Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the culprits involved in inhuman torture on journalists on October 28 would not be spared. "The country had witnessed a lot of movements and struggles. But, journalists were not targeted any time. The attacks were attempted to murder as the attackers hit heads of journalists. I have no word to regret it," she said. The prime minister made the remarks as a group of journalists injured in the gruesome attack on October 28 last, met her at her official residence Ganabhaban here this morning. She said they who were involved in such heinous acts will not get over. Source : BSS "The culprits will have to be brought to justice by reviewing the pictures and video footages of the incidents," she said. The premier said attacks were also carried out on the house of the chief justice, judge's quarter and on duty police personnel. "There is no instance of launching attack on the house of the chief justice before," she said. She added: "The order givers (of such heinous acts) must have to face the music”. Sheikh Hasina asked the countrymen to be alert as conspiracies are being hatched at home and abroad to thwart the upcoming general election. At the outset of the function, the prime minister inquired about the health of the injured journalists. PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim gave the address of welcome. Jatiya Press Club General Secretary Shyamal Dutta moderated the function while Editor-in-chief of Ekattor TV and president of the Editors Guild, Bangladesh, Mozammel Babu and Head of News of Ekattor TV Shakil Ahmed also spoke. Senior journalists from different media houses were present on the occasion. A video documentary on October 28 last mayhem based on the statements of the injured journalists describing the inhuman torture they went through was screened at the function.

Biman Managing Director and CEO Shafiul Azim today said Biman Bangladesh Airlines will start operating Dhaka-Rome flights from March next year. He revealed this information at the ATJFB dialogue, organised by the Aviation and Tourism Journalist Forum of Bangladesh, at the Biman Training Centre in the capital. On this occasion, Biman director (marketing) Mohammad Salahuddin said, "We discontinued the Dhaka-Rome flight after 2009. Now it will be resumed, for which GSA has been appointed, and ground-handling has been finalised." "We can operate flights to Rome, Italy direct or via another country. We are studying it. It will take 9-10 hours for the direct flight to reach Rome," he added. For possible transition points, he mentioned Kuwait or Dubai. However, nothing is finalised, he said. ATJFB President and Special Correspondent of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Md Tanzim Anwar, moderated the dialogue. ATJFB General Secretary and Bangla Vision Special Correspondent Ziaul Haque Sabuj delivered the welcome speech. Senior officials of Biman and ATJFB members were present in the dialogue.

Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen briefed the Heads of the Missions based in New Delhi (around 90 Missions) on Friday, 24 November evening, who are concurrently accredited to Bangladesh. A large number of Ambassadors and diplomats attended the briefing session. Foreign Secretary is visiting New Delhi in connection with the Foreign Office Consultations between Bangladesh and India, which was held in the Hyderabad House in the afternoon of 24 November. In the evening he briefed the Concurrently accredited Ambassadors to Bangladesh in a program organized by the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi at the Bangabandhu Hall.  Foreign Secretary Masud highlighted the Foreign Policy priorities and dynamics of Bangladesh under the leadership of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He also briefed the Ambassadors about Bangladesh’s position on various geopolitical contemporary issues. During the briefing, he highlighted the recent socio-economic developments of Bangladesh for last 15 years under the dynamic and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Foreign Secretary further briefed them about the recent political scenario and preparations of next general elections in Bangladesh. Mentioning that election is a festival in Bangladesh as we see it in many democratic countries, he told the Ambassadors that People of Bangladesh have been eagerly waiting to rejoice this festival and take part in the democratic process to vote and elect the representatives of their choice. The Election Commission is committed to holding a free and fair election with participation of the voters in a festive atmosphere.  Ambassador Masud solicited their support to resolve the Rohingya crisis through ensuring their safe and sustainable repatriation for peace and stability of the region and beyond. During the briefing session, the Ambassadors were requested for the support of their respective government for Bangladesh’s candidature for the membership of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council under category ‘C’ for the term 2024-2025, elections to be held in London on 01 December this year. Given Bangladesh’s recent socio-economic developments, continued stability and growing importance in the regional and global platforms and engagement with the issues of global concern, Foreign Secretary Masud urged the Ambassadors to request their respective government to consider opening diplomatic Missions in Dhaka. He assured them of Bangladesh Government’s cooperation and assistance in facilitating the process.  Foreign Secretary responded to various questions/queries raised by the Concurrently accredited Ambassadors.  Foreign Secretary will return to Dhaka on 25 November afternoon.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday  said nothing can be achieved through arson violence, expressing her hope that the BNP-Jamaat alliance will come back to their sense to put an end to the anarchy. "Nothing can be achieved through burning people to death. This is wrong. Something can be gained by the power of general people. Working for the people's welfare and staying beside them are other requirements to achieve something," she said.   The prime minister was addressing a reception accorded to the gallantry award winning freedom fighters of the armed forces and their heirs at the Army Multipurpose Complex at Dhaka Cantonment marking the Armed Forces Day this morning. She also presented peacetime awards to the selected members of the armed forces for their outstanding contribution to their respective fields during 2022-23. The prime minister said the path of arson violence is to be shunned to achieve something, wishing that the BNP-Jamaat clique will come back to their sense to stop the arson violence to relieve the countrymen from suffering. The BNP-Jamaat clique has started recurrence of the arson terrorism likewise 2013-14 in the name of movement to dislodge the government. "We had seen the incidents of burning people to death by the Pakistani occupation forces during the War of Liberation in 1971. BNP-Jamaat has started the same thing. I don't know how a man can burn people to death. I want they come back to their sense," she said.   The prime minister earlier in the morning paid glowing tributes to the martyred members of the Bangladesh Armed Forces by placing a wreath at the Shikha Anirban (flame eternal) in Dhaka Cantonment on the occasion of the Armed Forces Day-2023.   Earlier, on her arrival at the Shikha Anirban, the premier was received by Chief of Army Staff General S M Shafiuddin Ahmed, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Nazmul Hassan, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan and Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the Armed Forces Division (AFD) Lieutenant General Waker-Uz-Zaman. After the wreath-placing ceremony, the prime minister went to the AFD where her Security Adviser Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique and chiefs of the three services made a courtesy call on her. The prime minister asked the countrymen to remain cautious against any conspiracy hindering Bangladesh development. "We have to be more alert as various types of conspiracy are being hatched," she said. She also said her government has achieved the status of a developing country by confronting such conspiracies. The prime minister said Bangladesh will start its journey as the developing nation from 2026, adding, "We are taking preparations for it." She said Bangladesh is changed in the last 15 years by reaching electricity to every house, managing education, treatment, food and housing for all alongside making huge development of the country that led to getting developing nation status. "We have to continue the development spree overcoming all the hurdles---we have been working with a target to give all the countrymen an improved life," she said. The prime minister said her government has been working to transform Bangladesh a developed, prosperous and Smart One by 2041. "We have to take lesson from the past and march forward by competing with the global technology," she said. The prime minister said Bangalee is a victorious nation as it had defeated the Pakistani occupation forces during the Liberation War in 1971. She recalled the contribution of the allied force with gratitude in liberating the country. On this day during the War of Liberation in 1971, the Bangladesh Armed Forces, comprising Army, Navy and Air Force, came into being and launched an all-out attack on the Pakistani occupation forces which expedited the victory of the country. After the independence of the country, this historic day is being observed as the Armed Forces Day every year. The prime minister said she has been working to honour the freedom fighters and their family members irrespective of party and opinion since her party assumed office. She said they have taken various measures that included preserving the Liberation War related places and preparing the list of freedom fighters so the history never lost. She also said that the Joy Bangla slogan and the historic March 7 speech of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had been banned after 1975 changeover. But, the historic March 7 speech of Bangabandhu had got recognition of UNESCO as the best speech in the history of 2500 years and the Joy Bangla slogan has become the national slogan by the country's apex court verdict, she said. "These are our achievements," she added.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stressed cooperation among Bangladesh, Nepal and Maldives for mutual benefits to flourish tourism, on monday (November 20). "Bangladesh, Nepal and Maldives can have cooperation on tourism for mutual benefits," she said. The premier made the remarks while the outgoing Maldives High Commissioner to Bangladesh Shiruzimath Sameer called on her at the latter's official Ganabhaban residence here. "Discussion on tourism was held during the meeting," PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told a news briefing after the meeting. The prime minister also conveyed her regards to the newly elected Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu. The envoy said Bangladesh has huge potential in tourism particularly in Cox's Bazar which has the world's longest sandy sea beach. The Bangladesh premier said many Bangladeshi workers have been working in Maldives. "They are contributing to both of the country's economy," she said. The Maldives envoy thanked the prime minister for her government's all-out support to discharge her duties during her tenure. "Maldives and Bangladesh relations have reached a new height during her tenure," she said. Ambassador-at-large M Ziauddin and PM's Principal Secretary M. Tofazzel Hossain Miah were present. Sorce: BSS