President Mohammed Shahabuddin will address the first session of the 12th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) starting at 3 pm tomorrow (Jan 30). In line with the parliamentary practice, the President addresses the first parliamentary sitting every year. Earlier, he convened the first parliament session of 2024 exercising the power bestowed upon him as per the Article 72 (1) of the Constitution. The President's speech has already been approved in the cabinet, President's Press Secretary Md Joynal Abedin told.   He said the successes and future plans, including the development activities of the Awami League government, will get priority in the President's speech. Besides, several bills are likely to be placed before the House and passed as well in this session, the spokesman added. Before commencing the House proceedings on the day, the Parliamentary Business Advisory Committee is scheduled to hold a meeting, with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair, to fix the duration and agendas of the session.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to address the nation on Thursday (Jan 4) ahead of the 12th national parliamentary election slated for January 7. At the same time, she would hold her last election campaign in Narayanganj around 7pm on the day. Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader gave the details at a press briefing at the party president's office at Dhanmondi in the capital on Wednesday (Jan 3). Obaidul Quader emphasized that the electoral code of conduct is being strictly enforced to allow the Election Commission to play an independent and authoritative role. “There is no interference or obstruction from the government in the performance of their duties. Awami League president and prime minister Sheikh Hasina is taking a strict stand in this regard,” he added. He expressed confidence that the world will witness a fair election on January 7 with the spontaneous presence of the people of Bangladesh. Quader also mentioned that BNP-Jamaat is currently distributing leaflets after failing in their movement. He noted that the people have ignored their negative programs, sabotage, and blockades.

PM Sheikh Hasina has arrived in Barisal to address the Awami League's election rally at Bangabandhu Udyan. She reached Barisal Circuit House at 1pm on Friday. From there, she, along with her younger sister, Sheikh Rehana, reached the rally venue, Bangabandhu Udyan, at 2:58pm. Although the premier was scheduled to join the rally around 3pm, hundreds of thousands of people thronged packed into the rally ground since early morning. Within a few hours the ground filled to the brim as a good number of people were seen taking position around the ground overnight to secure their places. The crowd then spilled over the surrounding areas, roads and empty places long before she was to take the stage made after the shape of a boat.   Since early morning, a stream of people, including women, were seen marching towards the venue chanting slogans “Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu” and holding colourful placards, banners and festoons. Many of them wearing colourful T-shirts, cap on heads, head bands with drums, election symbol boat as well as national and party flags. From 10am, the leaders and activists came and took positions all over the field. Law and order forces have taken extensive security measures for this event. Several mega projects are still ongoing in Barisal. Moreover, after the inauguration of the Padma Bridge, this is the first historic public meeting of the prime minister in Barisal. People have gathered to express their gratitude to the prime minister and to get a close look at the public meeting. Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, presidium member Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim will also speak there.

Ruling party Awami League president and prime minister Sheikh Hasina will on Saturday join rallies virtually in six districts on the occassion of Bangladesh's next general election. From 3:00pm on Saturday, the AL president will connect virtually to the rallies from Dhaka district AL office at Tejgaon, an AL press release said. PM Sheikh Hasina will gradually address the rallies in Kushtia, Jhenaidah, Satkhira, Barguna, Netrakona, and Rangamati. AL central leaders, its nominated candidates, and AL local leaders and workers will participate in these rallies. AL general secretary Obaidul Quader has urged all concerned and AL leaders and activists to make the rallies a success. Earlier, on Thursday, AL president Sheikh Hasina addressed election rallies virtually in five districts, connecting from Dhaka.

Prime Minister and Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina will address the largest ever public rally in the divisional city today to drum up public support in favour of her party's electoral symbol "Boat" ahead of the next general election. All is set to hold the divisional grand rally at the ground of the Rangpur Zilla School at 2pm today and the Prime Minister is expected to address the rally at 3pm, party sources said. (Reports BSS) PM is scheduled to arrive in Rangpur at 1:30pm tomorrow by a helicopter and likely to leave the divisional town for Dhaka at 5:30pm. The Prime Minister will address a rally in the same ground after a gap of 12 years. A public meeting stage has been prepared there in the shape of a boat. At the rally, the Prime Minister will inaugurate 27 development schemes and lay foundation stones of five other projects, including Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Planetarium involving about Taka 1240 crore, to ensure the overall development of Rangpur. Enthusiasm and festivity have been prevailing among the leaders and activists of the AL and its front and associate bodies across the Rangpur division, particularly in the divisional city. People of all strata are eagerly waiting to hear the Prime Minister at the rally. After visiting the rally venue, AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, MP, told a news briefing at the ground that they have taken all out preparations to hold the largest ever mass gathering in Rangpur's history. He said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will unfold the story of her dream regarding North Bengal tomorrow. "No matter how much propaganda, mischief and conspiracy being carried out against the Awami League government, 70 percent of the people of the country, including Rangpur will definitely vote for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the next general election if it is held peacefully," he said. The AL General Secretary said they never use weapons to come to power as the people are their main strength. "So, we are not dependent on weapons. We don't believe in arson terrorism. Our strength is the people of the country," he said. To welcome the Prime Minister, the entire Rangpur was decorated with several hundred arches, festoons, banners, placards and posters with pictures of the Father of the Nation and the Prime Minister. Even lanes and by-lanes in the divisional town were also decorated in the similar way.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science and Technology Jitendra Singh on Wednesday asked the G20 countries to “rise above differences” and address the global challenges confronting the world and also act as G20 member responsive for global well-being in the spirit of one family, informed the Ministry of Science and Technology. In his inaugural address at the G20 Science Ministers meeting here, Jitendra Singh said, India recognises the significance of global collaboration and knowledge sharing in addressing the complex challenges of our times and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been repeatedly reiterating this from time to time at every international forum. The Minister called upon to leverage the collective wisdom, expertise, and resources to foster a culture of innovation, promote sustainable development, and ensure a prosperous future for all. The Minister urged the G20 nations to move ahead with a profound agenda to excel in inclusive, equitable and sustainable growth. Referring to the fact that a number of Member States are represented at the highest level in their national science hierarchy, Jitendra Singh said, this group has potential to address major global challenges, as we did recently while combating Covid pandemic. He emphasized that during India’s G20 Presidency, we stand committed to advancing global research and innovation for a better tomorrow, as per an official release. Singh said, in recent times, Scientists and Researchers have been at the forefront of cutting-edge discoveries and advancements across multiple disciplines like space exploration to artificial intelligence, from biotechnology to nanotechnology and have pushed the boundaries of scientific understanding and have fostered innovation that benefits humanity as a whole. He said, as the world grapples with the challenges of climate change and depleting natural resources, it becomes imperative to harness renewable energy sources efficiently. He emphasized that G20 members should remain committed to our Net Zero goals and continue to work on sustainable development and renewable energy and expressed satisfaction that the world has witnessed substantial growth in solar and wind power installations in recent years. Our scientists have been working tirelessly to discover and create materials that can revolutionise the energy sector, making it cleaner, more affordable, and accessible for all, the Minister added. Singh underscored that G20 nations must harness the power of technology and innovation to drive the transition towards cleaner energy sources and promote eco-innovations, such as smart grids, energy-efficient buildings, and sustainable transportation systems, as these initiatives not only mitigate environmental impact but also foster economic growth and create new avenues for job creation, the release said. The Union Minister also pointed out that G20 community has advanced space technologies to predict and monitor various natural hazards, like cyclone, tsunami, landslides, forest fire, space technologies also help a lot in communication. He underlined the need to share products of these technologies to countries, outside G20 also, so that they can better prepare themselves against such calamities. India’s Science Minister told the delegates that developing quantum technologies, exploring quantum communication, cryptography, and quantum algorithms are our next level of G20 research agenda. We aim to scale up scientific and industrial R&D, for accelerating Quantum Technology-led economic growth and leverage several economies into a leading nation supporting sustainable development, he added. Singh said, Scientists have made significant contributions to genetic research and biotechnology and researchers focused on studying the genetic basis of diseases, developing personalized medicine approaches, and advancing genetic engineering techniques. He said, these efforts hold immense potential for improving healthcare outcomes and addressing genetic disorders. The Minister also pointed out that as immunity is directly linked to our health and food, several systems encourage us to develop immunity through food we eat instead of medication. He highlighted that FinTech ecosystems of the world have grown in a tremendous way. Few economies have adopted virtual currencies, whereas few others are using virtual transactions to a large extent. He said, as the world is witnessing rapid digital transformation, cyber-security has become a critical focus and called upon the scientific community to develop algorithms which are difficult for hackers to break. We need to strengthen our cyber-security infrastructure, developing advanced systems to protect critical digital assets and data, he added. Singh said, during these testing times, the world also witnessed rise of several technologies-based startups and these companies excelled in developing AI-based solutions for various sectors, including healthcare, finance, agriculture, and education. He added that the integration of AI and data analytics has helped improve decision-making processes, enhance productivity, and drive innovation in diverse industries, as per the release. Jitendra Singh drew the attention of G20 delegates towards the immense potential of our oceans and seas, in terms of mineral resources, energy solutions and marine food and asserted that all are committed to promoting sustainable practices in fisheries, marine research, coastal tourism, and renewable energy generation. He said, by harnessing the potential of the Blue Economy, we can ensure the well-being of our oceans while driving economic development in a sustainable and responsible manner. We are also concerned about increased plastics and microplastics in our oceans, another important area to focus as it enters into our food chain as several marine organisms consume them. Jitendra Singh expressed concern that while some of the G20 members are facing water scarcity and challenge of water quality, some others are moving in that direction. He said, Precision irrigation, Innovative clean water technologies, such as water purification systems, desalination techniques, and wastewater treatment technologies are to be further augmented and implemented. The Minister added that as we move towards a more sustainable future, it is crucial to explore innovative approaches that minimise waste generation and maximise resource efficiency. We recognize the importance of adopting circular economy principles in the bio sector, which focuses on reducing waste, recycling valuable materials, and promoting a sustainable and regenerative approach to economic growth. He said, we also recognize the role of research and innovation in the adoption of Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE) as accelerators that can advance the progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and commit to support actions in promoting the same. In his concluding remarks at G20 Research Ministers Meeting, the union minister expressed satisfaction that during the RIIG meetings, member states discussed various topics including, challenges related to energy materials & devices, solar energy utilisation and photovoltaic technology and materials and processes for green energy; and policy issues like role of research, development & innovation in creating new resource-efficient, sustainable and more circular bio-based technologies, products and services; understanding the blue economy science & services; blue economy sectors and opportunities; observation data and information services; marine ecosystems & pollution; blue economy management and perspectives; coastal and marine spatial planning; marine living resources and biodiversity; deep sea ocean technology; and blue economy policy perspectives, the ministry’s official release state. Singh thanked G20 delegates for their constructive and fruitful deliberations, which marked the end of series of RIIG meetings and conferences which India hosted during last 5-6 months, starting from Kolkata to Ranchi to Dibrugarh to Dharamshala to Diu and now to Mumbai under India’s G20 main theme of Vasudhaiva-Kutumbakam or One-Earth One-Family One-Future. We identified Research and Innovation for an Equitable Society, as the main theme of RIIG-2023, he informed. The Minister thanked the members for their active participation and supporting India’s RIIG agenda with valuable inputs and comments on our priority areas. India is fully committed to contribute in attaining the UN SDG-2023 by way of Research and Innovation through International collaboration and partnerships. India hosted a total of 5 meetings and conferences across India under priority topics of i) Materials for sustainable energy; ii) Circular bio-economy; iii) Eco-innovations for energy transition; and iv) Scientific challenges and opportunities towards achieving sustainable blue-economy, which signifies the importance of Research and Innovation for inclusive societal development and growth, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology. 

India advocated for humanitarian food assistance and partnerships that will help create robust policy innovations by way of food safety nets and resilient livelihoods, contributing towards global peace. India’s permanent representative to the UN Ruchira Kamboj listed out four steps to solve global food insecurity and said that as G20 Chair New Delhi’s efforts are aimed to address the “current challenges of food and energy security” and ensuring the humanitarian needs of vulnerable communities are served without delay. “We welcome the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. As the Chair of the G-20 this year, India’s efforts are also aimed to address the current challenges to food and energy security and ensure that humanitarian needs of vulnerable communities are served without delay,” Kamboj said while addressing United Nations Security Council’s open debate. Earlier, she said that the level of food insecurity has indeed reached alarming proportions. It is projected that the number of people who will be food insecure, this year, would be double the number in 2020. The ongoing conflicts in many parts of the world, including in Ukraine and Afghanistan in our neighbourhood, have only exacerbated the crisis. Listing out the steps, Kamboj said, “One collective and common solution through dialogue and diplomacy is the need of the hour. We support the efforts of the Secretary-General to find ways to address the challenge of global food insecurity.” These remarks came at the UNSC open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict on the theme “Ensuring the security and dignity of civilians in conflict: addressing food insecurity and protecting essential services” Kamboj stated that all countries need to avoid linking humanitarian assistance with political issues. She also said that India has provided critical humanitarian assistance, in the particular supply of food grains, to countries facing conflicts including Ukraine, Afghanistan, Yemen and Myanmar. India’s permanent representative to the UN pointed to the third point and said that the armed conflicts and terrorism, combined with extreme weather, crop pests, food price volatility, exclusion and economic shocks, can devastate any fragile economy, leading to food insecurity and an increased threat of famine capacity. “Four it is imperative for all of us to adequately appreciate the importance of equity, affordability and accessibility when it comes to food grains. Open markets should not become an argument to perpetuate inequity which would only discriminate against the global south,” Kamboj said. “Finally, confronted with growing challenges throughout the world world, India will never be found wanting in extending a helping hand to those who may be in distress. We will continue to walk the talk when it comes to assisting our partners in need,” she added. Global hunger is on the rise, driven by the climate crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic shocks, conflicts, poverty, and inequality. Millions are living in hunger and many more do not have access to adequate food. Amid the global food crisis, India has emerged as the friend in need of a number of food-insecure countries fulfilling its notion of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. In the past decades, India has transformed from requiring assistance to providing aid to several countries.

On Friday, January 06 in the evening, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will address the nation on the occasion of the fourth year of the current tenure of the Awami League government. Prime Minister's Assistant Press Secretary MM Imrul Kayes told, "At 7:30 pm on Friday, Prime Minister will deliver a speech on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the current term of the government." Her speech will be telecast on Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar, private television channels and radio stations. On January 7, 2019, Sheikh Hasina was sworn in as Prime Minister for the fourth time after the Bangladesh Awami League won the general election by a landslide on December 30, 2018.

Imran Khan’s party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday termed prime minister Shehbaz Sharif’s speech at the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) as a copy-paste version of Imran Khan’s speech at the same platform.   “It was a copy-paste of Imran Khan’s address,” PTI Senior Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi said in a statement, reported Geo News.   Qureshi said that Shehbaz addressed the issues in a similar manner as the PTI chairman did during his speech. “Maybe he copy-pasted an earlier speech of Imran Khan.”   It was a good gesture of Shehbaz Sharif to remind the developed world that they were behind the climate catastrophes across the globe, but what steps have Shehbaz Sharif and his brother [Nawaz Shairf] taken for climate change?” Qureshi questioned pointing out to Sharif’s remark at UNGA, where he said that the purpose of his speech was to explain the impact of the climate catastrophe that has put one-third of Pakistan in such a situation that “no one had seen in living memory”.   The PTI leader alleged that if the previous governments of PPP and PML-N had built water storage facilities in the last four decades, the country would not be facing such a grave situation right now, reported Geo News.   Since June this year, Pakistan has endured harsh monsoon weather resulting in a serious humanitarian and development crisis.   According to government estimates, about 33 million people across the country have been affected by unrelenting heavy rains and flooding – the worst in decades.   Millions of acres of crops and orchards – many of those ready to harvest – have been damaged and destroyed, and the next planting season is threatened. Agriculture is a critical source of sustenance and livelihood for the majority of families in Pakistan, and for the economy of the country.   Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in his speech at UNGA highlighted the devastation caused by the floods in his country due to the impact of the climate catastrophe and urged the global leaders to act before it’s too late.   “For 40 days and 40 nights, biblical flood poured on us. Even today, huge swathes of the country are still underwater. 33 million people including women and children are at high risk of health hazards. More than 1,500 of my people have gone from the world including 400 children. Far more are in peril,” he said underlining that Pakistan emits less than 1 per cent of greenhouse gases yet why his people were paying the price of global warming.   He stated that the future was “dimmed by new fragility, lost homes, decimated livelihoods, deluged croplands, permanent food insecurity and exposure to uncertain futures”.   “Some 11 million people will be pushed further below the poverty line, while others will drift to cramped urban shelters, leaving little room for climate-smart rebuilding.”   “Nature has unleashed her fury on Pakistan without looking at our carbon footprint, which is next to nothing. Our actions did not contribute to this,” he reiterated.   Pakistan’s PM said that the leaders of the world have to come together to “act now.”   Source: ANI

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will address on Friday afternoon the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York and focus on ensuring peace and stability in the lives of people around the world. The Prime Minister will deliver her speech in the 77th session of the UNGA on Friday afternoon (local time), said Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen while briefing reporters about the activities of the Prime Minister on the sidelines of UNGA session. He said the premier in her speech will put emphasis on multilateralism. "We will force for the peace, we will say that the best way to get out of any kind of conflict is through dialogue and peaceful resolution," he said. Momen said that Sheikh Hasina will also mention the fact that Bangladesh has dealt with the Covid-19 epidemic very well and Bangladesh is among the top countries in the world in dealing with the pandemic. He said despite the pandemic, Bangladesh has achieved considerable economic success and for achieving that the Prime Minister will highlight the steps Bangladesh has taken. "We have given various stimulus packages and incentives. We will also highlight them there," he added. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will also highlight the climate issue in her speech, said Momen. "All the time we say that we have to save the world and the thing that is needed to save this world is the global temperature must not exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius. We do not see the implementation of the Paris Agreement that was made to save the Earth and give 100 million dollars every year." The foreign minister said that Bangladesh expects those who are responsible for the global warming will share the responsibility of rehabilitating the victims due to climate change. The Prime Minister will bring that up in his speech, he said. The Foreign Minister said that the Awami League government is giving houses to the landless people across the country. "We are giving people a home and a life. We will show the world that we have done a very good job." He mentioned that the main focus of Bangladesh is it wants peace. "Peace and stability. We will say that peace and stability are most needed for the well-being of the common people," he added. Source: BSS AH