Sheikh Hasina

In his testimony submitted before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Muhammad Asaduzzaman Nur, Joy sought "exemplary punishment" for five "fugitive" accused who had "plotted to abduct and kill him", Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Abdullah Abu told IANS. Arrest warrants were earlier sent to addresses of all the five accused.

After her welcome, Hasina said, "India is our friend. Whenever I come to India, it is a matter of happiness for me, especially because we always remember India's contribution during our liberation struggle. We have a friendly relationship, we are cooperating with each other." The leaders of the two countries are expected to hold extensive talks, after which the two sides are likely to unveil measures to boost cooperation in the areas of defence, trade and river-water sharing.

More than 1.1 million Rohingyas sheltered in Bangladesh are causing a long-term social problems in the country, as many of them are engaged in arms, drug, and women trafficking, she told newly-appointed Canadian High Commissioner, Lilly Nicholls, who called on her at her Sangsad Bhaban office. The Prime Minister said Bangladesh is providing temporary shelter to 100,000 Rohingyas on Bhasan Char Island where they will get better facilities.

Sheikh Hasina recalled that Nobel laurate, Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus even conspired against the construction of Padma Bridge so as to retain the post of Managing Director. And when the World Bank stopped funding for the Padma Bridge due to instigation, the Prime Minister said that at that moment, she announced that Bangladesh would construct the bridge with own funding.

Sheikh Hasina in a video statement aired in the 27th International Nikkei Conference on the Future of Asia, also said that at 50 years of independence, she is delighted that the Sonar Bangla (Golden Bangladesh), her father and Bangabandhu, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, dreamt of for his people is in the making. The two-day conference titled "Redefining Asia's role in a divided world" is being held in Tokyo in a hybrid format with both streaming and on-site attendance.

The contribution of Bangabandhu in the Language Movement and the great Liberation War was erased. But no one can erase the truth. We will continue our efforts to establish our mother tongue, language, literature, and culture at the international level. I believe we will succeed in that endeavor as well, she said while virtually attending the presentation ceremony of Ekushey Padak, the second-highest civilian award in Bangladesh.

The Prime Minister was addressing the graduation ceremony of the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) at Mirpur Cantonment, Dhaka, joining virtually from her official residence in the capital. Hasina urged all to work unitedly for the progress of Bangladesh and turn its 'developing nation' status into 'developed nation' by 2041. The Prime Minister expressed her firm conviction that no one can stop the indomitable pace of the country's advancement as it has become a 'role model' of development before the world.

Addressing the nation over TV to mark her the third year of her present tenure amid thirteen years of being in power, she also said the present government helmed by the Awami League has foiled the rise of militancy. Again announcing her commitment to fulfilling the dream of the Father of the Nation to build a secular and democratic state free from exploitation and deprivation, "where people of all religions, castes, classes and professions will live happily and peacefully. Everyone will have access to food, clothing, shelter and medical treatment", she said that unfortunately, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman could not fulfil his dream.

She made the remarks while virtually distributing the first-ever "Bangabandhu Medal for Diplomatic Excellence-2020" during an event held on Monday in Foreign Service Academy here. Hasina further said that her government had taken initiatives to resolve the long-pending issue first after assuming office in 1996 and eventually resolved it when it was again elected to power in 2009.

Martyred Intellectuals Day is observed on December 14 to commemorate those intellectuals who were killed by Pakistani forces and their collaborators during the 1971 Liberation War, particularly on March 25 and December 14, 1971. Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that terrorist groups unleashed a reign of terror in the country from 2001 to 2006. They also unleashed arson in the country to thwart the national elections of 2014, and some of them are still hatching conspiracies, she added.