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2nd phase of Biswa Ijtema begins with Aam Bayan
Sheikh Hasina sworn in as PM for 5th term
Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, elder daughter of the country's founding father, formed the government for the fourth consecutive.   She took oath as the prime minister for fifth term. President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath of office and oath of secrecy to Sheikh Hasina and her new ministers at Durbar Hall of Bangabhaban at 7.06pm. After the swearing-in, Sheikh Hasina signed the oath of office and oath of secrecy. The new cabinet will be comprised of 37 members this time, Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain told the media. There will be 25 ministers and 11 state ministers in this cabinet along with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Among them, there will be two technocrat ministers this time. Here is the distribution of ministries.   Ministers AKM Mojammel Haque (Ministry of Liberation War Affairs) Obaidul Quader (Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges) Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun (Ministry of Industries) Asaduzzaman Khan (Ministry of Home Affairs) Dr Dipu Moni (Ministry of Social Welfare) Md Tajul Islam (Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development & Co-operatives) Lt Col Muhammad Faruk Khan (Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism) Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali (Ministry of Finance) Anisul Huq (Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs) Hasan Mahmud (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Md Abdus Shahid (Ministry of Agriculture) Sadhan Chandra Majumdar (Ministry of Food) Ubaidul Muktadir Chowdhury (Ministry of Housing and Public Works) Md Abdur Rahman (Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock) Narayan Chandra (Ministry of Land) Abdus Salam (Ministry of Planning) Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury (Ministry of Education) Forhad Hossain (Ministry of Public Administration) Faridul Haque Khan (Ministry of Religious Affairs) Md Jillul Hakim (Ministry of Railways) Saber Hossain Chowdhury (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change) Jahangir Kabir Nanak (Ministry of Textiles and Jute) Nazmul Hasan Papon (Ministry of Youth and Sports) Architect Yeafesh Osman (Ministry of Science and Technology) Dr Samanta Lal Sen (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)   State Ministers Simeen Hussain Rimi (Ministry of Women and Children Affairs) Nasrul Hamid (Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources) Zunaid Ahmed Palak (Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology) Mohammad A Arafat (Ministry of Information and Broadcasting) Md Mohibur Rahman (Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief) Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury (Ministry of Shipping) Zahid Faruk (Ministry of Water resources) Kujendra Lal Tripura (Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs) Rumana Ali (Ministry of Primary and Mass Education) Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury (Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment) Ahsanul Islam Titu (Ministry of Commerce)
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PM distributes National Film Award
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina distributed the National Film Award-2016 among artistes and film professionals in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the country's film industry.  She handed over the award, the highest state recognition, to 31 artistes, performers and organizations in 25 categories at a gala ceremony at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre on Sunday. Reports UNB. Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu presided over the function while Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the ministry AKM Rahmatullah, State Minister Tarana Halim and Information Secretary Abdul Malek were present. Film actress Farida Akter Babita and film actor Akbar Hossein Pathan (Faruk) were given Lifetime achievement award while award for best film went to 'Oggatonama’ (The Unnamed) produced by Faridur Reza Sagor and best film director award to filmmaker Amitabh Reza Chowdhury (‘Aynabaji’ film). Chanchal Chowdhury was awarded as best actor (Aynabaji film) while Afroza Imrose Tisha (Ostitto film) and Kusum Sikder (Shongkhochil) best actresses (jointly). Best short film producer award went to SM Kamrul Ahsan (Ghran) while that of best documentary film producer to Ekattur Media Limited and Liberation War Museum (‘Janmasathi’ documentary). Best supporting actors are Ali Raj (Pure Jay Mon) and Fazlur Rahman Babu (Meyeti Ekhon Kothay Jabe) while best side actress is Tania Ahmed (Krishno Pokkho), best villain Shahiduzzaman Selim (Oggatonama), best child actor Anum Rahman Khan (Shongkhochil), best music director Emon Saha (Meyeti Ekhon Kothay Jabe), best singer Wakil Ahmed (Darpan Bisorjon), best singer female Meher Afroz Shaon (Krishno Pokkho), best composer Gazi Mazharul Anwar (Meyeti Ekhon Kothay Jabe), best lyricist Emon Saha (Meyeti Ekhon Kothay Jabe), best storywriter Tauquir Ahmed (Oggatonama), best cinematographers Anom Biswas and Gausul Azam (Aynabaji), best scriptwriter Syeda Rubaiyat Hossain (Under Construction), best editor Iqbal Ahsanul Kabir (Aynabaji), best art director Uttam Guho (Shongkhochil), best photographer Rashed Zaman (Aynabaji), best sound director Ripon Nath (Aynabaji), best costume and decoration Md Abdus Sattar and Farzana San and best makeup man Manik (Under Construction). Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister stressed the need for making world-class films to keep the country’s ongoing development pace in all the sectors. "Today Bangladesh is marching forward in all the sectors. I want our film industry to develop further," she said. "Being a victorious nation, we want to move ahead keeping the head high. We don't want to lag behind in any sector...we especially want our film industry to produce world-class films so that we can march forward," she added. Sheikh Hasina said her government will do whatever needed for the development of the film industry. Terming movie as the reflection of public life, she said a film can play a big role in social reform. The Prime Minister suggested that films should be more modern with the use of advanced technology. Mentioning that Bangladesh is now a digital country which sent satellite Bangabandhu-1 into the orbit, she suggested the use of digital system in the film industry and modern presentation of movies. "We should make more high quality films and thus keep a bigger role in reforming the society," said the Prime Minister.   AH
Tax-free income limit to remain unchanged
The government will continue the existing tax-free income limit in the financial year 2018-19. Finance minister AMA Muhith made the proposal Thursday while placing the national budget in the Jatiya Sangsad. Reports BSS. “I proposed that the tax exemption threshold and tax rate remain unchanged for the next year except that the threshold for a parent or guardian of a person with disability will be higher by Taka 50 thousand for each of such child or dependent, he said in his budget speech. The existing tax exemption threshold is Taka 2,50,000 in general cases. But the threshold was higher for special classes of taxpayers including female taxpayers. Explaining the reasons of not changing the tax exemption limit, Muhith said in developed countries, tax exemption threshold is generally less than 25 percent of per capita GDP, and in developing countries it is mostly equal to per capita GDP. In Bangladesh, he said, tax exemption threshold is almost 200 percent of per capita GDP. “That means our tax exemption threshold is high in global comparison. Moreover, the increase of tax exemption threshold puts a significant number of taxpayers out of the tax net,” he added. The existing tax exemption for the female taxpayers and senior citizens aged over 65 years is Taka 300,000. Existing minimum tax for a taxpayer, except company taxpayer, residing in Dhaka North City Corporation, Dhaka South City Corporation and ChittagongCity Corporation is Taka 5 thousand, residing in any other city corporation is Taka 4 thousand, and residing in other area is Taka 3 thousand. Muhith also proposed these rates to remain unchanged. AH