Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called for ensuring that the tools of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) are not used in ways that harm or oppress humanity.  On Thursday, June 15, she made this statement in response to a question during the "New Economy and Society in Smart Bangladesh" event organized by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Geneva, Switzerland.  She stated, "We need to ensure that the tools of the Fourth Industrial Revolution do not create further divisions in our society." Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's speechwriter Md Nazrul Islam told journalists, "The Prime Minister has emphasized that the Fourth Industrial Revolution should also be ensured not to create divisions in society." Sheikh Hasina further stated, "We want to ensure that the Fourth Industrial Revolution does not create further divisions among our society. To achieve this, we need effective public-private sector partnerships at the international level." Regarding this issue, the Prime Minister said that her government has already begun preparations for Fourth Industrial Revolution and future work for the country's youth. She stated, "I am confident that our young people will not only follow the Fourth Industrial Revolution, but also provide leadership in it." Prime Minister expressed enthusiasm when she saw the innovative work being done by students in robotics in the country and mentioned, "I have seen tremendous enthusiasm among them during the innovation fair we have organized nationwide." Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, "Bangladesh will certainly welcome the establishment of an independent Fourth Industrial Revolution Center in collaboration with the WEF."  She mentioned that the government is already working to create appropriate laws, policies, and institutional frameworks for Fourth Industrial Revolution in Bangladesh and added, "We have developed separate national skills on artificial intelligence, internet of things, nanotechnology etc."

International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in Dhaka today sentenced Satkhira district Jamaat Amir and former MP Abdul Khaleq Mandal alias Jallad Khaleq and Khan Roknuzzaman, who is absconding, to death in a case of crimes against humanity. A three-member judicial panel led by Justice Md Shahinur Islam, chairman of the tribunal, handed down the verdict. Earlier, on November 11, 2021, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) issued an order setting aside any day for the verdict (CAV) to be pronounced. Abdul Khaleq Mandal was produced before the court at the time the verdict was announced. The main part of the 208-page long verdict was read out by the chairman of the tribunal, Justice Md. Shahinur Islam at 10:30am. Prosecutors Mokhlesur Rahman Badal, Sultan Mahmud Simon and Rezia Sultana Chaman were present at that time.  Abdus Sobhan Tarafdar and Mujahidul Islam Shaheen stood for the accused Khaleq Mandal. While Gazi MH Tamim, being appointed by the state, stood for fugitive accused of the case, Khan Roknuzzaman. The prosecution expressed satisfaction after the verdict as they had pleaded for the maximum punishment. Defendant's lawyer Matiur Rahman Akand, on the other hand, said the verdict would be appealed in the high court. There were four accused in this case. Among the total four accused of the case- Abdullah-hil Baki and Zahirul Islam Tekka Khan, died during the trial.   Charges were framed against the accused on March 5, 2018. A formal complaint was lodged in the case on March 19, 2017. The accused have been charged with seven counts of crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, detention and torture. Although seven charges were brought against the accused, six charges were presented before the tribunal. Source: BSS AH

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (Friday) urged the world community to forge a strong partnership for common good of global humanity seizing the current Covid-19 situation. Addressing a function at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris on the occasion of 75th founding anniversary of the UN body, the Bangladesh premier said her government has been disseminating the message of peace through instilling tolerance and respect. "To do this, we have chosen education, science, culture and communications as effective tools," she added. UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay chaired the function. Sheikh Hasina said the 75th anniversary is a unique moment “to celebrate our achievements” and it is also an important occasion to introspect and revisit the organization’s activities for the next 25 years leading to its centenary. “Bangladesh’s commitment to the principles of UNESCO is reflected by our early membership in 1972,” she added. "We consider this organization as one of the most effective platforms for promoting global peace and collective prosperity," said the premier.   Guided by the peace-centric foreign policy of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh always remains at the forefront of global peace initiatives, she said, adding, “Our participation in UN peacekeeping as the top contributor is one such case.” Sheikh Hasina said, "Our investment is particularly enormous in education with targeted interventions like stipends, gender-sensitive approach, school feeding programmes and ICT education."   She said that her government is distributing 400 million free textbooks among around 42 million students at the beginning of school years.   “Our Digital Bangladesh vision has been preparing, through ICT based learning, our future generations for the 4th Industrial Revolution,” she added.   "We have launched ICT in our Education Master Plan under which about 83,000 schools were provided ICT devices, and 3,26,936 teachers trained," she continued. The premier has greeted the UNESCO Director-General for inviting her to this historic 75th Anniversary of UNESCO event. "In these years, UNESCO has become a symbol of hope and peace for the world," she opined. This commemoration is significant for Bangladesh as it coincides with the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the country’s independence and the birth centenary of its Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she said.   Sheikh Hasina said her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a champion of peace and a firm believer of humanity. "His (Bangabandhu's) deep “faith in the indomitable spirit of man-in the capacity of the people to achieve the impossible and to overcome insurmountable odds” resonates the very spirit of the UNESCO," she said.   Referring to her joining Thursday's award giving ceremony of UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the "Creative Economy", the Prime Minister said, "This international prize will surely encourage development of creative entrepreneurship." Sheikh Hasina also said that she is grateful that UNESCO declared the historic 7th March Speech of the Father of Nation in the Memory of the World International register as a documentary heritage. “I thank UNESCO for paying such rich tribute to this people’s leader,” she added. Mentioning that the pandemic menace “has taken lives, and changed our life”, Sheikh Hasina said it has also taught us to survive through innovative acts and speed. The Prime Minister put forth four suggestions before the world as it is now moving on way to recovery from the pandemic. Placing the suggestions, she said: "Let us seize the moment to forge strong partnership for the common good of our global humanity." In her first suggestion, the Prime Minister said that the pandemic has severely disrupted the education system. "For recovery, we need a global plan to prioritise learning by investing in digital tools and services, access to internet, digital contents, and capacity building of teachers," she added. Secondly, she said, public-private partnership must be forged for creating a technology-assisted meaningful learning environment. The premier thirdly suggested that the COVID-19 vaccine must be considered a global public good, saying, "We must ensure its access to all, especially to students and educators worldwide." In the fourth and last suggestion, she said, “We must harness the benefit of science and scientific researches for the welfare of our peoples, with technology transfer at the core.” Source: BSS AH

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (Thursday) urged the scientists and researchers to work more for welfare of mankind with more concentration, saying evolution of research and science is inevitable for the country’s development. “We want you people (scientists and researchers) will conduct your researches for human beings’ welfare as the fellowships are being given from the public fund,” she said. The premier made this remarks while distributing Bangabandhu Fellowship, National Science and Technology Fellowship and Special Research Grant at a ceremony held at Osmani Memorial Auditorium, joining virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban. She said no nation can move forward without science education and research so “you all (researchers) have to continue research and the next generation will do the same following your footsteps”. Sheikh Hasina said the government has diversified the education with the establishment of different types of universities where students will educate themselves with their ability and competency. “We’ve put emphasis on skilled manpower and that is why we’ve established 18 new public universities so far from 2009 to develop human resources so the country is benefited through their employment at home and abroad,” she added. She went on saying the government has also set up high-tech cities, hi-tech parks and software technology parks to attain economic development through skilled manpower. Mentioning that her government has given education with utmost priority, the Prime Minister said assuming power in 1996 they saw that there were no allocation for research and science education, even the students were reluctant to study science. “But, science and technology is a way of achieving progress . . . we took initiatives to establish science and technology universities and kept separate funds for research,” she continued. Sheikh Hasina said her government set up science and technology university, agriculture university, medical university, marine science research institute, biotechnology institute and novo theatre after taking charges in 1996. With Science and Technology Minister Architect Yeafesh Osman in the chair, senior secretary of the ministry Md. Anwar Hossain delivered the welcome address. In the ceremony, 77 persons received Bangabandhu Fellowship while 3,305 persons were given National Science and Technology Fellowship and 800 persons got Special Research Grant. On behalf of the Prime Minister, Yeafesh Osman handed over the fellowship and grant to the recipients. Laying emphasis on research for modernization and mechanization of the country’s agriculture sector and expansion of the export basket, the Prime Minister called up on the researchers to conduct study more for product diversification to add value to the export basket. “Research is essential if we want to increase (number of) our export items and I hope you all will pay special attention so that our exports continue…,” she said. Sheikh Hasina also stressed on the necessity of making the research and development (R&D) wing of every industrial factory effective and stronger. She said the government has been setting up 100 special economic zones across the country, where research is very essential. “We can cut down (production) cost, increase excellence and quantity of production of goods, and diversify items to boost export, reducing dependency on one or two items through research,” she added. The premier also suggested the inclusion of digital devices as new items to the export basket, saying now the country is “Digital Bangladesh” and it is able to do whatever is necessary. Noting that the country’s economy is largely dependent on agriculture, she highlighted the necessity of research for accelerating modernization and mechanization in the sector to boost the production, saying Bangladesh has a small quantity of arable land against a huge population. Sheikh Hasina said the country’s food production has increased due to research, as researchers have developed salinity-tolerant and drought-tolerant varieties of rice while research on water-logging-tolerant rice is going on. She said Father of the Nation had told a journalist that Bangladesh has people and fertile land and he had wanted to develop the people as skillful. “We think it’s our responsibility. Now we have been able to turn Bangladesh into a developing nation with these people and land from the least developed country (LDC) that was left by Bangabandhu after independence,” she said. Vowing to establish Bangladesh as a developed country, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh is marching forward and none will be able to halt the progress of the country. “When coronavirus could not halt it (the progress), none will be able to do so anymore. It’s my belief,” she added. Mentioning that Bangladesh has already sent Bangabandhu Satellite-I to the orbit, she said broadband internet connectivity is being set up throughout the country now. “We’ll move forward using sciences,” she said. Talking about the reopening of educational institutions, the Prime Minister said the government will be able to open all educational institutes in the country at the end of this March, which remained closed for one year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. She said teachers and employees of the educational institutes from primary schools to higher educational institutions are being given priority in the Covid-19 vaccination programme. Source: BSS AH

Initiatives have been taken to award ‘Mother of Humanity Social Welfare Medals’ yearly to five individuals or organizations. In this regard the draft of the policy was approved in the cabinet meeting on Monday. Ministry of social welfare prepared the policy. According to the policy, five individuals or organizations will be awarded the medals in the four fields of- social protection for underprivileged backward population, integrated equal development for disabled persons, reunification of social justice and establishing social equality for socio-economic development.    But in applicable field if candidate is not found in a year then the number of medal can be decreased or the number can be increased or decreased if new field is identified. In this case Mother of Humanity is meant for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. One British news media delivered the title to the Prime Minister for providing shelter to Rohingya population who were victims of repression in Rakhine state of Myanmar. The draft was approved in the regular cabinet meeting at the secretariat on Monday. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting. Later in a press briefing Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam informed about the decisions of the meeting. The Cabinet Secretary said, the award winning each individual or organization will be given 25 grams weight 18 karat gold medal and two lakh taka cheque. The award will be given on January 2 every year. The award winning individual or organization will be selected through a permanent selection committee. When asked about classification of the award the Cabinet Secretary said, it will be equivalent to Independence and Ekushey medals. AH            

Police arrested former Director General of National Security Intelligence (NSI) and Passport Department Mohammad Oahidul Haque in connection with the case of crimes against humanity during 1971. After issuing warrant by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) he was arrested from his Baridhara home of Gulshan in the capital on Tuesday. Investigation Officer of the tribunal Matiur Rahman confirmed the matter and said, he will be produced before ICT on Wednesday. ICT prosecutor Tureen Afroz said, there is allegation of involvement in killing of 5-6 people against Oahidul on March 28, 1971 in Rangpur. The case is under investigation. But the investigation activities could not go ahead due to his influence. So appeal was made to detain him and he was arrested aftermath. Oahidul Haque was a member of Pakistani force during liberation war. He returned to the country in 1974 and joined police two years later. He was given the charge of NSI. He performed his duty as the Director of the organization till 1996 and later was appointed as the acting DG of NSI. He also served his duty as the DG of passport department from 1997 to 2002. Oahidul Haque then served his duty as the Additional IG of police till 2005. AH

Myanmar’s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi is sought to be held directly accountable by Lawyers of Australia for the violent persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar. The lawyers yesterday filed a private prosecution application against Suu Kyi in the Melbourne Magistrates Court, accusing her of crimes against humanity, reports Huffington Post quoting The Guardian. According to the Huffington Post, a statement from the lawyers cited the “extensive and systematic crimes against the Muslim Rohingyan population by the Myanmar security forces.” It added: “Suu Kyi has failed to use her position of authority and power, and, as such, has permitted the Myanmar security forces to deport and forcibly remove Rohingya from their homes.”   Before moving forward, the prosecution application would have to receive the consent of Australia’s attorney general, Christian Porter. According to the Huffington Post, The Guardian reported that it is unlikely Porter would consent ― Suu Kyi is expected in Sydney this weekend for the ASEAN Australia special summit, at the invitation of the Australian government. FU