The country's hotels and restaurants may be in danger again. It is feared that new restrictions will be imposed due to the new variant of coronavirus, Omicron. However, the government has not yet set a deadline for selling food in the lockdown.

A statement signed by the director of the disease control branch of the health department, Prof Dr. Nazmul Islam, on Sunday (November 26th) called for strict implementation of the measures.

Extreme caution is needed in South Africa and other countries after the discovery of the new variant of coronavirus, Omicron. The World Health Organization has warned all countries about this.

To prevent this new variant, hotel-restaurant seating arrangements need to be halved or less. At the same time, half of the capacity or less can participate in public gatherings, tourist spots, recreation centers, resorts, community centers, cinema halls, theater halls, and social events (weddings, weddings, birthdays, picnics, parties, etc.).

The Department of Health also said that measures should be taken to discourage all kinds of social, political, religious, and other public gatherings.

According to the Restaurant Owners Association, there are about 8,000 restaurants in the Dhaka metropolis and about two and a half lakh workers work in this sector.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said a vested quarter continues misleading people by spreading various rumours, but there is nothing for the people to be misguided.

“Today some words are being propagated in many ways and it will continue for many days. Many people can be misled. I would like to say there is nothing to be misguided,” she said.

The premier was addressing the graduation ceremony of National Defence Course-2022 and Armed Forces War Course-2022 at Sheikh Hasina Complex of Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) in Mirpur Cantonment.

Hasina said it is unfortunate for Bangladesh that when the country advances to economic progress amid a peaceful environment, all people don’t like it.

Talking about the world economic crisis induced by the war and economic sanctions, she said her government has still been able to keep Bangladesh stable.

“A quarter continues misleading the people through saying many things and injecting fear among the people,” she said.

The PM said her government has been able to raise the reserve of foreign currencies to $ 48 billion during the Covid-19 period from only $ 5 billion in 2009. Then the money from the reserve was spent to procure Covid-19 vaccines and testing kits, food and others, she added.  

She said her government’s goal is always to develop Bangladesh socio-economically. “We’ll continue to make socio-economic development of Bangladesh keeping its people free from terrorism, militancy, terrorism, drug and corruption. We don’t want war with anyone,” she added.

Hasina said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman framed a foreign policy where he said friendship with all, malice towards none.

“We’ve friendly relations with every country. We’re marching forward. Because, we don’t want war, rather we want peace. We witnessed the consequences of the war. If there is any problem, we solve it through negotiation,” she continued.

In this context, she mentioned solutions to maritime disputes with neighbours in a peaceful way and implementation of land boundary agreement through discussions.

The PM stressed the need for attaining economic independence. “Unless we can attain economic self-reliance, we won’t be able to uphold our independence and its spirit. So, we’ve been working to accomplish the goal," she said.

She said today Bangladesh has got the status of a developing country thanks to the continuation of an uninterrupted democratic trend and her government’s special attention paid to socio-economic development.

She put emphasis on upholding the recognition of a developing nation.

The PM said the Armed Forces stand always beside the people in any disaster and trouble. They earned public trust and confidence inside the country. The armed forces and police are getting acclamation from the United Nations for playing their roles efficiently in the peacekeeping missions in foreign lands, she added.

The PM extended her sincere thanks to the armed forces for upholding the image of the country.

She also congratulated the fresh NDC and AFWC graduates on their successful completion of their respective courses.

- UNB

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said Awami League (AL) never forgets the contribution of the freedom fighters, adding her government is building the country with the spirit and ideology of the War of Liberation.

"We never forget the contribution of the freedom fighters (FFs). And that is why we've taken initiative to build Bangladesh with the spirit and ideology of the War of Liberation," she said.

The premier said this while addressing a reception accorded to the gallantry award winning freedom fighters of the armed forces and their heirs, marking the Armed Forces Day-2022 at Dhaka Cantonment.

She said they are searching out the FFs who are in negligence and are taking all out measures to ensure their facilities such as FF allowance.

"It's our duty to work for those who had taken arms in their hands in reply to the clarion call of my father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to make the country independent," she added.

She continued that there might be different ideologies among the FFs, "but we didn't look down on their contribution and didn't show any negligence to them".

The head of government said, "We will remember your (FFs) contribution forever. We are working to preserve the memories of the War of Liberation".

She added that if the young generation knows the history of victory by seeing the memories of the War of Liberation, they will be inspired and will try to know how to work for the nation.

She also said the government is establishing Muktijoddha Complex in each Upazila and has also taken measures to preserve the historic Suhrawardy Udyan where the Father of the Nation had given historic March 7 speech, delivered directives to govern the country after the independence and where Pakistani occupation forces surrendered.

"So, any one will never disrespect the FFs. None will see the FFs and their families in the eyes of negligence in future," the premier added.

She also mentioned that her government has increased the allowance for FFs and it will continue from generation to generation.

The prime minister said Bangladesh has witnessed huge development and prosperity as the AL has been in power for the last 14 years in a row.

"We have to advance more as a developing country and take the country forward into a developed one. And I've formulated that plan. We've formulated Vision-2041 and Delta Plan-2100 for the future generations," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said that as the victorious nation people of the country will roam around the world with their heads ever high. "And we have achieved that. But, we have to advance more in the coming days," she said.

She also said the government is constructing houses for the homeless people to give them scope for changing their lives and fate.

"We are trying tirelessly. Now at least we can say that the people of the world will not see Bangladeshis in a neglected way," she added.

The premier said as a party the AL and the government never forget the contributions of the freedom fighters.

She added, "And that is why we have taken steps to build Bangladesh in line with the spirit of the Liberation War."

She said the country has to move further, creating its solid base so that it could step into the developed country from the developing one. "We are working for that aim," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said COVID-19 pandemic, Russia-Ukraine war, sanction and counter sanction has put Bangladesh in deep trouble along with the world and the prices of essentials have increased.

In this connection, she said that Bangladesh has to procure items like edible oil, fuel oil, wheat, corn, lentil etc. from abroad.

She mentioned that, "The transportation cost has increased, so we are facing problems. But we are not sitting idle. I've already urged all not to leave one inch of land uncultivated to ease the sufferings of the people and avert the economic recession."

The prime minister said the government is taking appropriate steps to overcome the problems arisen from the war, for which, the whole world is suffering a lot.

Briefly describing various measures for the freedom fighters and their families, she said that no one will never ever look at them with an attitude of dishonor and negligence.

- BSS

Five police men have been suspended in the incident of snatching two militants from the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court premises on Sunday.

 The police officers were suspended by Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Monday, confirmed Deputy Commisioner of DMP's media wing Faruk Hossain during a press briefing in the capital.

The suspended officers are - Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) court jail's Inspector Matiur Rahman, Jail Incharge (SI) Nahidur Rahman Bhuiyan, those responsible of taking the convicts to jail including Police Assistant Town Sub-Inspector Mohiuddin Pal, Constables Sharif Hasan and Abdus Sattar.

According to police, the incident took place around 12:45pm on Sunday when four accused were taken to Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Dhaka in order to produce them before the Anti-Terrorism Tribunal.

Four people on two motorbike riders came in and blinded the cops by spraying their faces when the officers were taking the convicts to court.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said Bangladesh has changed a lot and will march towards development and prosperity as the Awami League is in power for last 14 years.

"We have to advance more as a developing country and turn it into a developed one. And we have formulated that plan. We have formulated Vision 2041 and Delta Plan 2100 for future generations," she said.

Sheikh Hasina was addressing a reception accorded to the gallantry award-winning freedom fighters of the armed forces and their heirs marking the AFD-2022 at Dhaka Cantonment.

She said that as the victorious nation people of the country will roam around the world with their heads ever high.

"And we have achieved that."

The prime minister said that the government is constructing homes for homeless people to give them scope for changing their lives and fate. 

"We are trying tirelessly. Now at least we can say that the people of the world will not undermine Bangladeshis," she said.

- UNB

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today paid glowing tributes to the martyred members of the Bangladesh Armed Forces on the occasion of the Armed Forces Day-2022.

The prime minister paid the homage by placing a wreath at the Shikha Anirban (flame eternal) in Dhaka Cantonment this morning.

After laying the wreath, she stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the armed forces martyrs, who made supreme sacrifices during the War of Liberation.

A smartly-turned out contingent drawn from Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force presented a guard of honour at that time, while the bugle played the last post.

Later, Sheikh Hasina, also in-charge of the Ministry of Defence, signed the visitors’ book kept on the premises of Shikha Anirban.

Earlier, on her arrival at the Shikha Anirban, the premier was received by Chief of Army Staff General S M Shafiuddin Ahmed, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan and Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the Armed Forces Division (AFD) Lieutenant General Waker-Uz-Zaman.

After the wreath-placing ceremony, the prime minister went to the Armed Forces Division (AFD) where her Security Adviser Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique and chiefs of the three services made a courtesy call on her.

On her arrival at the AFD, Sheikh Hasina was received by the PSO and director generals of the AFD.

On this day during the War of Liberation in 1971, the Bangladesh Armed Forces, comprising Army, Navy and Air Force, came into being and launched an all-out attack on the Pakistani occupation forces which sped up the victory in the Liberation War.

After the independence of the country, this historic day is being observed as the Armed Forces Day every year.

- BSS