Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that engineers have to play a more effective role in environmental development, implementation of delta plan, fourth industrial revolution, construction of suitable infrastructure to deal with climate change and its adverse effects and achieving food and energy security.

She said, "I expect that engineers will play an important role in building a developed-rich smart golden Bangladesh of the Father of the Nation's dream by 2041."

She said this in a speech on Monday (May 6) on the occasion of the 76th anniversary of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) and 'Engineers Day' tomorrow.

The Prime Minister said, "I extend my best wishes and congratulations to all concerned on the occasion of the 76th anniversary of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) and 'Engineers Day'."

She said that the greatest Bengali of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman got the time to run the country for only 3 years 7 months 3 days after independence. During the war of liberation, Pak invading forces destroyed 278 railway bridges and 270 road bridges. He re-established communication by repairing and building roads, road-bridges, railways, rail-bridges destroyed in the war. In addition to repairing the damaged road bridges, Bangabandhu's government constructed about 490 kilometers of new roads. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib rebuilt the war-torn country in the fastest possible time. Engineers were one of the main associates of Bangabandhu in this work.

The Prime Minister said that the Awami League government has been responsible for running the country since 2009 and has implemented comprehensive programs for the development of road, rail, marine and communication infrastructure including Padma Bridge, Metro Rail, Elevated Expressway, Bangabandhu Tunnel, LNG Terminal, Rooppur Nuclear Power Project, 100 Special Economic Zones in the country. The Engineers have been  playing a key role in implementing these development activities.

She also said that our government is always on the side of engineers. During the period 1996-2001 we have registered 10 bigha land in Ramna for construction of IEB building. Besides, we have allocated Tk. 5 crore to start the building work, 72 bigha of land for construction of Engineering Staff College in Daudkandi, Tk. 46 crore to start the construction work of the 2nd phase of Staff College, KDA land allocation for Khulna center, 2 bigha for IEB in Purbachal. Land, provided land for Rangadia, Mymensingh, Faridpur, Dinajpur centers and Feni and Cox's Bazar sub-centres. I have allocated a total of Tk. 46 crore for the IEB building.

The Prime Minister wished for the overall success of all the programs undertaken on the occasion of the 76th anniversary of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB).

Minister of Social Welfare Dr. Dipu Moni said, entry of disabled people should be ensured in every sector. It should be ensured that they can freely enter vehicles, roads, bazaars and all institutions.

She said this while speaking as the chief guest at a function organized by the Society for the Welfare of Autistic Children (SWAC) on the occasion of the 17th World Autism Awareness Day 2024 at the Liberation War Museum auditorium in Agargaon of the capital on Monday (May 6).

Chaired by SWAC Subarna Chakma, the event was attended by, as special guests, President of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Change Dipankar Talukdar and Senior Vice President of FBCCI Md. Amin Helali.

The minister said that the Prime Minister's daughter, World Health Organization Regional Director Saima Wazed has played a pioneering role in creating awareness about autism in Bangladesh. As chairperson of the National Advisory Committee on Autism and Neurodevelopment Disorders, she has led the way in creating awareness and policy. She is largely responsible for the positive change that has taken place among people today regarding NDD and autism in the country. Autism awareness is being created among ordinary families in Bangladesh today and they are able to identify their child's disability. The government is standing by them with training and medical services. But we have to go further. I offer my respect and regards to the parents. Only they know how many obstacles they have to overcome constantly. I also salute the special teachers, and caregivers who are dedicated to working for these special children.

The minister said that the government, in order to create awareness about autism and proper management of their lifestyle, training, medical assistance, rehabilitation, Neuro Developmental Disabilities Protection Trust Act 2013, Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act 2013, Neuro Developmental Disabilities NDD Protection Trust Rules 2015, Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Rules 2015, Bangladesh Rehabilitation Counseling Act 2018, and Disability Special Education Policy 2019.

From the formulation of these laws and regulations and related activities, we can see how our present government is playing a leading role in protecting the rights of people with disabilities which will be written as a glorious chapter in the history of Bangladesh.

Under the NDD Protection Trust, activities are underway to establish 14 Autism and NDD Service Centers as a project in 14 locations in the country in the current financial year 2023-24. The minister also said that the process of establishing eight medical, educational and rehabilitation centers in eight divisions of the country is ongoing.

In order to protect the interests of the customers, the 'Payment and Settlement System Bill-2024' has been introduced in the JS to bring the non-bank payment service providers as well as the banks under the legal framework.

On Monday (06 May), the bill was sent to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance for further scrutiny after it was introduced by Minister of State for Finance Waseka Ayesha Khan. The committee has been asked to submit a report in this regard to JS within 15 days.

The Statement of Purpose and Reasons of the Bill states that there is no existing law in the country regarding Payment and Settlement system. Currently, all payment and settlement systems are being operated under Bangladesh Bank Order-1972, Bangladesh Payment and Settlement Systems Regulations-2014 and Regulations on Electronic Fund Transfer-2014. As there is no separate law in this regard, the banks are conducting activities under contract with Bangladesh Bank to comply with the regulations described for participating in various electronic transaction systems. Besides, there is currently no law regulating the payment activities of non-bank financial institutions. Therefore, in order to protect the interests of customers, an initiative has been taken to enact 'Payment and Settlement System Act-2024' under the legal framework of banks as well as non-bank payment service providers.

The bill states that the offenses committed under this Act are cognizable, non-bailable and non-committable. It has been said that no bank-company can participate in any payment system, manage payment system or provide payment service in electronic currency without the approval of Bangladesh Bank. Similarly, no individual organization or company can operate any payment system or provide payment services without obtaining a license from Bangladesh Bank. Violation of this provision shall be punishable with imprisonment for a maximum of 5 years or with a fine of up to Tk. 50 lakh or with both.

The bill also states that no person, organization or company can issue, buy and sell advance payment documents without the approval of Bangladesh Bank. Without the approval of Bangladesh Bank, no online or offline platform can operate any kind of investment, loan, money storage or financial transactions from the public. Violation of these provisions will be punishable with a maximum imprisonment of 5 years or a maximum fine of Tk. 50 lakh or both. 

At least 1 lakh 33 thousand metric tons of fish are produced more than the requirement in the country, said the Minister of Fisheries and Livestock Md. Abdur Rahman.

On Monday (April 6) in the afternoon session of the Jatiya Sangsad(JS), the Member of Parliament of Dhaka-14 Constituency Md. Mainul Hossain gave this information in response to a question. Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury presided over the session.

The Minister of Fisheries and Livestock said that in the fiscal year 2022-23, against the demand of 47 lakh 82 thousand metric tons, the total fish production in the country was 49 lakh 15 thousand metric tons. As a result, 1 lakh 33 thousand metric tons of fish are produced more than the requirement in the country.

Under the specific direction and dynamic leadership of the Prime Minister, 41 lakh 34 thousand metric tons of fish were produced in Bangladesh in 2016-17 against the target of 40 lakh 50 thousand metric tons. After 46 years of independence, Bangladesh has been able to achieve self-sufficiency in fish production, the Minister said.

Besides, the Minister said with the information of BBS, currently the people of the country are consuming 67.80 grams of fish per day on an average (25.00 kg against the annual demand of 23.72 kg per person).

The hatchery release program is being implemented under the revenue and development scheme to increase fish production in open water bodies. In the financial year 2022-2023, 215.43 metric tons under revenue sector and 100.25 metric tons under development projects have been released.

In the fiscal year 2022-23, 917 bill nurseries have been set up across the country under the revenue sector and 174 bill nurseries under the development scheme. 500 sanctuaries established in various rivers and inland open water bodies of the country are being managed by the beneficiaries in order to prevent the extinction of native fish species and protect their abundance.

During the fiscal year 2022-23, 389 fish sanctuaries have been repaired and managed under the revenue sector and 72 fish sanctuaries have been repaired and managed under development projects. In the past 15 years, 5 thousand 758 hectares of degraded water bodies have been rehabilitated and developed through various development projects under the Department of Fisheries. By increasing fish production in excavated reservoirs, income and employment opportunities have been created for the concerned beneficiaries.