Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday strongly condemned the ‘senseless killing of innocent people’ in Russia saying Bangladesh is with other countries in fight against terrorism in its all forms and manifestations.

In a condolence message to the Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, she expressed deep shock at the killing of 10 people and injuries to many others in a terrorist attack on a subway train in St Petersburg.

President Md Abdul Hamid yesterday urged global leaders to work together to fight social disparities, human inequalities, militancy and terrorism to make the world a safe place for living. The President said this while delivering a speech at the dinner at Bangabhaban in honor of the delegation of 136th IPU assembly.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) yesterday approved an education project at an estimated cost of Tk 1,353 crore to ensure ICT use at the secondary and higher secondary levels. The approval came from an ECNEC meeting held at the NEC conference room here with ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. A total of seven projects were approved involving an overall estimated cost of Tk 7,890 crore. In the meeting Prime Minister directed authorities concerned to take necessary measures to construct new buildings for the government officials and employees to keep abandoned homesteads across the country under the government possession.

Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) said the 63rd Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) will be held in Dhaka in November this year. She came up with the information when a Canadian delegation, now attending the 136th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) assembly, met her at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city yesterday.

The draft resolution on the role of parliament in respecting the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of states yesterday was adopted by 44-10 votes at a special committee meeting in the 136th assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), which is being held in the capital.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali told journalists that Bangladesh will not make any secret deal with India, instead all agreements made in New Delhi will be made public. The Minister said this at a press briefing at his ministry’s conference room on the upcoming visit to India by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday.

Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Nurul Islam BSc said the government has taken different steps to provide facilities to the expatriate Bangladeshis and their families. The Minister was addressing at a discussion in Geneva, Switzerland on April 3.

Saima Wazed Hossain, Chairperson of Bangladesh National Advisory Committee for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, yesterday said children with autism need special intervention and caring to unlock their hidden talent for making valuable contribution to the society. She said this after the Speaker of National Parliament Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury unveiled the cover of an art book of autistic children named Unique Glimpses’ in a simple function at a hall in Bangabandhu International Conference Centre yesterday, on the fourth day of the 136th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in the capital.

State Minister for Posts and Telecommunications Tarana Halim yesterday while speaking at a press briefing at the secretariat said Facebook will not be blocked for any particular period of the day or night.

The Central Bank of the country has set 9 percent interest rate of the loan funds for women entrepreneurs in small and cottage industry after reducing the refinancing interest rate. Bangladesh Bank (BB) on Monday issued a circular for banks and financial institutions in this regard.

 – Press Wing London, 05 April 2017