Day: October 22, 2023

Kathmandu: President Ramchandra Paudel visited different shrines in Kathmandu Valley and offered worships to the Goddesses on the occasion of Maha Astami, the eight day of the 10-day festival-Dashain.

President Paudel was accompanied by his spouse First Lady Sabita Paudel.

The Maha Astami is considered an auspicious day to pay homage to the Goddess Durga.

The President offered prayers at Naxal-based Bhagawati Temple, Guiheshwori Temple, Maitidevi, Bhadrakali, Nardevi, Raktakali, Indrayani and Shova Bhagawati and received tika and prasad.

The tradition has it that the Head of the State visits various Goddess Durga's shrines in and outside the Kathmandu Valley on this day. Today morning, the President, accompanied by the First Day, performed worships at the Palanchowk Bhagawati at Paanchkhal Municipality-9 in Kavrepalanchowk district.

The eight day of the Dashain is celebrated by worshipping the Goddess Durga Bhawani and offering special prayers to the Goddesses Mahakali, Mahalaxmi and Mahasaraswati.

It is believed that on this day the Goddess Durga gained her divine power.

Source: National News Agency RSS

SANGSAD BHABAN, Prime Minister and Leader of the House Sheikh Hasina today told Parliament that they have lost three lawmakers and recalled their contribution to the welfare of the country and its people.

"This is probably our last session of the current parliament. And that session had to start with the news of the death of some parliament members," she was speaking at parliament on the condolence motion at the first day of the current session of the 11th Parliament.

"It was more during Covid period. Now, three of our parliament members have left us. They are old but they have contributed a lot to the democratic struggle of Bangladesh including the Liberation War and voting rights," she said.

Sheikh Hasina prayed for the peace of the souls of the members of parliaments (MPs).

"We remember them with respect for their role in the development of Bangladesh and the welfare of people," she continued.

She mentioned that AKM Shahjahan Kamal and M Shahjahan Mia have played a significant role in the struggle for human rights.

The Leader of the House said that since the Awami League government assumed power, Bangladesh has been moving forward on the path of development and prosperity.

The House today unanimously adopted a condolence motion expressing profound grief at the demise of three sitting MPs, AKM Shahjahan Kamal (Laxmipur-3 Constituency), M Shahjahan Miah (Patuakhali-1) and M Abdus Sattar Bhuiyan (Brahmanbaria-2).

Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury moved the condolence motion in the House in the beginning of the 25th session of the 11th Parliament.

Among others, Amir Hossain Amu, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, ASM Feroze, Noor Uddin Nayan, Anwar Hossain Khan, Muhibur Rahman, Kazi Kaniz Sultana, Mosiur Rahman Ranga, Pir Fazlur Rahman took part in the discussion on the condolence motion.

Later, a minute's silence and prayers were held in Parliament. The prayer was conducted by the ruling party MP Ruhul Amin Madani.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

DHAKA, The Election Commission has invited applications from interested international observers and media by November 21 to monitor the 12th parliamentary polls, the EC said in a notice.

According to the notice, the EC is committed to holding free, fair, credible and peaceful elections under any circumstances and it gives outmost importance to the observation of the election process.

"The Election Commission wants foreign election observers and foreign media along with local observers to monitor the upcoming 12th Parliamentary Elections," said the notice signed by EC secretary Jahangir Alam.

As per the guidelines for International Election Observers and Foreign Media, applicants of election observers -- individuals and organizations -- should have working experience in good governance, election, democracy, peace building and human rights.

Organisation that wants to monitor an election should be registered in its own country and they should comply with the election laws of Bangladesh.

The EC will not consider application for accreditation as an observer by an individual who has been convicted of any electoral offence or any other offence involving fraudulent activity or dishonesty.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

RAJSHAHI, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, MP, has said the present government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina attained epoch-making success in different need-based sectors of development.

He said the incumbent Bangladesh has been marching forward as a result of its vibrant economy amid the dynamic and prudent leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The state minister made the observation while inaugurating the newly constructed four-storey academic building of Bankishore High School under Charghat Upazila in the district today as the chief guest.

Upazila Chairman Fakhrul Islam, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sohrab Hossain and Headmaster of the school Manzurul Haque also spoke on the occasion.

Shahriar Alam urged the young generation to strengthen Awami League (AL) as they have a vital role to reach the development messages to the grassroots population.

From now on, the youths should work together to win the 'Boat', election symbol of AL, in the next parliamentary election. They also should have to know the public in general that the boat is the symbol of development.

State Minister Alam urged the local AL leaders and workers to be united forgetting all the previous feuds for keeping the party's win spree in the next elections.

He told the meeting that the country attained remarkable success in all development sectors due to the consistency of Sheikh Hasina's government for the last around 15 consecutive years.

Alam said sufficient allocation has been proposed in the national budget for the education sector as there is no alternative to ensure qualitative education for taking the nation forward.

So, the present government under the prudent and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has attached top priority to the education sector.

He also said now none needs to come to him with the problems related to power and road communication and the application for construction of school buildings has reduced to half as most of the educational institutions have got buildings.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

DHAKA, Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina today asked the party men to work in unison for the party nominated candidates to make sure their win in the next general election.

"We are selecting the candidates for giving nomination in the next parliament election on the basis of survey which is being conducted every six months," she said at the Awami League Parliamentary Party (ALPP) meeting held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban here.

She asked all particularly the sitting lawmakers to work for the candidates who will be given nomination by the party, meeting sources said.

"Those who will oppose the party nominated candidates, their politics will come to an end," she said.

Sheikh Hasina also said that many of some lawmakers who were present in the ALPP meeting might not get party nomination.

"I will not give nomination just seeing your faces, those who have possibilities to win in the next election will be given party nominations," she said.

The Prime Minister said that she will not take any responsibility to pull up any one in the next election.

"You have to take your own responsibilities and win in the elections," she added.

In this regard, she directed all to go to their respective constituencies to expand their connectivity with the masses.

"All have to work together shunning all intra party conflicts and ensure party's victory in the next elections," she said.

The premier alleged that some western powers wanted to put a puppet government in Bangladesh as it would be easy to control the government.

She said BNP is currently not showing any interest in participating in the upcoming election, but it may join the election at the fag end just to label the election as a controversial one.

Shamim Osman of Narayanganj, Kazi Keramat Ali of Rajbari, Noor Uddin Chowdhury Nayan of Laxmipur, Abu Reza Muhammad Nezamuddin Nadvi of Chattogram and reserved women's seat MPs Arma Dutta and Syeda Rubina Akhter Meera, among others, spoke at the meeting.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

DHAKA, Awami League (AL) Presidium Member Jahangir Kabir Nanak today said that AL leaders and activists will remain alert on the city streets on October 28 and will resist BNP's any kind of conspiracy.

"Strict action will be taken if BNP and their followers create anarchy across the country in the name of grand rally," he told a representative meeting of Dhaka city north unite of Awami League in the city.

Nanak said BNP-Jamaat wants to create unstable situation in the country but their dream won't success as law enforcement agency will remain alert against their any kind of conspiracies.

Upcoming general election will be held as per country's constitution and election commission will perform their routing duty, he added.

With president of Dhaka city north unit of AL Sheikh Bazlur Rahman in the chair, the function was addressed, among others, by AL joint general secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim and city north AL general secretary SM Mannan Kochi.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

DHAKA, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen today urged the D-8 Commissioners to adopt a Joint Declaration to express steadfast solidarity and support for the Palestinian People.

He made the appeal while inaugurating the two-day meeting of the 47th Session of the D-8 Commission in Dhaka, a foreign ministry press release said here tonight.

The D-8 Secretary-General Ambassador Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam, D-8 Commissioners from the D-8 Member States and Officials from the D-8 Secretariat are participating in the meeting.

In his opening remarks, the foreign secretary reaffirmed Bangladesh's unwavering support for the Palestinian people's inalienable right to self-determination and a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders.

Condemning the horrific atrocities against the innocent civilians in Gaza by the Israeli occupation forces, he called for an immediate cessation of violence in Gaza and provides humanitarian access to the conflict zones in order to save lives of the innocent civilians.

The D-8 Commissioners and the D-8 Secretary-General echoed the proposal of Bangladesh and agreed to adopt a Joint Declaration at the 47th session of the D-8 Commission.

Appreciating D-8's remarkable journey of 26 years as an economic bloc, Foreign Secretary further urged the D-8 Commissioners to deliver tangible outcomes of this economic cooperation by combining efforts of the Member States.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina assumed the Chairmanship of the Developing-Eight Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8) from the President of Turkiye on April 8 in 2021 at the 10th D-8 Summit.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha