Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Saturday said all political parties, including BNP, which opposed the construction of Padma Bridge, will be invited to the inaugural ceremony of the bridge.
“During the inaugural ceremony of Padma Bridge, we will not consider who favoured or opposed the construction of the bridge. We will even invite those who opposed it politically. We will send (invitation) letters to them,” he said.
Quader, also ruling Awami League (AL) general secretary, said this while replying to a question from journalists after attending a certificate distribution ceremony at BRAC Center in the city’s Mohakhali area. BRAC organized the function after conclusion of a training programme for women vehicle drivers.
The minister said, “We have started preparations for June 25. We will invite foreigners and the Country Director of the World Bank as well”.
Responding to a question on whether BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia would get the invitation, Quader said as chief of BNP she is supposed to be invited since the party leaders will be invited along with all other opposition leaders.
“She (Khaleda) may also be invited if the legal procedure permits since she (Khaleda) is convicted by court,” the AL leader said.
Speaking about the election and the BNP, Quader said BNP is a big party; AL wants them to come to the election.
World Bank Country Director to Bangladesh Mercy Miyang Tembon, BRTA Chairman Nur Mohammad Mazumder and Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) Chairman Md Tazul Islam addressed the certificate distribution ceremony as special guests with BRAC Executive Director Asif Saleh in the chair.
The function titled ‘Graduation of Women Drivers: A Step towards Road Safety’ was informed that a total of 11 trainees, including 10 women and one transgender, took part in the 6th batch of training programme for women.
They took six-month training, including three-month resident and three-month apprentice, from BRAC Driving Schools at Uttara, Ashkona and Niketan and got driving licenses from Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA).
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday inaugurated the Hajj Programme-2022 (1443 Hijri) urging everyone to uphold the dignity of Islam, the religion of peace.
“Islam is a very peaceful and holy religion, which is the best religion. So, it is the duty for all of us to maintain its dignity ,” she said.
The premier opened the programme at the Hajj camp in the capital’s Ashkona through a virtual platform from her official residence Ganobhaban.
She also called upon the hajj pilgrims to pray for Bangladesh so that the country and its people can remain protected from the natural disasters and pandemics like Covid-19 as well as get decent lives.
“Bangladesh is making economic progress today. So, pray so that we can move ahead in the development journey and every person of the country can get scope for their foods, clothes, shelter, medicare and education, and thus get an improved and decent life,” she said.
Hasina also asked the pilgrims to abide by the rules and laws of Saudi Arabia while performing their hajj rituals there. “It is the duty for all of us to uphold the country’s dignity. Keep it in mind,” she added.
The first hajj flight, carrying 419 pilgrims, from Bangladesh is scheduled to depart for Saudi Arabia on Sunday next. As the Coronavirus situation is a little better, this year the Holy Hajj is going to be held (on July 08 depending on the moon sight) with one million pilgrims from all over the world. Of them, 57,585 hajj pilgrims are from Bangladesh.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, 127,198 pilgrims from Bangladesh performed hajj in 2019.
The PM said her government enacted the Hajj and Umrah Management Act-2021 for ensuring smooth hajj performance by Bangladeshi devotees. “We’ve taken proper measures so that the hajj pilgrims can travel and perform the hajj without facing any harassment,” she said.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have conveyed their heartfelt felicitations and warmest greetings on the joyous occasion of the Platinum Jubilee celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s 70-year services to the UK, her Realms and the Commonwealth.
In separate messages sent on Thursday, both the President and the Prime Minister have wished the Queen’s good health, happiness, and long life, and the continued peace, progress and prosperity to the friendly people of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; and the Commonwealth.
President Hamid in his message said, “I convey my heartiest congratulations and warmest greetings on this auspicious occasion of Platinum Jubilee of Queen’s accession to the Throne of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and North Ireland, and the glorious seventy years of your service and dedication to your nation.”
“On your Platinum Jubilee, I renew my pledge to work closely to the further deepening and widening of the very special bonds of friendship and cooperation between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom.”
Prime Minister Hasina in her message said: “On behalf of the Government and the people of Bangladesh and on my own behalf, I extend to Your Majesty our heartfelt felicitations and warmest greetings on the very joyous occasion of the Platinum Jubilee marking your 70th Anniversary of accession to the throne of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.”
She paid her special tribute on this historic occasion for the exemplary grace, duty, and service the Queen served in her nation, the Realms, and the Commonwealth during the past seven decades.
“Your extraordinary leadership and legacy as the longest-reigning Monarch of the world and the Head of the Commonwealth of Nations continue to inspire us and remain as a symbol of our strength and unity,” said the Prime Minister.
“It is with great esteem and affection that we in Bangladesh, as well as our vibrant British-Bangladeshi Diaspora, cherish Your Majesty’s enduring contributions over the past fifty-one years in deepening the long-standing friendship between our two Nations.”
The PM said, “The people of Bangladesh joined me to convey on this momentous year our very best wishes and prayers for Your Majesty’s continued good health, happiness, and long life, and the friendly people of the United Kingdom the peace, progress, and prosperity.”
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday expressed her optimism that both sides would be able to devise ways to ensure safe, regular, inexpensive, and orderly employment of Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia.
“The Prime Minister gave assurance of her government to send Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia maintaining all necessary protocols, including vaccination and other formalities,” said a release of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) press wing.
She made the remarks when visiting Malaysian Minister of Human Resources Datuk Seri M. Saravanan paid a courtesy call on her at her official Ganabhaban residence here.
Sheikh Hasina expressed deep satisfaction over the holding of the first meeting of the Joint Working Group under the auspices of the MoU on the employment of workers signed in December 2021 between the two countries.
The premier appreciated the decision of the Malaysian government to recruit Bangladeshi security personnel for non-military civilian use.
After the exchange of pleasantries, the Prime Minister welcomed the visiting Malaysian minister to Bangladesh in the year of the golden jubilee of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
She noted that the relationship stands on a solid base since Malaysia recognized Bangladesh immediately after its independence.
During the meeting, the Malaysian minister too expressed his satisfaction over holding of the ongoing Joint Working Group meeting.
He appraised the Bangladeshi premier about reorganization of their Human Resource Ministry from the Ministry of Home Affairs and their domestic employment process following the ILO guidelines.
“We have taken 5-Year Action Plan for the Migrant Workers,” he said. To this end, he mentioned, they have already increased the minimum wage to RM 1500.