“We will make the blue economy stronger by ensuring multifaceted use of the sea resources. So, I call upon the local and foreign investors to invest in Bangladesh as we can extract more marine resources,” she said.

The premier said this while inaugurating Bangladesh International Aquaculture and Seafood Show-2024 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) here.

She also asked all concerned to take effective measures to maintain due standard in collection, distribution and processing of the fishes to increase its export, as the fish will be the Bangladesh’s second largest foreign currency earning sector.

The prime minister said her government has done a little in collecting fishes and other sea resources in deep sea as the local investors did not show interest to this end.

“So, we need foreign investment in this connection. This is the reality,” she said.

She opined that the local and foreign investors can invest in joint collaboration or separately in the sector.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has achieved a vast sea area through legal battle with neighbouring India and Myanmar following the footsteps of the Father of the Nation.

“We have huge sea resources. So, we have to give due attention as the vast marine resources can contribute properly to our economy,” she said.

The premier said her government has attached priorities on extracting mineral resources that include gas and oil alongside fish from the deep sea.

She said it is necessary to increase the production of seafood including fish, seaweeds, snail and oysters as the demand of seafood and aquaculture is increasing day by day across the globe.

“If we can maintain global standard in collecting and processing the seafood, we can export those more,” she said.

Mentioning that fishes are the safest sources of protein and people are leaning to fishes, she said her government has set a target to produce 85 lakh metric tonnes of fishes by 2041.

The prime minister called upon the youth folk both male and female to pay more attention to fish production as Bangladesh has many rivers, khals, beels and vast sea areas.

“We want our young generation will further come in production, collection and processing of the fishes,” she said.

The prime minister said researches are going on to include local species of fish alongside Hilsha and lobster in the export basket.

She, however, stressed the need for maintaining global standard in production, collection and export of fishes.

To support flourishing the fisheries, she said her government has given Taka 40 crore separately for the fish traders.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdur Rahman, MP, the ministry’s Parliamentary Standing Committee Chairman, SM Rezaul Karim, Managing Director of Germany based Planquadrat, Martin Geskes and President of Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association, Kazi Belayet Hossain, spoke at the function.

Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Syed Mahmud Belal Haider gave the address of welcome.

An audio-visual presentation on the overall development of the fisheries and livestock was screened.

A BGB press release signed by the Public Relations Officer Md Shariful Islam issued here stated that, 229 platoons BGB will remain vigilant on the streets, highways and important places across the country to ensure security and safety of the commoners.

Earlier on Monday (July 16), BGB was deployed in Dhaka, Gazipur, Chattogram, Bogura, Rangpur and Rajshahi on similar grounds.

Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh accused Israel of deliberately undermining negotiations for a truce and hostage release deal because it did not want to end the war.

The Israeli military said it had carried out 25 strikes in 24 hours, targeting “military structures, terrorist infrastructure, terrorist cells and rigged structures”.

Netanyahu, who has repeatedly vowed to eradicate Hamas, insisted Tuesday that despite mounting pressure, there would be no let-up in Israel’s campaign against the militants.

“This is exactly the time to increase the pressure even more, to bring home all the hostages — the living and the dead — and to achieve all the war objectives,” he said.

He rammed home the point in a speech to parliament, saying: “We have got them by the throat; we are on the road to absolute victory.”

The health ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza said 52 people, most of them women and children, had been killed in Israeli strikes over the previous 24 hours.

The territory’s civil defence agency said 30 people had been killed in three strikes in Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza — one on a UN-run school, another on a house and a third on a mosque.

Later on Wednesday it reported 15 deaths across central and northern Gaza from Israeli action, while the health ministry reported three children and a woman killed near Khan Yunis.

In southern Gaza, two people were killed in Israeli bombardment of the Shakush area, northwest of Rafah, a medical source at Nasser Hospital said.

– Talks deadlock –

At least 90 percent of Gazans have been forced from their homes, many of them seeking refuge in UN-run schools. Seven of these schools have been hit by Israeli strikes since July 6.

Nearly 70 percent of UN-run schools across Gaza have been hit during more than nine months of fighting, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said on Tuesday.

“Why do they target us when we are innocent people?” asked Umm Mohammed al-Hasanat, sheltering with her family at a UN-run school in Nuseirat, which was among those hit.

“We do not carry weapons but are just sitting and trying to find safety for ourselves and our children.”

Washington has been pushing for a truce deal between Israel and Hamas since President Joe Biden released details of what he said was an Israeli ceasefire roadmap on May 31.

But despite the efforts of Egyptian and Qatari mediators, indirect negotiations between the foes have made no headway.

In a telephone call with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan late Tuesday, the Hamas leader blamed Israel for the deadlock.

“We dealt positively with the proposals put to us by the mediators but the occupation is avoiding the required outcome and does not want to reach an agreement under which it ends its war,” Haniyeh said.

His comments came after a senior Hamas official said Sunday that the group was withdrawing from the current talks following Israel’s deadly strikes but was ready to return if its attitude changes.

– Hostage families demand deal –

The war began with Hamas’s unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel which resulted in the deaths of 1,195 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.

The militants also seized 251 hostages, 116 of whom are still in Gaza including 42 the Israeli military says are dead.

Israel responded with a military offensive that has killed at least 38,794 people, also mostly civilians, according to figures from the Gaza health ministry.

The war has devastated the coastal territory and left Gazans suffering shortages of food, medicines and basic goods.

At a press conference on Wednesday, the World Health Organization’s representative in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, Rik Peeperkorn, said that only 16 aid trucks had entered the Gaza Strip via the Kerem Shalom border crossing during the last month, while dozens of trucks were still waiting to do so.

The main crossing point for aid, Rafah, which connects Gaza with Egypt, has been closed for months since Israel sent ground troops into the city.

The WHO also said that out of the territory’s 36 hospitals, only 15 were partially functioning and that there had been more than a thousand attacks against health facilities in Gaza since October.

Meanwhile, the US military announced that its problem-plagued mission to deliver aid via a temporary pier had officially ended.

Vice Admiral Brad Cooper told reporters the mission was “complete, so there’s no more need to use the pier”.

“We have to show the highest honour to the freedom fighters,” she said while handing over Prime Minister’s Fellowship (PMF)-2024 at a programme at her office here.

The prime minister said all have to keep in mind that the freedom fighters had brought the country’s independence by shedding bloods during the great Liberation War in 1971 at the directive of the Father of the Nation.

Many of them had sacrificed their lives and many others became crippled to achieve the independence during the Liberation War, she said.

“So, I think, their honour will be the highest,” she added.

Once upon a time, the freedom fighters were deprived, she said, adding that she had provided all supports to them since she assumed office.

“So, they can say with proud that they are freedom fighters,” she continued.

The premier said freedom fighters are touted to be freedom fighters to her despite the fact they may have different of opinion or can be involved in other political parties.

“So, all of them are respected to me. I want the people of the country to show them due respect decades after decades,” she said.

The prime minister asked the fellows of the Prime Minister Fellowship to take responsibilities of the country prior to going abroad for higher study.

“They have many things to give. They have to develop the country further in the future,” she said.

The premier asked them to remember that they are going abroad for higher education with the fellowship at the money of the countrymen.

Keep in mind, the money which is being spent for your higher education, is the money of the people, she said.

“You have to pay special attention to serve the people,” she added.

Sheikh Hasina also asked them to work for the country and its people after returning to country upon completion of the degrees.

She said her government will give a permanent shape of the fellowship by forming a trust with enacting a law as none can stop it likewise the then BNP government.

The premier said after assuming power, the BNP government had stopped the fellowship which the Awami League government introduced after coming to power for the first time in 1996.

This year, as many as 11 persons have got PhD and 39 got masters fellowships.

So far, 308 masters fellows and 116 PhD fellows have been awarded the scholarship at the expense of around Tk 336 crore to facilitate their study at world-class universities. Of them, 215 masters fellows and 26 PhD fellows have already completed their degrees.

The fellowship is being given in three categories —government officers (BCS), government officers (Non-BCS) and others (private candidates).

The PMF was introduced in 2018 by the premier to facilitate the capacity development of resources across all sectors.

The Governance Innovation Unit (GIU), Prime Minister’s Office, has been entrusted with the responsibility of the management of the PMF.

PMF fellows study in many reputed universities in different countries including the USA, the UK, Australia and Netherlands.

PM’s Education and Cultural Affairs Adviser Dr. Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury and PM’s Principal Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah, spoke at the function.

GIU Director General Dr. Mohammad Abdul Latif gave the address of welcome.

Some of the PhD and masters fellows expressed their feelings on getting the fellowship and thanked the prime minister for awarding them with the fellowships to help turn their dreams into reality and pledged to work for the welfare of Bangladesh and its people.

A video documentary on the fellowship was screened at the function.

Sheikh Hasina said the children are now very meritorious as they are currently studying in many famous universities across the globe at the age of technology.

“I want to tell our children to cash in on the scope created by the technology to flourish your talents,” she said.

The prime minister said Bangladesh needs to move keeping pace with the technological advancement.

“We have to march ahead with same pace of the world. It is our target and we want generation after generation to pursue the target— we don’t want to lag behind,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has attached topmost priority on education following the footsteps of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as no nation can prosper and develop without education.

She said her government has also taken various measures that include setting up colleges, universities and offering fellowships for higher study to make sure overall development of the education.

The premier said the government has made the education multi-dimensional with setting up different types of universities such as maritime, aerospace, aviation and science and technologies.

She mentioned her government’s priority on research and science and asked the scholars to give importance on research.

The prime minister also said her government will build a developed, prosperous and Smart Bangladesh by 2041.

She also expressed her hope to launch the second Bangabandhu satellite in a more developed way.

“We are going to start the work of launching Bangabandhu Satellite-2 within three months,” she said.

A part of the quota protesters are making statements in favour of razakars and it is clear that BNP-Jamaat is provoking the movement against quota system in the government services, he said.

The minister made the remarks while addressing a press briefing at AL president’s office in city’ Dhanmondi.

Condemning the attack on Chhatra League centering the quota movement, Obaidul Quader said the movements which are being held targeting the country’s independence and the liberation war will be resisted. Steps will be taken on time, he added.

He said attacks were carried out on Chhatra League and general students without any instigation on Monday. About 500 leaders and activists of Chhatra League were injured in the attack, he added.

“We are expressing deep condemnation of the attack. Now they are spreading propaganda in social platform using fake pictures of Chhatra League leaders and activists,” he continued.

The AL general secretary said a vested group is behind the quota movement. In the past, BNP was depended on the quota movement and carried out arson terrorism, he said.

But, he said, they (BNP-Jamaat) didn’t become success for the strong stance of the countrymen.

He said Tarique Rahman is leading the quota movement and his party BNP is supporting the movement openly. They are trying to turn a non-political movement into a political one, he added.

He said they are distorting the statements of the Prime Minister. The Premier didn’t tell anyone of the protesters rajakar, he said.

About a comment of US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller, Quader strongly condemned the statements of Miller.

AL Presidium Members Dr Abdur Razzak and Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Joint General secretaries Mahabub-ul Alam Hanif and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organising Secretaries BM Mozammel Haqaue and SM Kamal Hossain, among others, were present.

“Use of unverified information to make such baseless claims can fuel violence and undermine Bangladesh government’s efforts to maintain a peaceful environment to allow non-violent protests or movement,” Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Seheli Sabrin told media today.

She said the Foreign Ministry is “extremely disappointed” by the response of Mathew Miller, Spokesperson of the US State Department, to a question during a regular press briefing on July 15, 2024 (Washington time), where he made such unsubstantiated claims.

The spokesperson said freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are cornerstones of democracy, and the government remains steadfast to uphold those rights of the citizens while also safeguarding public property and order.

She said violence does not have any place in democracy and politics.

“We have recently witnessed with horror an attempt on the life of former US President Donald Trump during a peaceful rally in Pennsylvania, USA,” Sabrin said.

She said they are “deeply concerned” by the incident and such violence runs against the core values of democracy.

“The Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh have separately condemned the attack and sighed relief learning that Trump was safe and recovering,” she said.

Sabrin said Dhaka is committed to working together with the US to uphold democracy and democratic values.

“We don’t want to limit ourselves with some export items. We have to expand exports. So, we have to diversify our export items,” she said.

The premier made the remarks as the chief guest while handing over the National Export Trophy to 77 top exporters in 32 categories for the fiscal year of 2021-22 at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium here.

She said the economy of America and European countries have now been under pressure and their purchasing capacities have declined and inflation has increased.

“So, pay attention to these countries (Middle East (ME), gulf countries, Africa, South Asia, South East Asia, East Asia and East Europe as the next destination of export),” she said.

The prime minister asked all concerned to find out which country needs what product through research and diversify export items in accordance with their demand.

“We will no more limit us with only one Readymade Garment (RMG) products for export as the demand of same product will not remain same all the times,” she said.

She asked all to modify the design and fashion of the products to cope with the changing trends and desires for goods over the period.

The prime minister said digital divide or information communication technologies are in the highest demand across the globe.

“If we can produce digital divide more, we can export those,” she added.

Apart from these, pharmaceuticals, leather and leather goods, jute and jute goods, agriculture and food processing items, fruits, frozen fishes including shrimp and crafts can be exported abroad, she said.

“Jute is environment friendly and there is nothing which can’t be produced from the jute,” she said, adding Bangladesh can earn huge foreign currencies exporting the jute items.

She went on saying a revolution has created in agriculture sector in Bangladesh.

“Many agricultual products are being produced. We can export agriculture products abroad by diversifying those,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina reiterated her call to pursue economic diplomacy alongside the political one to make the country financially solvent.

She said her government has done massive development up to the villages aimed at increasing purchasing capacities of the grassroots people and their living standard.

“There is huge demand of our produced goods in our local market as the purchasing capacities of the commoner have increased,” she said.

Turning to the award recipients, she said the recognition will encourage them more in export and thus they will make contribution to the national economy.

Among the award winning exporters, Rifat Garments Ltd, in readymade garment (RMG) woven category, received the highest recognition, the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Export Trophy, for highest export earnings in the fiscal 2021-22.

The winning exporters received gold, silver and bronze awards. Some 28 firms were conferred gold awards, 27 silver and the rest 21 bronze awards.

State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu, the ministry’s Parliamentary Standing Committee Chairman Tipu Munshi, Commerce Secretary Md Selim Uddin, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Vice Chairman Md Anwar Hossain and Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Mahbubul Alam, spoke on the occasion.

Rifat Garments Ltd Director Sajid Azad expressed feelings on winning the highest recognition, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Export Trophy.

Deputy Managing Director of Picard Bangladesh Amrita Makin Islam expressed feelings on winning gold medal for highest export earnings in leather and leather goods category.

A documentary on export business was screened at the function.

“If needed, Bangladesh could offer a separate land in Cox’s Bazar where the Thai investors could flourish their tourism business,” she said.

The premier said this while visiting Adviser to the Prime Minister of Thailand Dr Nalinee Taveesin called on her at her official residence Ganabhaban here.

PM’s Press Secretary Md Nayeemul Islam Khan briefed the reporters after the meeting.

Dr Nalinee, who poses the rank of minister, is now visiting Bangladesh as part of her four-day official visit. She is also a Thai trade representative.

She arrived in Dhaka on Saturday and is leading a Thai business delegation.

The prime minister said upon completion of the Cox’s Bazar international airport, it would be easier to communicate with Thailand.

She mentioned that as the maritime boundary of the country has been identified, it would be better to do every work making it related with the Blue Economy.

“As the maritime boundary has been established, we now have immense opportunities, and investors from Thailand can establish a joint venture with any local investor for utilising their expertise here,” she said

Dr Nalinee said they are trying to find good matching in energy, logistics, food processing, sea food and tourism.

“They are actively searching partner here, and they are working,” the PM’s press secretary said.

He said the Thai delegation also expressed their interest in halal food processing industry as they have thousands of halal food products.

“They told that there is an extraordinary opportunity for Bangladesh to collaborate in this sector for grabbing global and national markets,” Khan said.

PM’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, Ambassador-at-Large Mohammad Ziauddin and Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah were present.

She conferred the trophy in 32 categories for outstanding contributions to the country’s export earnings and overall economy at a programme held at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium here.

Among the award winning exporters, Rifat Garments Ltd, in readymade garment (RMG) woven category, received the highest recognition, the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Export Trophy, for highest export earnings in the fiscal 2021-22.

The winning exporters received gold, silver and bronze awards. Some 28 firms were conferred gold awards, 27 silver and the rest 21 bronze awards.

State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu, the ministry’s Parliamentary Standing Committee Chairman Tipu Munshi,Commerce Secretary Md Selim Uddin, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Vice Chairman Md Anwar Hossain and Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Mahbubul Alam, spoke on the occasion.

Rifat Garments Ltd Director Sajid Azad expressed feelings on winning the highest recognition, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Export Trophy.

Deputy Managing Director of Picard Bangladesh Amrita Makin Islam expressed feelings on winning gold medal for highest export earnings in leather and leather goods category.

A documentary on export business was screened at the function.

The summit in Washington produced announcements including F-16 transfers to Ukraine and a US plan to deploy long-range missiles in Germany, with Russia warning of a response to the “very serious threat” from NATO.

“I shared my views candidly here that NATO should never be allowed to be a party to the war in Ukraine,” Erdogan told a news conference after the 75th anniversary summit.

Erdogan said that Turkey, a rare NATO member not to join sanctions on Russia, supported the “territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.”

“I also emphasized that diplomacy should not be excluded and that negotiations do not necessarily mean surrendering,” he said.

White House candidate Donald Trump, who in his previous term forged a close if complicated relationship with Erdogan, has spoken of forcing a settlement on Ukraine if he defeats President Joe Biden in November.

Biden used the summit to rally Western allies to defend Ukraine through a steady flow of weapons and promises of a path for Kyiv to join NATO — a prospect that is anathema to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, in comments published by Russian news agencies, said that NATO was now “fully involved in the conflict over Ukraine.”

– Balancing act –
Turkey has sought to balance ties between its two Black Sea neighbors Russia and Ukraine since Moscow’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

Ankara has sent drones to Ukraine but shied away from Western-led sanctions on Moscow.

Last year, Erdogan said Ukraine “undoubtedly” deserved NATO membership when he met President Volodymyr Zelensky.

On Thursday, Erdogan also played down the influence of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a regional bloc that Moscow and Beijing have promoted as a counterweight to US hegemony.

“We do not think that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is an alternative to NATO,” Erdogan said.

Turkey has been an SCO dialogue partner since 2012 and Erdogan said at its summit earlier this month he wanted full membership.

Namik Tan, a lawmaker for the opposition CHP party who previously served as Turkey’s ambassador to the United States, called out the government for its friendly relations with Russia.

“We were the only NATO country that attended the 24th SCO Summit last week,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

“Isn’t it a contradiction?”

Erdogan, who has roots in political Islam and is an outspoken critic of Israel, also called for more NATO involvement in the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

“Israel’s threats and attempts to spread the conflict must come to an end,” he said.

“Otherwise, our region will face the risk of deeper conflicts and even a war.”