Hasina, Manmohan to review bilateral ties

Bangladesh and India will review the progress made recently in bilateral relations to resolve more pending issues when the prime ministers of the two countries meet in the Maldives next week.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh are expected to hold talks on the sidelines of the 17th summit of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) at Addu Atoll in the Maldives, foreign office sources said.

?Hopefully, the two premiers will meet during the Saarc summit and discuss ways to boost cooperation on the basis of constant engagement,? Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes told daily sun over telephone from Kuala Lumpur.

The two leaders are also likely to discuss the issues that could not be unresolved during Singh?s recent visit to Bangladesh.

Failure to sign a deal on water sharing of Teesta River is a major issue that raised concerns at home and drew widespread criticism elsewhere including India.

In New Delhi, India?s Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai reportedly said on Saturday Hasina and Singh would review the bilateral relations apart from discussing ways to strengthen regional cooperation.

The diplomat told newsmen that the two leaders might discuss the issues that remained unresolved during the Indian premier?s tour of Bangladesh on September 6-7.

The two neighbouring countries signed a framework agreement to take the bilateral relations to a new height and boost cooperation for the sake of the two people.

Leaders of this region usually meet each other on the sidelines of Saarc summit and discuss bilateral issues.

Dhaka and New Delhi are set to work together to strengthen Saarc, an eight-member regional bloc that began its journey from Dhaka in 1985.

Source: daily-sun.com

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Hasina flays Khaleda for backing war criminals

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday said it is unfortunate that opposition leader Khaleda Zia ?stands against the trial of the war criminals.?

?In line with the aspiration of the mass people, process is underway to try the war criminals of the Liberation War. But unfortunately, our opposition leader has opposed the trial. Not only this, she is trying to protect the war criminals by launching movement,? she said.

Hasina made the remarks to Bangladeshi media personnel after paying tributes to the memory of WAS Ouderland, the lone foreigner-recipient of gallantry award Bir Pratik for his historic contribution as a freedom fighter during the 1971 War of Liberation.

Hasina placed a wreath at Ouderland?s memorial and stood in solemn silence for a while to show respect.

Ouderland, a Dutch citizen, was posted as the CEO of Bata operations in the

then East Pakistan on the eve of the liberation war. Brutal oppression and occupation of unarmed Bangladeshis by the Pakistani occupation forces reminded him of the similar brutalities perpetrated by the Nazis in occupied Europe.

He felt the acute need to make the world aware of the extent of genocide. As he was able to move freely as a foreigner, Ouderland took photographs of the atrocities committed by the Pakistani army and their local agents, and then passed the photographs to the world press.

As the war progressed, Ouderland who had fought in the World War II as a Sergeant in the Dutch Royal Signals Corps, secretly began to train and assist local youths around the Tongi industrial area to acquire the skill of guerrilla resistance.

Ouderland lived in Bangladesh till 1978 before he was transferred to Australia. He later settled in Australia and died after prolonged illness at the age of 84 and laid to eternal rest in Perth.

The prime minister said none can stop the government from trying the war criminals.

?Trial of the war criminals is the demand of the people including the youths. The war criminals would certainly be tried,?? she said.

?Until the war criminals are tried, peace won?t be established and stability won?t come to Bangladesh,? she added.

Replying to a question about dilly-dally in trying the war criminals, Hasina said the criminals would surely be tried.

She said: ?We came to power in 1996 after 21 years. The war criminals and their patrons had been in power since the killing of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15, 1975. Trial process has started and the war criminals would be tried.?

The Prime Minister recalled the great contribution of Ouderland to Bangladesh?s independence. ?The way a foreign national had fought for the liberation of our motherland is a great event to know by the young generation of Bangladesh,? she said. ?UNB

Source: daily-sun.com

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Come tap our liberal FDI policy, Hasina urges wealthy Germans

Berlin: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday sought German investment from both public and private sectors in pharmaceuticals, tourism, manufacturing, ICT, ceramics and renewable energy projects.

?There is also a huge potential for joint ventures in Bangladesh. We invite you to take advantage of the opportunities we have offered. We are eager to work in partnership with you for mutual gains and benefits,? she said at a seminar on trade and investment on the sidelines of the World Health Summit 2011 here.

Hasina has invited German entrepreneurs to cash in on investment opportunities in Bangladesh, declaring that her country has the most liberal foreign direct investment (FDI) regime in South Asia.

?Bangladesh allows the foreign investors for repatriation of hundred percent of their profits and equity. We are eager to work in partnership with you for mutual gains and benefits as we journey to the future,? she told a seminar on Monday.

Representatives of leading German companies including Macuanji GIZ, Commerce Bank, DHL, Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, Solar World AG, Federal Foreign Office of Germany and local parliament members attended the seminar on ?Bangladesh-Emerging Market? organised by German Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce at Hotel Adlon.

Hasina said, ?Come to Bangladesh and help us build ?Sonar Bangla? (Golden Bangladesh), a land of prosperous and happy people.?

She highlighted the business opportunities offered in Bangladesh for foreign investors and said Bangladesh has always relied on Germany as a trusted development and trading partner.

The two countries enjoy the best of relations based on shared values, she said.

German Ambassador to Bangladesh Hogler Michael gave the welcome speech while president of Bangladesh-German Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BGCCI) Saiful Islam made opening remarks.

Partner of McKinsey & Company Dr Achim Berg presented a case study report on readymade garments (RMG) industries while Chief Executive of PICARD Germany Thomas Picard spoke on leather industry investments in Bangladesh.

Deputy chief executive officer and MD of International Economic Affairs of German Chamber Federation (DIHK) Dr Volker Treiers, and president of Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry AK Azad, and Bangladesh Ambassador in Germany Mosud Mannan, spoke, among others, on the occasion.

The presentation was followed by a panel discussion in presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and moderated by editor of the Daily Star of Bangladesh Mahfuz Anam.

Touching upon Bangladesh?s economic success over the years, she said, ?Despite global economic downturn, the country during the present government?s tenure could maintain an average 6 percent GDP growth. Last year, the GDP growth was 6.7 percent.?

Bangladesh?s next Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) has been designed with the goal of achieving an average growth of around 8 percent, she said.

The Prime Minister also mentioned about export growth, increase of the remittance flow and said that Bangladesh in recent years has made vast advancement in manufacturing, infrastructure, human resource development, banking and corporate sectors.

?Our macroeconomic fundamentals are solid and we are socio-economically a stable country with a domestic market of 150 million people,? she said.

Referring to Bangladesh?s geographical location, Sheikh Hasina said the country bordering with India and close to China, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and South East Asia, might be a natural regional hub at the heart of an economic area of three billion people.

She said the government has taken steps for corporate tax holidays, cutting import duty on machinery import, bureaucratic tangle and reducing company setting up times from several months to a day.

Moreover, our Board of Investment (BOI) which deals with the needs of foreign investors is a modern, friendly institution with a ?one stop shop? service, she said.

The Prime Minister chose the occasion to point out that presence of free press, independent judiciary and statutory bodies such as Election Commission, Human Rights Commission and Anti-Corruption Commission, have ensured good governance and the rule of law in Bangladesh.

In this regard, she mentioned about Bangladesh?s ranking by a number of international organisations including Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Standard & Poor?s, Moody, UNCTAD, and World Bank for its business and investment worthiness.

Hasina said Bangladesh government has also undertaken infrastructure projects on a massive scale and adopted the public- private-partnership (PPP) policy to facilitate building more robust infrastructures in a short timeframe.

Construction of some highways, Dhaka city monorail, improved rail network, and new power stations are underway, she said, adding that her government added 2200 megawatt power in two years, which shows Bangladesh?s rapid advancement in energy provisions.

She said contracts for 34 new power plants were awarded and by the end of 2013 there will be no more energy shortages in Bangladesh. ?UNB, BSS

Source: daily-sun.com

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