Awami League is the only party of the masses in the country: Sheikh Hasina



Senior Correspondent, Barta24.com
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

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Awami League President Sheikh Hasina has said that Bangladesh Awami League is a party formed from the soil and people of this country. If we look at the organization of the people, the organization of the masses, the Awami League is an organization formed by the grassroots people. At the same time there are communist parties or other parties, there are smaller parties, but the main organization is the Bangladesh Awami League. The creation of the Awami League to emancipate the oppressed and deprived people of this country. Whenever the Awami League has run the state, the fate of these deprived people has changed. If it can be considered as a political occupation, there are some left parties here, there are some right-wing parties, but as a party of true masses, if there is any party for Bangladesh, it is the only Bangladesh Awami League.

The Prime Minister said this while virtually joining the party's founding anniversary discussion meeting at the party's central office at 23 Bangabandhu Avenue on Wednesday (June 23).

Sheikh Hasina said the Awami League was established on June 23, 1949. It is very much strange that on 23 June 1757, the Nawab of Bangla, Bihar, Odissa Nawab Sirajuddowla was defeated in the battle of Palassy. Mir Zafar, his commander-in-chief, conspired behind that defeat. Bangla, Bihar, Odissa was then an independent territory. But it fell into the hands of the British merchants. The British colonial power seized power. This slavery lasted for about 200 years. In 1947, a state called Pakistan was created which had two wings, one in East Bengal and another in West Pakistan. If we look at the history of the creation of Pakistan, it is the contribution of these Bengalis behind the creation of Pakistan, but after the creation of Pakistan, the Bengalis were the victims of exploitation and deprivation and lose the right to speak their mother tongue. The Awami League was established on 23rd June to establish the rights of these Bengalis. The sun of independence set on June 23 in the mango grove of Palassy. It seems that the Awami League was formed on June 23 to raise that sun.

She said that the victory we achieved under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the great war of liberation in 1971. The first government in independent Bangladesh when the government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh was formed, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was nominated as President, Syed Nazrur Islam as Vice President and Tajuddin Ahmed as Prime Minister. The first government of independent Bangladesh was sworn in at that time.

The Awami League president said Bangabandhu had a power to create organizations. She emphasized the importance of strengthening the organization. Because he knew that no achievement is possible without organization. When he saw that the Bengalis were exploited and humiliated. The only way out of this exploitation and deprivation was to achieve independence and there was no other way. That's how he built the organization. The Awami League is for the people of this country. The people of this country have given everything they got to the Awami League. The language movement started in 1947 and Bangabandhu formed Chhatra League before the language movement started. But he started his struggle on January 4, 1948 with Chhatra League. The Awami League was born in 1949. After the establishment of Awami, the language struggle continued.

She added that the Jukta Front government was formed, but it did not last long. When martial law was promulgated in 1957, politics was banned, and the Father of the nation spent most of his time in prison. The Awami League was reorganized in 1964. Then Maulana Tarkbagish was the president and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib was the general secretary. When he gave 6 points in that year. In February, when he gave 6 points, the council meeting which is held in March is on 18, 19 and 20 March. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib was elected President of the Awami League and Tajuddin Ahmed was elected General Secretary at the 19th Council. He toured the whole of Bangladesh with his 6 points. The then Pakistani government arrested him. He was arrested in May. Within a few days, this 6 points was established as a charter of liberation for the people. Not only this, Awami League played a leading role in every struggle.

She said, "If we look at the loss of martyrs in the liberation war, how many people have given their lives for the establishment of this country, the Awami League as the only political organization and how many political parties in this country have sacrificed." Many people said a lot and some said it is becoming a team. If we look at the organization of the people, the organization of the masses, the organization formed by the grassroots people, it is the Awami League. At the same time there are small parties like Communist Party or other parties but the main organization is Bangladesh Awami League. In contrast to the parties that cries. How were they created?

She further said that on 15th August, 1975, the military government seized power through a conspiracy through assassinating the Father of the Nation. He first came to power and declared himself as the President. He seized power, broke all the rules of the army, declared himself and then re-entered politics. One of the parties formed while martial law was in power was the BNP and the other was the Jatiya Party. The BNP and the Jatiya Party did not rise from the people or work for the welfare of the people. A team created by seizing power. I think those who criticize should remember.

The Awami League president said that the power game that has been going on in Bangladesh for a long time is the way Ayub Khan came as the army chief in 1957 from the Pakistan period. After Ayub Khan came to power, Ziaur Rahman became the President at the same time and declared himself as the President again. General Ershad also followed his footsteps.

She said the Awami League and Awami League leaders are the ones who have fought for the rights of the people of this country. We have been able to restore democracy as the leaders of Awami League have struggled. If you consider the development of Bangladesh today, it is also in the hands of Awami League. The only reason for this is because they are an organization of the masses of this country, they have seen the deprivation and exploitation of the deprived people. They have realized the suffering of human beings. The Awami League was created to liberate a nation afflicted with the scourge of poverty, who once had no place to live, no place to live, no cure for disease, no hope, no education, nothing.

The Awami League has been hit. But I would say Awami League is a piece of diamond. The more attempts have been made to break it, the more manpower has increased, the more new light has spread. So no matter how hard you try to destroy this organization, you can't.

   

Schools and colleges are opening today, closed in 25 districts including Dhaka



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
Pic: Collected

Pic: Collected

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After the closure of educational institutions across the country due to severe heat wave, teaching activities in the classrooms of all secondary level educational institutions are starting on Saturday (May 04).

However, schools, colleges and madrasas will remain closed in 25 districts including Dhaka today due to intense heat wave. On the other hand, primary school teaching activities will start from Sunday (05 May).

Sources in the Ministry of Education said that the educational institutions were closed until last Thursday on the order of the court. Class activities will start simultaneously in all secondary and higher secondary schools of the country from Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education Farid Ahmed said that the primary schools which were closed till Thursday will be opened from Sunday as per the order of the court.

Schools and colleges were supposed to open on April 21 after the long holidays of Eid-ul-Fitr and Pahela Baishakh, but due to the heat wave across the country, it was delayed by a week. When schools and colleges opened last Sunday, some teachers and students fell ill due to extreme heat. Some deaths also occurred.

When the report in this regard was brought to the attention of the High Court, the bench of Justice KM Kamrul Quader and Justice Khizir Hayat gave an order with a suo moto rule. In view of the heat wave, all primary and secondary schools, higher secondary schools, colleges, madrasas and technical institutes were ordered to remain closed till last Thursday.

Schools, colleges and madrasas are closed in 25 districts today

Secondary schools, colleges, madrasas and technical educational institutions will be closed today in 25 districts of the country to ensure the health protection of students during the severe heat wave. This information was informed in the notification signed by MA Khayer, Information and Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Education on Friday (03 May).

Districts declared closed include all districts of Rajshahi and Khulna divisions (8 in Rajshahi and 10 in Khulna). Besides Dhaka and Tangail of Dhaka division, Chandpur of Chattogram division and Rangpur, Kurigram, Nilphamari and Dinajpur districts of Rangpur division. 

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Bangladesh is 165th in the world media index two steps behind



News Desk, Barta24.com
Pic: Collected

Pic: Collected

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Bangladesh ranks 165th in the World Free Media Index with a score of 27.64. Bangladesh is ranked 165th out of 180 countries this year. Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a France-based organization working on media freedom around the world, released the index on Friday (May 3).

Nepal has occupied the top position in terms of media freedom in South Asia; the country has occupied the 74th position with 60.52 points. Next is Maldives. The country is at the 106th position with 52.36 points. In this year's list, Bhutan fell from the first position and got the third place. The country is at the 147th position with 37.29 points.

Among South Asian countries, Bangladesh is ahead of only Afghanistan. Bangladesh is ranked behind India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal and Bhutan.

In South Asia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India are at the fourth, fifth and sixth positions respectively. The global position of these three countries is 150, 152 and 159 respectively.

India has got the 159th position two steps ahead of last year's 161st. Afghanistan ranks last among South Asian countries. 26 steps behind, the country's global position is 178th, only 19.09 points.

According to the report, the Asia-Pacific region ranks second in the world in terms of journalistic challenges. The report named Myanmar, China, North Korea, Vietnam and Afghanistan as the most dangerous places to work for journalists.

Norway has retained its top position in the global index. Their points are 91.89. The rest of the top ten countries are Denmark, Sweden, Netherlands, Finland, Estonia, Portugal, Ireland, Switzerland and Germany.

Through the World Free Media Index, the extent to which journalists in different countries and regions of the world carry out their duties independently is verified. Five factors are taken into account in this index. These are political context, legal infrastructure, economic context, socio-economic conditions and security.

The report also states that free media around the world are facing threats from political authorities, as confirmed by the significant decline in the political index. The global average of this index has fallen by 7.6 percent this year. 

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Norwester hit Lama inflicting huge loss of around Tk. 5 crore



District Correspondent, Barta24.com, Bandarban
Pic: Barta24.com

Pic: Barta24.com

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Nearly nine hundred houses of the pourashava and various unions have been destroyed by the sudden gale in nor'wester in Bandarban's Lama. Those concerned said that there has been a loss of more than Tk. 5 crore.

On Friday (May 03) talking to the officials of the administration, this information is known.

Two days after the norwester, most of the victims are still living under open sky. Bandarban Deputy Commissioner Shah Mojahid Uddin and Superintendent of Police Saikat Shaheen came to Lama today to see the victims. At that time, the Bandarban district administration distributed rice and clothes among the families affected by the norwester. These relief items were distributed in the Linejhiri area of Lama Pourashava at 5:30 pm on Friday.

Resident Engineer of Lama Electricity Department Sajjad Siddique said that in the early morning of May 01, the electricity department suffered extensive damage. 17 poles of 11 KV transmissions and 1 pole of 33 KV transmissions were broken, disrupting the normal operation of electricity transmission.

Electricity connection was restored to Lama Hospital and city areas by opening the main line on Friday. The most affected line was Chagalkhaiya, Lama Alikadam transmission line of 11 KV, about one and a half kilometers of power cable was broken and Alikadam connection could not be established. The officials and employees of the electricity department are working day and night simultaneously to restore the power lines. He said that electricity supply to Lama and Alikdam will be normal in two days.

Lama Upazila Project Implementation Officer (PIO) Monirul Islam said that information has been received that more than 900 houses have been damaged in five unions including Lama Pourashava. In this incident, members of the Red Crescent along with the mayor of Lama Pourashava and the locals have cut and cleared the branches of fallen trees on the road. Allotted food grains and some rations have been distributed immediately from the district administration. He said that the amount of damage may be more than Tk. 5 crore.

Lama Mayor Md. Zahirul Islam (Absar) said that there was a huge damage in Lama upazila during the cyclone last Wednesday night. Urban areas suffered the most damage. Only in the municipal area, one hundred and twenty houses were completely destroyed and three hundred houses were partially damaged. The amount of damage in the municipal area will be two and a half to three crore takas. Immediate rice and financial allocations have been received from the Ministry of Relief and Rehabilitation to assist the victims.

Lama upazila nirbahi officer Kamrul Hossain Chowdhury said that in Lama municipality, seven unions suffered extensive damage in the cyclone last Wednesday night. Six hundred to seven hundred houses were completely and partially damaged.

Adequate amount of relief allocation has been received from Bandarban Deputy Commissioner. Relief is being distributed among the victims on Thursday and Friday along with the chairman of seven unions of the upazila and the mayor of the pourashava. He said it would take time to estimate the total financial loss. 

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RRR President Anwar Hossain, Secretary Tawhidul Islam



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
RRR President Anwar Hossain, Secretary Tawhidul Islam

RRR President Anwar Hossain, Secretary Tawhidul Islam

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Reporters for Rail and Road (RRR) forum has elected President for the next two years - Prothom Alo Special Representative Md. Anwar Hossain and the General Secretary elected - Tauhidul Islam, Senior Reporter of Dainik Amader Somoy.

They were elected at the first annual general meeting of RRR held at a restaurant in the capital on Friday (03 May).

Other members of the Executive Committee are – Vice-President Partha Sarathi Das (Protidiner Sangbad), Joint Secretary Shipan Habib (Dainik Jugantar), Finance Secretary Shaheen Akhter (New Age), Organizational Secretary Tuhin Shubhra Adhikari (The Daily Star), Office, Publicity & Publication Secretary Taufiqul Islam (The Daily Sun), Training and Research Secretary Tarek Sikder (Boishakhi TV), Executive Member Munima Sultana (The Financial Express), Rajeev Ahmad (Dainik Samakal) and Ibrahim Mahmood Akash (Dainik Janakantha).

Apart from this, a cell of five members was formed for research and publication. The other members of the cell headed by Shamim Rahman (Bonik Barta) are Sajib Ghosh (Dainik Kaler Kantha), Al Amin Sajal (Independent TV), Taufiqul Islam (The Daily Sun) and Tarek Sikder (Boishakhi TV).

A committee of three members conducted the election.

Before the election, Finance Secretary Shaheen Akhtar and Outgoing Executive Committee General Secretary Tawhidul Islam presented their report, which was approved by voice vote. Almost all members of the organization were present in the event.

Established in March last year, Reporters for Rail and Road (RRR) forum is a Dhaka-based platform of professional and working journalists who report on road, railway, communication infrastructure and transport related sectors in reputed national dailies, television channels, radio stations and online. 

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