Category: Asia News

Categories
Asia News India News

India, Japan discuss nuke threats, South China Sea

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida

Kishida condemned North Korea’s ballistic missile launches, saying that they are destabilising the region, reports Asian Lite News

Amid threats from nuclear weapons in the Indo-Pacific region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida on Saturday discussed North Korea’s destabilising ballistic missile launches in violation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

Kishida condemned North Korea’s ballistic missile launches, saying that they are destabilising the region.

The Japanese PM is in New Delhi on a two-day visit to take part in the 14th India-Japan annual summit.

In a joint statement, both the countries reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearisation of North Korea, consistent with the relevant UNSC resolutions, and the importance of addressing the concerns related to North Korea’s proliferation linkages.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida

They urged North Korea to fully comply with its international obligations under the relevant UNSC resolutions, and to immediately resolve the abduction issue.

The Prime Ministers also reaffirmed their intention to collaborate closely to realise peace and stability in Afghanistan, and stressed the importance of addressing all humanitarian crisis, promoting human rights and ensuring establishment of a truly representative and inclusive political system.

“They also reaffirmed the importance of UNSC resolution 2593 (2021) which unequivocally states that the Afghan territory should not be used for sheltering, training, planning or financing terrorist acts, and called for concerted action against all terrorist groups, including those sanctioned by the UNSC,” the joint statement said.

South China Sea

Amid threat in the Indo-Pacific region, both leaders have discussed the security challenges in the South China Sea.

Kishida welcomed the Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative (IPOI) announced by Modi in 2019.

Both Prime Ministers acknowledged the growing space for cooperation between the IPOI and Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP). India appreciated Japan’s participation as a lead partner on the connectivity pillar of IPOI.

Indian Navy destroyer INS Kolkata and tanker INS Shakti, transits the international waters in the South China Sea along with US, Japanese, Philippine ships. (Photo JMSDF

They reiterated their strong support for ASEAN’s unity and centrality and their full support for the “ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP)” which upholds the principles such as the rule of law, openness, freedom, transparency and inclusiveness.

The Prime Ministers emphasised that India and Japan, as two leading powers in the Indo-Pacific region, had a shared interest in the safety and security of the maritime domain, freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce and peaceful resolution of disputes with full respect for legal and diplomatic processes in accordance with international law.

They reaffirmed their determination to continue prioritizing the role of international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and facilitate collaboration, including in maritime security, to meet challenges against the rules-based maritime order in the East and South China Seas.

They emphasized the importance of non-militarisation and self-restraint.

They further called for the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and the early conclusion of a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea in accordance with international law, especially UNCLOS, without prejudice to the rights and interests of all nations including those not party to these negotiations.

ALSO READ: Japan to invest $42 billion in India over next 5 years

Categories
-Top News Asia News India News

Japan to invest $42 billion in India over next 5 years

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida

Japan will make an investment of 5 trillion Yen, that is, about 3.2 lakh crores in India in the next five years, reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that deepening of partnership between India and Japan will help in encouraging peace, prosperity and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

In a joint press statement with visiting Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida after the 14th summit meeting between the two countries, the Prime Minister said PM Kishida has played a significant role in the unprecedented progress in the India-Japan partnership.

“The world is still struggling with the impact of COVID-19. There are obstacles in the global economic recovery process. The geopolitical developments are also posing new challenges. In this context, it is not only important for India and Japan to strengthen their bilateral partnership but it will encourage peace, prosperity and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and in the world,” he said.

In this context, it is not only important for India and Japan to strengthen their bilateral partnership but it will encourage peace, prosperity and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and in the world,” he said

PM Modi said that the discussions during the meetings have taken bilateral relations between the two countries to new heights.

He said apart from bilateral relations, the two sides also discussed regional and global issues.

“We also decided to increase our coordination at the United Nations and other international platforms,” he said.

The Prime Minister said that companies from Japan have been in a way for a long time been “brand ambassadors” of India.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida

“India has introduced several economic reforms in previous years in terms of ease of doing business. India is providing unlimited opportunities in Make In India for the world. Companies from Japan have been in a way for long time been brand ambassadors. We are committed to giving Japanese companies in India a friendly atmosphere,” he added.

PM Modi said Japan has made a notable contribution in the flagship projects like Dedicated Freight Corridor and Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project.

“Good progress is being made on Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail,” he said.

The Prime Minister also said that Japan would make an investment of 5 trillion Yen, that is, about 3.2 lakh crores in India in the next five years.

PM Modi said that India and Japan understand the importance of a secure, trusted, predictable and stable energy supply. “This is essential to achieve sustainable economic growth and to deal with climate change. Our clean energy partnership will be a deciding step in this direction,” he stated.

Welcoming Kishida and his delegation to India, PM Modi said that the Japanese PM’s journey has been successful in adding new dimensions to the India-Japan special strategic and global partnership.

Violence in Ukraine

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Saturday said that the Russia-Ukraine conflict and China were discussed during the talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida, where both leaders expressed the seriousness about the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis and assessed broader implications for Indo-Pacific.

Addressing a special briefing after the 14th India-Japan summit meeting between the two leaders, Shringla said both sides exchanged perspectives on the “global level issue.”

“PM Modi and Japanese PM Kishida emphasised on the importance of the safety and security of nuclear facilities in Ukraine. They reiterated their call for an immediate cessation of violence and noted that there was no other path than dialogue for resolving the Ukraine crisis,” the foreign secretary said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida

Shringla said that PM Modi expressed the seriousness of the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine assessed its border implications, particularly for the Indo Pacific region.

“They emphasised that the contemporary global order had been built at UN charter international law and respect to the sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the foreign secretary said today.

“Both the PMs discussed China, we informed Japan of the situation in Ladakh, the attempts of amassing the troops, and our talks with China on border-related issues… Japanese PM also briefed us on his own perspective vis-a-vis East and South China sea, Shringla said.

The Foreign Secretary further said that three agreements were concluded during a memorandum of cooperation on cyber security, a memorandum of cooperation in the field of sustainable development and a memorandum of cooperation on wastewater management. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Lessons For India From Russia-Ukraine War

Categories
-Top News Asia News Politics

Pak opposition to block OIC meet if no-trust motion is not tabled

Opposition warned the National Assembly Speaker that if he postpones the NA session citing the OIC conference, the Opposition members will stage a sit-in in the National Assembly hall, reports Asian Lite News

The joint Pakistan Opposition has asked the National Assembly Speaker to allow it to table the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday, instead of postponing the session for several days, Samaa TV reported.

In the event the Speaker tries to postpone the session, the Opposition would block the OIC foreign ministers’ conference, it has warned.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan

Pakistan Peoples Party’s Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz’s Shehbaz Sharif, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam’s Fazlur Rehman and other leaders held a press conference after a key meeting of the Opposition parties in Islamabad on Saturday.

They warned the National Assembly Speaker that if he postpones the NA session citing the OIC conference, the Opposition members will stage a sit-in in the National Assembly hall.

“We will see how you convene the OIC conference,” said Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

The OIC conference is scheduled to be held in the same hall on March 22 and 23.

At the press conference on Saturday, Bilawal said that faced with a certain defeat, Imran Khan has resorted to undemocratic tactics.

He said that government wants to create a constitutional crisis so that a ‘third power’ could benefit from the situation.

ALSO READ: It is Niazi vs Bajwa in Pakistan

Categories
-Top News Asia News

It is Niazi vs Bajwa in Pakistan

The military establishment has realised that its hybrid experiment led by Khan has come a cropper, in the bargain discrediting the institution hugely.

‘Whisperers’ in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the country’s ruling party, have said that Prime Minister Imran Khan may target and even sack Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and appoint a senior non-controversial figure to take his side and bail him out, the Friday Times reported.

This is however, a very risky proposition.

In 1972, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto sacked the army and air force chiefs and got away with it only because he did it in a cloak and dagger manner when both forces were reeling in the aftermath of the Bangladesh crisis and war, said the Friday Times report.

But the Empire hit back in 1977 when his hand-picked army chief, General Zia ul Haq, sent him packing and later hanged him.

Nawaz Sharif sacked General Jehangir Karamat for a minor slip-up but General Pervez Musharraf repaid the institutional compliment in 1999 and made the former Prime Minister suffer for a decade.

This time round, if such a situation were to arise, there is no knowing how General Bajwa and his corps commanders will react.

But one thing is certain: the decision to become “neutral” in today’s charged political environment is an institutional Miltablishment decision and not a personal one, the report said.

There are powerful reasons for this stance. The military establishment has realised that its hybrid experiment led by Khan has come a cropper, in the bargain discrediting the institution hugely.

Now when the public mood is rabidly anti-PTI, as every survey of public opinion shows, it simply can’t afford to be seen to embrace Khan.

A significant number of PTI MNAs are not the only ones bolting to the Opposition’s stables.

The Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, who is reputed to be responsible for some bad advice and decisions, has hurriedly made plans to escape to safer pastures.

A number of special assistants, advisers and ministers were also readying to flee, claimed the Friday Times report.

The Opposition has now demonstrated an absolute majority of over 172 MNA votes to clinch a successful vote of no confidence against Khan’s PTI government.

ALSO READ: Imran has high hopes for OIC summit

Categories
-Top News Asia News

Imran has high hopes for OIC summit

Pic credits Twitter @PakPMO

Prime Minister Imran Khan will deliver the keynote address at the inaugural session. As per details, Khan will be addressing the core issues on the agenda, particularly Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir….reports Asian Lite News

Pakistan’s capital is the venue of attention as intense diplomatic activity is underway on a daily basis with the country welcoming foreign ministers of member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to host the 48th Session of OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, scheduled to be held on March 22 and 23.

The Pakistan foreign office stated that as the dates of the OIC session is coinciding with the 75th anniversary celebrations of the country’s independence, the foreign ministers will join at the Pakistan Day Parade as guests of honour.

“The theme of the session — ‘Partnering for Unity, Justice and Development’ — represents our commitment to foster unity within the Ummah, advance the cause of justice for all Muslim people, and promote prosperity and sustainable development for OIC member states,” said a press release issued by the Pakistan foreign office.

Pic credits OIC@Twitter

“We will seek to build partnerships and bridges of cooperation across the Islamic world to address the myriad of challenges confronting us and to seize the multiple opportunities that present themselves to promote the collective interests of the Ummah,” the release added.

Prime Minister Imran Khan will deliver the keynote address at the inaugural session. As per details, Khan will be addressing the core issues on the agenda, particularly Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir.

The Conference discussion will focus on key priorities such as countering Islamophobia, recovery from Covid-19 pandemic, and diverse matters of peace and security, economic development, cultural and scientific cooperation and revitalising the role of the OIC.

The follow-up of the extra-ordinary session on Afghanistan will also be reviewed. It was also stated that over 100 resolutions are likely to be adopted by the Session, which will articulate OIC’s perspective on major contemporary issues.

Pakistan will be using the opportunity to highlight the landmark resolution it introduced on behalf of the OIC countries proclaiming March 15 at the UN as the ‘International Day to Combat Islamophobia’.

“The resolution reflects the sentiments of more than 1.5 billion Muslims around the world. This is the first time ever that the UN has adopted a resolution specifically recognising Islamophobia as a contemporary form of discrimination,” the Pakistan foreign office stated.

It said that the commemoration of the International Day to Combat Islamophobia will:

* Send a clear message against contemporary challenges of racism, discrimination and violence against Muslims

* Raise international awareness about increasing Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hatred

* Promote the message of tolerance, peaceful co-existence and interfaith and cultural harmony

Pakistan will also raise the issue of Jammu and Kashmir during the session, emphasising what it termed as the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, including “self-determination of people, non-use or threat of use of force, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, pacific-settlement of disputes and equal security for all”.

ALSO READ: Setback for Pakistan in Reko Diq case

Categories
-Top News Afghanistan Asia News

Taliban’s gender apartheid in Afghanistan

The Taliban has dramatically rolled back women’s rights in recent months, including closing most girls’ secondary schools and banning women from employment. …reports Asian Lite News

Since regaining power in August, the Taliban has gradually resurrected its discriminatory policies, enforcing strict segregation in universities, government offices, and on public transportation, RFE/RL reported.

Rights groups have accused the Taliban of imposing gender apartheid in Afghanistan, with fears that girls and women will be excluded from public life.

The Taliban has dramatically rolled back women’s rights in recent months, including closing most girls’ secondary schools and banning women from most forms of employment. Women who have demonstrated for greater rights have been arrested and, in some cases, disappeared.

The Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice earlier this month sent a letter to the Health Ministry ordering it to segregate male and female employees, RFE/RL reported.

“The offices for men and women should be separate,” said the letter.

The ministry, which is the enforcer of the Taliban’s radical interpretation of Islamic law, also warned that health care should be denied to female patients who do not observe the Islamic hijab.

The Taliban initially ordered women not to return to work. But it later called female health workers back to clinics and hospitals, although many were too scared to resume their work.

Rights groups say gender segregation has created barriers to women and girls accessing health care. At many facilities, patients are only treated by a health professional of the same sex, RFE/RL reported.

Insurance companies suspended

The Taliban on Friday suspended the operations of the insurance companies in Afghanistan till a future notice.

In an official letter sent to the insurance companies, the acting government announced the suspension of all the activities of the public and private insurance firms, reported Khaama Press.

The letter says the spirit of the insurance industry is under discussion in the Science Academy of Afghanistan to decide whether it is against Islamic practices or not.

The suspension spells doom for insurance companies who have invested and carried out financial risks in the country for the last 20-year of the democratic era and open market in Afghanistan.

Several private insurance companies in addition to a government-owned insurance entity, have invested and carried out financial risks.

The Afghanistan economy went into crisis after the collapse of the Afghanistan government in the hands of the Taliban on August 15 of last year. Hundreds of companies, organizations and projects were shut down, reported Khaama Press.

The acting Taliban government in Afghanistan emphasizes Islamic norms but has never issued any written Islamic policies yet.

Insurance is practised in almost all other Islamic countries for the purpose of risk management; however, in some Islamic states, it is undertaken under the term of Takaful, an Islamic insurance concept. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Setback for Pakistan in Reko Diq case

Categories
-Top News Afghanistan Asia News

TAPI pipeline project may resume in Spring

Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India natural gas pipeline.(wikipedia)

Economists have suggested that the TAPI pipeline project would also provide job opportunities for the Afghan citizens….reports Asian Lite News

The Taliban-led government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said negotiations over technical issues of the TAPI, or the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India, pipeline have taken place and the project will resume in the spring, the media reported on Friday.

“We hope to immediately reach an exact date on the restart of the TAPI pipeline project in the spring. We hope the work on other projects including TAPI will be resumed soon too,” TOLO News quoted Shafi Azam, a senior official at the Ministry, as saying.

Economists have suggested that the TAPI pipeline project would also provide job opportunities for the Afghan citizens.

“I consider the resumption of this project at such a critical time a positive step because when this project is resumed, the people will be provided with both gas and job opportunities,” said Ahmad Muneeb Rasa, an economist.

However, many reports were published about the resumption of TAPI projects in Afghanistan, but it is yet to begin.

“The accomplishment of the major economic projects in the country is in the hands of the regional countries such as India and Pakistan. As long as the interests of the two countries are not ensured, the implementation of this project will be just a possibility,” TOLO News quoted Shakir Yaqob, an economist, as saying.

The TAPI gas pipeline is planned to span 1,680 km and connect Afghanistan’s Herat and Kandahar provinces with Pakistan and India.

Afghanistan will pay 5 per cent of the project’s expenses.

The project began nearly three decades ago.

Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India natural gas pipeline.(wikipedia)

ADB’s red flag

The Asian Development Bank had recently said that unless the Islamic Emirate is recognised, it will not help implement the TAPI project.

According to local media, the bank had suspended all of its activities related to the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India project since August last year when the Taliban took control of Afghanistan.

“The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said that unless the Islamic Emirate is recognized, it will not help implement the TAPI project. The bank said it had suspended all activities related to the TAPI project since August 8 last year,” an Afghanistan-based radio and television network said in a Tweet.

TAPI pipeline will be a trans-country natural gas pipeline running across four countries.

According to some economists, the implementation of the TAPI project will provide job opportunities for around 12,000 people in Afghanistan, Tolo News has reported.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan is part of the Turkmen gas pipeline project to Pakistan and India, and it is expected that Afghanistan will earn about USD 400 million a year for allowing transit across its territory.

Also, Turkmen officials expressed optimism about the future of the project after a meeting three weeks ago with the head of the Afghanistan foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, according to Tolo News. (IANS/ANI)

ALSO READ: UN to host pledging conference in Afghanistan

Categories
Asia News

Sindh warns against governor’s rule

Syed Murad Ali Shah’s statement comes after the Pakistani interior minister Sheikh Rasheed said that he advised the government to impose the governor’s rule in Sindh in the wake of the alleged horse-trading controversy….reports Asian Lite News

Pakistan’s Sindh Province’s Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Thursday warned the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government over imposing governor’s rule in his province and said that the people will retaliate against this “unconstitutional move”.

“Let me categorically state that any unconstitutional move by the federal government to impose the governor’s rule in Sindh will provoke an unprecedented retaliation from the people of Sindh,” Pakistani channel Geo News reported citing Syed Murad Ali Shah’s tweet.

His statement comes after the Pakistani interior minister Sheikh Rasheed said that he advised the government to impose the governor’s rule in Sindh in the wake of the alleged horse-trading controversy.

A few hours ago, PTI’s Members of National Assembly (MNAs) Raja Riaz and Malik Nawab Sher Waseer claimed that about 24 MNAs have sought refuge in Sindh house, fearing that the Pakistani government would take strict steps against them.

Riaz, who is a member of the Jahangir Tareen group, told journalist Hamid Mir that the disgruntled members would vote for the no-confidence motion against PM Imran Khan in “accordance with their conscience.”

Waseer also said he would not contest the next general elections on a PTI ticket. Meanwhile, MNA Ramesh Kumar announced that he has parted ways with the PTI, reported Geo News.

Amid this chaos, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is leaving no opportunity to oust Imran Khan. PPP’s MNA Abdul Qadir Patel said that the disgruntled members of the PTI are “living peacefully in Sindh House,” and “will leave after ousting Niazi [Imran Khan],” according to Geo News.

Meanwhile, Pakistani Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain on Thursday said that there were reports of the transfer of huge amounts of money to Sindh House.

ALSO READ: Setback for Pakistan in Reko Diq case

Categories
-Top News Asia News Bangladesh

‘Let his dreams resonate in every Bangladeshi hearts’

Joy also said it was very painful to say that the curtain on the togetherness came down on August 15, 1975, when Bangabandhu, and almost his entire family, were assasinated….reports Sumi Khan

Bangabandhu’s grandson Sajeeb Wazed Joy on Thursday reminisced about his interactions with his grandfather Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, saying these were among a few childhood memories that never faded all these decades.

“The only occasion when my grandmother objected was when my grandfather allowed me a puff on his lighted pipe. While my grandma turned furious, my grandfather let out his trademark uproarious laughter as I coughed my little lungs out,” Joy said in a Facebook post on his verified account on the occasion of Sheikh Mujib’s 102th birth anniversary.

Wishing his grandfather, he also attached a smiling photograph of Bangabandhu with the poetry of legendary poet Annada Shankar Roy.

Joy also said it was very painful to say that the curtain on the togetherness came down on August 15, 1975, when Bangabandhu, and almost his entire family, were assasinated.

Joy, who is also his mother and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ICT Affairs Adviser, said since then, life has been one of ceaseless struggle to survival for each surviving member of the family.

“The steely resolve of my grandfather to build Sonar Bangla (Golden Bengal) was passed down to my mother,” he said.

Stressing that the birth anniversary of his grandfather evokes the dream that he promised to his countrymen, he said: “Let it resonate in every heart and get us closer to the realisation of Vision 2041.”

ALSO READ: Women’s World Cup: Pakistan, Bangladesh look to open accounts

.ALSO READ: UAE, Bangladesh discuss labour relations

Categories
Bangladesh India News News

Hasina announces long-term plans for future of children

Her government has long-term plans to make the future beautiful for the children…reports Asian Lite News

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said it was really sad and painful for the nation that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated, along with his family including his youngest son Russel, by some of the same Bengali people for whom he had risked his life, faced incarceration for years, and established the dignity of a nation for them.

In her remarks at a programme at the Bangabandhu Mausoleum Complex, Tungipara in Gopalganj, to mark the 102nd birth anniversary of the Bangabandhu and the National Children’s Day, she said that her government has long-term plans to make the future beautiful for the children, as no other children can lost their lives including parents like Russel, her innocent youngest brother, who was only 10 years old then.

The National Implementation Committee for Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Birth Centenary Celebration, in collaboration with the Women and Children Affairs Ministry, had arranged the programme, featuring a discussion and a cultural soiree.

The event began with the National Anthem followed by the theme song of “Mujib Borsha”. An audio-visual presentation titled “Tungipara: Hridoye Pitribhumi (Father’s Land in Heart)” was screened.

This year, the theme of national children’s day is “Bangabandhur Janmodiner Ongikar, Sokol Shishur Soman Odhikar (Equal Rights for all children, Commitment of Bangbandhu’s birthday)”.

Sheikh Hasina, also the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu, said though there had been a reign of killers, war criminals, Al-Badr and Razakars (collaborators of Pakistani forces) in the country after the assassination of her family members, she returned home to fulfil the dreams of her father.

“(I returned home) to ensure that the children would not live with the pain of losing family members like us, rather they would have a nice and improved life,” she said.

Noting that the Father of the Nation used to love children very much, the PM said her government in 1996 declared the 17th March as the children’s day.

“Bangabandhu used to like playing with children. When he was playing with children, he seemed like a child.

“But it is unfortunate that even children were not spared in 1975 carnage. Children and women had not been killed even during Karbala tragedy,” she said.

She said that following the footsteps of Bangabandhu, her government had taken various steps for the welfare of the children, including establishment of schools in every area and measures to protect them from social menaces like terrorism and militancy.

“Coming in power again through the 2008 election, we’ve done a lot further for the welfare of children,” said Sheikh Hasina, highlighting various measures and laws taken for the children during her regime.

Noting that Bangladesh today attained the status of a developing country, she said: “We’ll definitely make Bangladesh the developed and prosperous Sonar Bangla. It’s our commitment.”

In this context, she mentioned her government’s vision 2041 and Delta Plan-2100.

“I’ve prepared a plan over how this Bangladesh would develop till 2100.”

Sheikh Hasina reiterated that her government’s plans focus on making the future of children bright and decent.

ALSO READ: Hasina calls for more collaboration to ensure food security

“Our goal is that our children would remain safe and get a beautiful life.”

Bangabandhu’s grandsons – Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and Sheikh Rehana’s son Radwan Mujib Siddiq were present, along with cabinet members, members of parliament and Awami League central leaders, Gopalganj Zila Parishad Chairman and AL’s district unit president Chowdhury Emdadul Huque.

Sheikh Hasina also inaugurated the six-day Mujib Borsha Folk Fair to be held at Government Sheikh Mujibur Rahman College premises in Tungipara from March 21-26.

She said Awami League and its associate bodies will arrange programmes in Tungipara on separate days from March 18 to 25 to mark the Mujib Year.