful. He said he hoped to get right suggestions for making the visit effective.

He made it clear that the government was committed to maintaining balanced relations with Nepal's two close neighbors and the entire world, the Prime Minister reiterated the government's commitment to the policy of non-alignment. According to the Prime Minister, Nepal has set to highlight its development efforts, the impact of climate change it has been facing, Nepal's efforts to conclude the peace process and other contemporary issues, appealing to the world for combined efforts towards that end.

He apprised the meeting that he decided to visit China straightly from the US after attending the UN mega event after adequate consultations at the diplomatic level. "The China visit will focus on further strengthening Nepal-China relations and issues of bilateral interests."

Nepali Congress President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN (UML) Chair and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, CPN (Unified Socialist) Chair and former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal were among those senior leaders present in the consultation by Prime Minister about his visit.

Likewise, Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash (NP) Saud, leaders Mahantha Thakur, CK Raut, Chitra Bahadur KC, Prem Suwal, former foreign ministers Rameshnath Pandey, Dr Prakash Chandra Lohani, Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Dr Bimala Paudyal Rai, Prime Minister's political advisor Haribol Gajurel, security advisor Shanker Das Bairagi, Chief Secretary Dr Baikuntha Aryal and foreign affairs secretary Bharat Raj Poudyal were present in the meeting.

Source: National News Agency-Nepal