Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Monday said all the spans of the Padma Bridge will be installed by July 2020. “The much-hyped Padma Bridge will be opened to traffic by 2021,” he said while talking to reporters after a courtesy meeting with Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki at Setu Bhaban in the city. Nearly half of the Padma Bridge became visible after the installation of the 19th span at Majher Char in Shibchar upazila of Madaripur on December 18. The 6.15-kilometre bridge will have 41 spans, each 150 meters long. The 20th span will be installed on Tuesday and three spans will be installed each month from now, Quader said. Quader, also Awami League General Secretary, urged Japan to invest in tourism sector and Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar network development project. On October 17, Quader said the construction work on the Padma Bridge will be completed by June 2021. Once in operation, the Padma Bridge, Bangladesh’s largest infrastructure project till date, will connect 21 southern districts with the capital and boost the GDP by 1 percent. Source: UNB AH

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has ordered to suspend mobile phone network in the areas of one kilometer inside Bangladesh from the Indian border. Following the order which was issued on Sunday night all the mobile telephone operators of the country have suspended their network in the border areas. The directions issued to mobile telephone operators Grameenphone, Tele Talk, Robi and Banglalink said, under the present context for the interest of security for the country network coverage has to be stopped in the border areas until next directions are given. AH

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said, steps have been taken in advance through law enforcement agencies on behalf of the government so that anybody cannot create any extreme situation on the thirty first night. He said this at the annual general meeting of Crime Reporters Association (CRAB) at DRU premises at Segun Bagicha in the capital on Monday. The Home Minister said, law enforcement and intelligence agency members have already collected information. There is no threat centering the celebration. But steps have been taken so that anybody cannot organize program by obstructing roads or suffering others. He said, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) have issued directions to move in the capital on thirty first night. AH     

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed the newly commissioned Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) cadets to safeguard the country’s independence and sovereignty. “Today is a day of joy and important as well for you all. From now on, you have been entrusted with the duty of protecting the sovereignty and independence of the country. You should have to remain alert and prepare all the time to discharge your duty accordingly,” she said. She said this on Thursday while addressing a ceremony at the parade ground of the Bangladesh Air Force Academy in Jashore marking the President Parade-2019 of the passing out cadets of no 76 BAFA Course and DE-2018 Course. The premier greeted the freshers and said, “It is your first and prime responsibility to protect the country’s independence and sovereignty by even making the highest sacrifice”. She also expressed her desire that the freshers would always stand beside the people and serve the country by self-sacrifice. Mentioning that patriotism and dutifulness is the motto of a soldier, she said, “There is no way to divert the way. Improved character and mental strength can establish a soldier as an ideal one.” The Prime Minister called upon the freshers to obey the order of their senior officers and maintain the chain of command to make the air force a well-disciplined one. She simultaneously asked the newly commissioned cadets to be remained prepared all the time to enhance the professional excellence with proper utilization and practice of the training taken from the air force academy. The premier asked the new air officers to develop themselves as the competent successors of the future leadership being imbued with the honesty, sincerity and integrity. “I personally believe, you will discharge your duties to make the sky of Bangladesh free, being inspired with the patriotism and respectful to the Constitution,” she said. In this context, the premier recalled the speech of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the passing out cadets of the air force in 1975. Quoting some portion of the speech, Sheikh Hasina, also elder daughter of Bangabandhu quoted him (Bangabandhu) as saying, “I as the Father of the Nation asked you all to love the country staying in the path of honesty. You will be a human being if you always stand beside the justice, obey your guardians, and keep up discipline (in your life).” The premier asked the freshers to bear in the mind the advices of Bangabandhu and follow it in the days to come. She hoped that the newly commissioned BAF officers would take the air force to a new height of success. The premier greeted the parents of the new officers and recalled their contribution behind the success of their children and urged them to pray for them (new air force officers) as their children become the “ideal of the patriotism and bravery”. Stating that various measures have been taken for the development of the air force, Sheikh Hasina said, “Our government has been working for gradual development of the air force considering the regional geopolitical aspects to face the challenge of the 21st century.” The premier added that the “Forces Goal-2030” has been formulated in light of the “Defense Policy” of 1974 adopted by the Father of the Nation, which is being implemented in phases. Sheikh Hasina said that the Father of the Nation had a dream to build a modern, strengthened and professional air force considering Bangladesh’s geographical location, strategic military aspect, and scope and potential of the economic development. The premier said the most ultramodern fighter aircraft of that time MIG-21 supersonic fighter plane, helicopter, air defense rudder and other necessary equipment had been added to the air force due to his (Bangabandhu’s) farsighted and strong decision. She said that Bangabandhu Aeronautical Centre was built aimed at maintenance of the various types of aircraft including fighter plane, rudder and other equipments in a smooth, safe and economical manner. The premier added that “Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Aviation and Aerospace University” aimed at progressing the aviation sector of Bangladesh. She said the air force has the capacity of overhauling the fighter plane using its own manpower, technology and technical efficiency. The premier said today’s air force is totally different in comparison to that of a couple of decades ago in terms of infrastructure, strategy, and technology. She went on saying, “The current air force is much more developed, efficient, and professional due to having modern training and equipment as well.” The premier said the incumbent government has been putting emphasis on modernization of the training to enhance the overall efficiency of the air force. She said that the training period has been increased with a view to enhancing the standard of the basic training as well as organizational efficiency of the air force personnel. So that the cadets get the chance of completing their graduation. As part of ensuring developed and time-befitting training for the future generation of the air force, the premier said that combat modern training aircraft having digital cockpit, transport training aircraft, and helicopter simulate have been set up at the air force. Noting that the ultramodern and world standard “Bangabandhu Complex” has been built for the air force academy, she said, “I hope the initiative will play a significant role in developing a trained and modern air force.” Spelling out various measures taken by her government for the overall development of Bangladesh, the Prime Minister said, “We have been able to make Bangladesh a developing country. We have taken policy to turn Bangladesh into a developed and prosperous country and started working accordingly.” The birth centenary of the Father of the Nation and the golden jubilee of the independence will be celebrated in 2020 and 2021 respectively, she said, “We want to make our national flag of independence more brighter in the world.” The premier earlier distributed various prizes among 104 promising young officers who are stepping out of the academy and entering into air force career after successful completion of the courses. Of them, 30 of general duties (pilot), two general duties (navigator), 15 engineering, six logistics, six administrative, 16 ATC, 16 NDWC, three education, one legal, three finance, and six are from meteorological departments. Bangladesh Air Force arranged a spectacular parade marking the occasion which the premier inspected. She also joined an epaulette wearing ceremony and a photo session with the fresh air force officers. The Prime Minister lastly cut a cake on the occasion. Cabinet members, lawmakers, chiefs of the three services, political leaders, distinguished personalities, and high civil and military officials were present on the occasion. Source: BSS AH

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda said, if everybody says that no election will be allowed to hold using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) then we will not do that. He said this while speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural program of two-day long training for Returning Officers, Assistant Returning Officers and other associate officers on the occasion of Dhaka North and South City Corporation elections-2020 at Election Training Institute (ETI) at Agargaon in the capital on Wednesday. About EVM the CEC said, we have survived to use EVM despite many reverse situation. The people who are present here have taken training and obtained work experience on EVM for the last several years. I believe, the voters can cast their votes easily and successfully through using EVMs. Is there any confusion? You, the people who would exercise it, if there is any doubt regarding EVM then you should inform us. If everybody says that election cannot be conducted in a well manner using those, then we will not use EVMs. He said, but we have conducted a number of elections using EVMs. We have succeeded in national parliament election and local elections. We have maintained it because we want that voters can exercise their voting rights. Though most of the political parties including BNP are against using EVM, but some political parties including Awami League are for it. In this ‘for and against’ situation EC has been using EVM in national, city corporations and other local government elections. Before the eleventh national parliament election all the Election Commissioners except Mahbub Talukder took their stand for using EVMs. In the program Election Commissioners Kabita Khanam, Brigadier General (retd.) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury, Rafiqul Islam and Mahbub Talukder were present as the special guests. AH