Every one have a hobby. This is also my hobby. You must like it.

Thanks to Jhalakathi Municipal Commissioner Liaquat Ali Talukdar To speed up the fastening of the road. A long way from the Jhalakati people was a good road and a drainage system. Eventually, the dream of the municipal corporation was transformed into reality.

বারোমাসি আমের বিশাল বাগান গড়ে তুলেছেন চুয়াডাঙ্গার জীবননগর উপজেলার কৃষি উদ্যোক্তা আবুল কাশেম। হেমন্তের এই সময়ে তার বাগানে গাছ ভরা আম ছড়াচ্ছে আকর্ষণ ও সৌরভ। সুমিষ্ট ওই আম সারাদেশে সম্প্রসারণের আশা সংশ্লিষ্টদের। লম্বাটে আকারের, পাকলে আকর্ষণীয় হলুদ বর্ণের এই কাটিমন আমের বিশ্বজোড়া খ্যাতি মিষ্টতার জন্য। থ্যাইল্যান্ডে বছরে তিনবার ফলন দেওয়া এই আম এখন স্বপ্ন দেখাচ্ছে এদেশের মানুষকে। আর এই স্বপ্নের নায়ক চুয়াডাঙ্গার জীবননগরের বাঁকা গ্রামের কৃষি উদ্যোক্তা আবুল কাশেম। তার ২২ বিঘা জমির বাগানে সৌরভ ছড়াচ্ছে পাকা আম। উদ্যান বিশেষজ্ঞরা বলছেন, বারোমাসি এই আম গুণের বিচারে অনন্য। বিশেষ জাতের এই আম ছড়িয়ে দেয়ার ক্ষেত্রেও প্রস্তুতি নিয়েছেন আবুল কাশেম। ইতোমধ্যে গড়ে তুলেছেন এই আমের চারার এক ভাণ্ডার। আমের আকর্ষণ টেনে এনেছে কৃষি সম্প্রসারণ অধিদপ্তরকেও। তারাও প্রস্তুতি নিয়েছে কাটিমন জাতের আম সম্প্রসারণের। পুরো গল্প দেখুন ভিডিওতে।

President calls for national unity to achieve prosperity

Calling upon all to forge national unity on the basic issues, President Abdul Hamid said peace and prosperity could not be given a permanent shape without it.

He also urged all the MPs from both the treasury and opposition benches to play an appropriate and effective role in fulfilling the expectations of people.

“Peace and prosperity can’t take a permanent shape without national unity. I call for taking united efforts to build a unity of all irrespective of political affiliations, classes and professions on basic issues, including continuation of democracy, the rule of law and continued socioeconomic development,” the President said.

The president said this while delivering his speech on the opening day of the maiden session of the 11th Parliament on Wednesday.

He further said, “The Jatiya Sangsad is the centrepiece of people’s hopes and aspirations. Alongside the ruling party, the opposition parties will have to play a constructive role in strengthening transparency, accountability, tolerance, human rights and rule of law and successfully implementing the nation’s dreams and aspirations for march forward.”

He started his speech at 6:16pm and ended it around 7:24pm.

In his speech, the President highlighted achievements of the government in different sectors, including the economy, trade and commerce, agriculture, power, foreign relations, tourism, education, health, women and children development, rural development, expatriates’ welfare, science and technology, information and communication technology (ICT) and public administration.

Leader of the House and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was present at the House with newly-elected Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair during his speech. 

Though Leader of the Opposition HM Ershad was absent as he is now receiving treatment abroad, Deputy Leader of the Opposition GM Qauder was present.

Expressing his optimism, he said, “We’ll be able to establish a welfare state by achieving the desired goals through upholding human rights, establishing good governance and social justice, institutionalising democracy and ensuring direct involvement of people in every sphere of society.”

Turning to the December-30 national election, Abdul Hamid said the election was held in a free, fair, peaceful and neutral manner with the participation of all parties under the supervision of the Election Commission, formed following discussions with the political parties and the recommendations of a search committee, which earned praise at home and abroad.

“The government was formed, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, for the fourth time through an absolute majority in the election with people’s mandate. The verdict of the people is the reflection of unwavering support to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s popular election manifesto “Samriddhir Agrajatrai Bangladesh” (Bangladesh in pursuit of prosperity)’. The government is determined to implement the pledges made in the election manifesto. Everyone will have to work together to face the challenges in the implementation of these commitments,” he said.

The President said government’s all-out efforts continue to strengthen and uphold the rule of law. “The Anti-Corruption Commission has been strengthened to establish good governance while the National Human Rights Commission and Information Commission have been established. The rule of law has been established by abolishing the infamous ‘indemnity’ law. Verdicts in the Bangabandhu murder and war crimes cases have been executed.”

He said the present government has been able to maintain sustainable economic growth in all economic indexes. “The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate is above 7 percent from the fiscal year of 2015-16. According to the final estimate, the GDP rate in the fiscal year 2017-18 was 7.78 percent. Bangladesh’s economy is the 33rd in world in terms of purchasing power parity while 41st on the basis of the GDP size,” he said.

The President also said the per capita income is now $ 1,751 while foreign reserve crosses US$ 32 billion whereas the inflation rate dropped to 5.4 percent.

He also mentioned that the size of the national budget and revenue collection has increased manifold. “We’re successfully implementing many large projects, including construction of the Padma Bridge and flyovers, with our own funds through increasing the revenue collection.”

Abdul Hamid also said employment opportunities have been created at home and abroad over the last 10 years. “During the period, some 1.34 crore people were employed in the country while around 80 lakh abroad,” he said, adding that in the last five years, 34.82 lakh workers went aboard with jobs and earned about US$ 73 billion.

He said the government is implementing a five-year-long health, population and nutrition development programme at a cost of Tk 115,486 crore for ensuring healthcare.

The President said the government’s ‘zero-tolerance’ policy against drug abuse, militancy and extremism has been praised worldwide, to the relief of people.

Bangladesh Bank unveils monetary policy

Bangladesh Bank has unveiled its monetary policy statement (MPS) for the second half (January-June) for the fiscal year 2018-19.

Governor of the Central bank, Fazle Kabir presented the MPS at a press briefing at the BB’s Jahangir Alam Conference Hall on Wednesday.

While speaking at the MPS launching programme, Governor Fazle Kabir said that Bangladesh Bank has signed an agreement with US Federal Reserve Bank on Tuesday night to file a money suit with a New York court to recover its stolen money. 

The Bangladesh Bank team will file the case on Friday, he said adding that the parties which benefited from the heist, including Philippines’ RCBC, will be made accused in the case.

The Bangladesh Bank chief also said the country’s foreign direct invest (FDI) has substantially increased following Bangladesh’s inclusion into China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Responding to a query on Bangladesh joining the BRI, Bangladesh Bank Advisor Allah Malik Kazmi said it will not affect investment from any neighbouring country as Bangladesh has been welcoming FDI under a single policy.

Malik replied to the question upon request when Fazle Kabir was asked whether Bangladesh’s move will create any conflict with India as New Delhi has a strong reservation about the BRI. 

China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) an ambitious programme to connect Asia with Africa and Europe via land and maritime networks along six corridors with the aim of improving regional integration, increasing trade and stimulating economic growth.

The BB chief said investment from different international funds, including China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and also communication of big corporate firms with different international funding agencies, will play an important role in raising both FDI and portfolio investment in Bangladesh.

“So, this will be very important to keep eyes on the investment flow so that financial institutions can srcutinise the investment of the firms accredited by internationally acceptable credit rating agencies,” he said, explaining the core objectives of the new MPS.

The new MPS kept the domestic credit growth and broad money supply (M2) unchanged at 12 percent and 15.9 percent respectively. But it set the public sector credit growth at 10.9 percent in place of previous 8.5 percent and private credit growth at 16.5 percent instead of previous 16.8 percent.

About inflation, the MPS mentioned that the average inflation in one year is expected to be around 6-7 percent, with around 70 percent of the respondents anticipating inflation to be above 6 percent. But the BB staff projections show average inflation to be around 5.3-5.6 percent in June 2019 assuming that there will be no further domestic or external shocks, including a relatively favourable global inflation outcome, it said.

Rejecting any idea of liquidity crisis in the banking sector, Fazle Kabir claimed that the sector has a surplus liquidity of Tk 79,329 crore.

Replying to a query whether BB has carried out its own departmental investigations into the cyber heist, the governor said the Criminal Investigation Department was given responsibility to conduct a probe and they are doing it. 

He, however, said he does not know when CID can complete its investigation.

International hackers withdrew $101 million from the Bangladesh Bank account with the Federal Reserve of New Your through fraudulent instructions against their target of about $1 billion in February 2016.

However, some $20 million was recovered from a Sri Lankan bank while $81 million, which landed in Manila-based Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), could not be recovered. Most of the money transferred to the Philippines went to four personal accounts, held by single individuals.

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York blocked the remaining thirty transactions, amounting to US $850 million, due to suspicions raised by a misspelled instruction. Around $18 million of the $81 million transferred to the Philippines has so far been recovered. It was later suspected that Dridex malware was used for the attack.

Ekushey Book Fair to be under full proof security: DMP

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia has said that law enforcers have taken full proof security measures for the month-long Ekushey Book Fair scheduled to begin on Friday.  

“We earlier said that no books that hurt religious sentiments or provoke violence will be allowed at the book fair. If such books are found in any stall, then Bangla Academy authorities will take action,” the DMP commissioner said at a press meet at the DMP media centre on Thursday.

He said the intelligence team will remain vigil to stop the publication of such books.

Other than that, if any writer of blogger want personal security then they will be provided that upon request, added the DMP chief.

Police will take steps to prevent the entry of vendors into and setting up of makeshift shops in and around the book fair, he mentioned.

A special team of police will be deployed at the fair to prevent stalking of female visitors and the offenders will be punished by a mobile court, said Asaduzzaman.

A team of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) will remain alert to tackle any militant attack or any untoward incident, he said adding that an ‘invisible’ team of law enforcers will be deployed in and around the venue.  

Law enforcers, including plainclothes police, DB and SB, will patrol in and around the book fair venue, he added.

People have to enter the fair venue through archways as in previous years and the movement of people will be kept under surveillance through watchtowers.

The whole areas, including Suhrawardy Uddyan, Bangla Academy, Doyel Chattar and Raju Sculpture, will be kept under close circuit cameras, the DMP commissioner added.

HC declares Turag River a living being in landmark verdict

In a landmark verdict on Wednesday, the High Court has declared the Turag River as a legal/juristic person or a living being in order to save the river from illegal encroachment.  

In its partial judgment, HC bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice M Ashraful Kamal said the country and humankind will be in danger if rivers cannot be protected from encroachment.

The court will deliver the rest of the judgment on Thursday with important directives to save the rivers.

The court verdict came a day after experts and green activists demanded that the rivers be recognised as living being in order to save nature.

The demand was made on Tuesday at the inaugural session of a two-day international conference titled ‘River: A living Being’ being at Kuakata of Patuakhali.

A World Bank study said four major rivers near Dhaka — Buriganga, Shitalakhya, Turag and Balu — receive 1.5 million cubic metres of wastewater every day from 7,000 industrial units in surrounding areas and another 0.5 million cubic metres from other sources.

The Environment and Forest Ministry enacted a law in 1995 making it mandatory for all industrial units to use effluent treatment plants (ETPs) to save river waters from pollution, but owners often flout the rule.

Following a writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, the judicial probe committee had submitted a report with a list of names of illegal grabbers and structures on the banks of the Turag River. Later, the persons and the establishments were made a party in the case.

The court passed the verdict after hearing from the both sides.

In the judgment, the court said rivers are one of the media of humankind’s survival. “Governments of different countries are trying to protect rivers through enacting laws. If there’d been no directive in the form of verdict, there might have been high rises over the Buriganga River or a housing estate of an illegal grabber over the Turag River.”

The High Court said it earlier issued various directives to protect the four rivers surrounding the capital. However, the defendants did not take any step to implement the directives.

It also said illegal grabbers are now feasting on some 450 rivers, including the Ganga, Brahmaputra and Meghna that are flowing through Bangladesh.

The court also posed a question whether it is better to allow file a thousand cases to save all these rivers or issue directives in the case in question to save those.

Mentioning that the rivers are shrinking due to the construction of illegal structures, the court said the Turag River was declared as a legal/juristic person considering the matter.

Now Fair More Jhalokathi

EC to decide on UP polls schedule on Feb 3

The top brass of the Election Commission (EC) will meet on February 3 to decide on the schedule of the upcoming Upazila Parishad polls.

EC Deputy Secretary (Establishment) Shahedunnabi Chowdhury called the meeting through a letter on Wednesday.

EC sources said the 45th commission meeting would be held at 3pm at the chief election commissioner office about reserved seats and schedule of the fifth upazila polls.   

EC Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed said back in January 10 that the polls would be held in phases starting from March, but had not given a fixed schedule. 

The first Upazila Parishad election took place in 1985. The following three were held in 1990, 2009 and 2014. The last one was organised in six phases.

Students block Dhaka-Mawa highway, demand arrest of truck driver

Numerous students from different schools and colleges have blocked the Dhaka-Mawa highway at Rejendrapur in South Keraniganj in Dhaka since Thursday morning, demanding the immediate arrest and capital punishment of a truck driver who is responsible for the death of two minor siblings in a road accident.  

OC of South Keraniganj police station, Shahjamal informed reporters that several hundred students of different schools and colleges put up barricade on the highway and disrupted traffic movement for around an hour.

As the police requested the students to move aside from the busy highway, they formed a human chain around 10:30 am on both sides of the road and chanted slogans demanding arrest of the truck driver.

Locals also joined the human chain programme, said eye witnesses.

Back in Monday, Afifa Akter Afrin, 13, a class VI student and her brother Afsar Ahmed, 10, a class IV student of Hasnabad Cosmopolitan School and College were killed and their father was injured when a truck hit a motorbike at Rajendrapur Mollar Pool in South Keraniganj.

Md. Shahjahan Kabir, who is known as the pioneer poet of Jhalakathi. Bangladesh gave a speech on the behalf of Alhaj Amir Hossain Amu, in the 11th parliamentary elections. মোঃ শাহজাহান কবির যিনি ঝালকাঠির পথিক কবি নামে পরিচিত। বাংলাদেশ ১১তম জাতীয় সংসদ নির্বাচন এ আলহাজ্ব আমীর হোসেন আমু ভাইর পক্ষে ভাষন দেন।

Jhalokati poet passenger poet Md. Shahjahan Kabir

See over 5th floor in barisal Labaid-Barisal bibir poukur seen.

Do you want to see beautiful Barisal at night

Razibs

BNP forms human chain protesting 11th parliament’s maiden session

The BNP formed a human chain in the capital on Wednesday protesting the start of the maiden session of the 11th parliament.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was among the leaders in the human chain which was formed around 10:30am in front of the Jatiya Press Club, 30 minutes before the scheduled time, and ended around 11:56 am.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain addressed the programme.

The BNP leaders and activists chanted slogans demanding reelection of 11th national polls held on December 30 last.

The BNP also demanded the release of their chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail.

Meanwhile, a huge number of law enforcers were deployed around the Jatiya Press Club to fend off any trouble centering the human chain.

Earlier on Tuesday, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programme at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.

The maiden session of the 11th parliament will begin at 3 pm on Wednesday, within 31 days of the national election held on December 30 with the participation of all the registered political parties.

Facebook paid teenagers to mine device data

Facebook has been conducting research that gathers highly personal data from paid volunteers, a report has revealed.

TechCrunch said participants – including those aged 13-17 – have been paid up to $20 (£15.30)-a-month to open up their phone to deep analysis.

Facebook is said to have created an app that the report said appears to breach Apple’s privacy protection policies.

TechCrunch reported Facebook used social media ads to target teenagers for the scheme. Facebook denies this.

According to the report the app had the potential to provide Facebook with “nearly limitless access” to a user’s device including:

• the contents of private messages in chat apps including photos and videos
• emails
• web browsing activity
• logs of what apps were used and when
• a location history of where the owner had physically been
• data usage

In addition, TechCrunch reported that users were asked to provide screenshots of their Amazon orders.

The social network said everyone involved in the programme had consented, and that market research was standard practice.

However, in the hours after TechCrunch’s report was published, Facebook said it was now ending the programme on Apple devices. It has not, however, suspended a parallel effort on Android.

The research focused on users aged 13-35, and those under 18 were asked to get parental consent, Facebook said.

Apple hints at lower iPhone prices as sales fall

Apple boss Tim Cook has hinted it could lower iPhone prices in some places in an attempt to boost falling sales.

Revenue from the iPhone, responsible for most of the firm’s profits, fell 15% in its latest financial quarter.

Overall the firm’s revenue was down 5% from a year ago to about $84.3bn (£64.5bn).

The slowdown had been expected after the tech giant warned investors earlier this month that revenue would be about $84bn, lower than expected.

The firm had blamed the issues partly on an economic slowdown in China.

But chief executive Tim Cook said customers were also struggling with the firm’s high prices.

He said a strong dollar, which makes its products comparatively more expensive, had hurt its sales in emerging markets.

Mr Cook said the tech giant had started this month to re-price its phones to shield customers from the impact of currency fluctuations.

“What we have done in January in some locations and [for] some products is essentially absorb part or all of the foreign currency move as compared to last year,” he said.

Still, executives said they expected the firm’s challenges to continue.

Apple predicted revenue for the three months to 31 March of $55bn-$59bn – suggesting a drop of at least 3.4% year-on-year.

“The macroeconomic environment, particularly in emerging markets, will continue to be there,” Luca Maestri, the firm’s chief financial officer, said.

Apple’s struggles are not unique. Global smart phone shipments contracted 5% in 2018, according to Canalys, a market analyst firm.

But the firm’s share price has dropped by around one third since October, amid investor concerns that buyer appetite for iPhones is weakening.

Fears intensified after the firm said it would stop reporting the number of iPhones, iPads and Macs it sold each quarter.

However, Apple shares gained more than 4% in after-hours trade on Tuesday, as the firm proved more resilient than expected.

Quarterly sales revenue dropped by more than 25% in its Greater China region, which includes Hong Kong and Taiwan, compared to the year before.

Sales also slipped about 3% year-on-year in Europe.

But in the Americas – the firm’s single biggest region – sales were up almost 5%.

Revenue from the services business also jumped 19% to a record $10.9bn in the quarter, which ended on the 31 December.

RAB to conduct undercover operations to curb question paper leak

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) is all set to initiate ‘undercover operations’ across the country to prevent question leak ahead of upcoming SSC examinations scheduled for February 2.

Members of the elite force have already boosted their cyber monitoring to prevent question paper leak, Rab DG Benazir Ahmed told reporters at a press briefing at the at Rab media centre on Wednesday.

“Rab personnel have increased cyber monitoring and will conduct undercover missions. Rab has already started their work and there will be results within a day or two,” Benazir said.  

He also urged the guardians not to look for questions papers and also warned the teachers not to get involved in such things.

The Rab chief also said that students will be brought under legal action if their involvement is found in such activities.  

Rab members will visit and monitor all examination centres as well, Benazir added.

Back in January 20, the government had directed coaching centres to be closed during SSC and equivalent exams to curb question paper leak.

PM Sheikh Hasina wants continued pressure over Rohingya issue

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday renewed her call to the international community to force Myanmar to take back its over one million Rohingya nationals living in Bangladesh.

“Myanmar must take their nationals back and the international community should help Bangladesh send back the Rohingyas from Bangladesh,” she said.

The Prime Minister said this when visiting Special Envoy of Prime Minister and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Nguyen Quoc Dzung met her at her official residence Ganobhaban.

PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.

He said the Prime Minister mentioned that Bangladesh has prepared a temporary shelter for the Rohingyas at Bhashan Char to provide them with a better living place.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh and Myanmar have already signed agreements for sending back Rohingyas. “But, the implementation process is being delayed.”

Mentioning that Vietnam has vast experience in developing agricultural sector, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh would take support from them for further development of this sector here.

She said Bangladesh has given importance to connectivity with Vietnam and emphasised enhancing trade and business.

Both Bangladesh and Vietnam struggled a lot for their independence, Hasina said adding that when she was a student she closely observed the struggle for independence of Vietnam.

After Bangladesh’s independence, she mentioned, a youth delegation visited Vietnam where her younger brother was a member of that team.

Special Envoy of Prime Minister and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Nguyen Quoc Dzung said the government and the people of Vietnam were very much happy at the reelection of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

He said Bangladesh and Vietnam are traditional friends and both have lots of similarity.

He emphasised the enhancement of people-to-people contact.

About the Rohingya issue, Nguyen Quoc Dzung highly appreciated the humanitarian efforts of Bangladesh for giving shelter to the refugees. “This is a huge burden on Bangladesh,” he added.

Nguyen Quoc Dzung said his country will donate USD 50,000 as part of their solidarity to Bangladesh on the Rohingya issue.

He also put emphasis on enhancing connectivity alongside trade and business between the two friendly countries.

Nguyen invited Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to visit Vietnam at her convenient time.

PMO secretary Sajjadul Hassan was present during meeting.

Bangladesh Bank filing lawsuit with NY Court over $81 million cyber heist

Bangladesh Bank will file a lawsuit against Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation of Philippines and multiple unidentified persons over $81 million cyber heist from the central bank’s account at the New York Federal Reserve.

The lawsuit will be filed by Bangladesh Bank representatives at the New York court on Wednesday.

BB governor Fazle Kabir said that the central bank aims to bring back the stolen reserves by taking it to court.
While speaking at a media briefing in Dhaka on Wednesday, Fazle Kabir said a legal team representing Bangladesh Bank is already in New York and everything has been prepared to file a case against the Manila-based bank. 
Individuals who either benefited from or were complicit in the heist carried out by hackers would be named in the case with the New York Court, he said.

Razib's pet animal

তুলসি গাছ একটি ঔষধি গাছ। এটি হারবাল চিকিৎসায় কাজে লাগে। It is useful for herbal treatment.

Law increasing BSC’s stake in overseas shipment gets Cabinet nod

The Cabinet has approved the draft of Bangladesh Flag Carrying Vessels (Protection) Act, 2019 enhancing state-run Bangladesh Shipping Corporation’s (BSC) stake in overseas shipment.

Cabinet Secretary Md. Shafiul Alam revealed the matter at a press briefing at Bangladesh Secretariat on Monday.

The Cabinet Secretary said, “The cabinet gave the approval in principle in its weekly meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair in the PMO.”

“The provision will promote the state owned Bangladesh Shipping Corporation,” the cabinet secretary said.

The proposed law suggested a mandatory provision under which the BSC ship would carry at least 50 percent of goods to be exported and imported.

The new law will replace Bangladesh Flag Vessels (protection) Ordinance, 1982 under which BSC ocean going fleet’s stake in import-export shipments was 40 percent.

The new law was also required as the Supreme Court earlier declared null and void all ordinances which were framed by previous military regimes.

Moreover, the draft of “Bangladesh EPZ Labour Law, 2019”, which earlier was enforced since January 15, 2019 through promulgation of an ordinance, also got the final green light from the cabinet on Monday.

Want to change your destiny?

শামুকের ও ঝিনুকের তৈরি ঝাড়বাতি। যা আমাদের দেশের একটি শিল্প। Thorns made of socks and mussels.

Foreign diplomats attend PM’s tea-party at Gonobhaban

Diplomats of several foreign nations, heads of different missions and representatives of international organisations attended a tea-party hosted by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Gonobhaban on Monday.

On Monday afternoon, the Premier hosted the tea-party for the diplomats around 4:00pm at the South Lawn of Gonobhaban.

Arriving at the venue, the Prime Minister exchanged pleasantries with the ambassadors, high commissioners and charge d’affaires of 48 countries as well as the heads of the missions and representatives of international organisations in Bangladesh.

On the other hand, the guests greeted the Premier by presenting her with flower bouquets.

Ambassadors, high commissioners and charge d’affaires of different countries including the USA, the UK, Canada, China, Russia, Japan, India, Saudi Arabia, Germany, the UAE, Sweden, Italy, Vatican City, joined the tea party.

The heads of different foreign missions and international bodies like the United Nations, IMF, World Bank, the UNDP, UNHCR, WHO, WFP, ILO, IOM, UNICEF also attended the event.

Senior Awami League leaders Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed and Dr SA Malek, AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, PM’s advisers HT Imam, Dr Moshiur Rahman, Maj Gen (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddiq and Salman F Rahman, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid Bipu, former minister Engineer Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, MP, were present, among others.

Besides, PM’s daughter Saima Wazed Hossain and Sheikh Rehana’s son Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby, PM’s Principal Secretary Md Nojibur Rahman, Military Secretary Major General Mia Mohammad Zainul Abedin, PMO Secretary Sajjadul Hassan and Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim were present.

The lash green South Lawn of Ganabhaban was tastefully decorated with kure ghar, madur (mat), mora and earthen pots and while patriotic songs were played on the occasion.

The guests were entertained with traditional foods and cakes of Bangladesh including chatpati, fuchka, muri, moa, naru, kadma, murali and bhapa, chitai, patisapta and puli pitha, zilapi, kebab, nan ruti.