Obama accepts Hasina's invitation to visit BangladeshSeptember 24th, 2009 DHAKA - US President Barack Obama has accepted an invitation by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to visit Bangladesh, media reports said Thursday. Seated next to Obama at a working dinner hosted by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Hasina spoke on Bangladesh's woes in an era of climate change.
Clinton to wrap up Africa tour in Cape VerdeAugust 14th, 2009 NAIROBI/PRAIA - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was due to wrap up her seven-nation Africa tour in the tiny archipelago nation of Cape Verde Friday. Clinton was on the last day of an 11-day tour aimed at highlighting the Obama administration's commitment to the continent and promoting better governance.
Hasina sidelines party veterans, inducts six new ministersJuly 31st, 2009 DHAKA - Bangladesh Prime Minister and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina Friday removed four "reformists" from the party's presidium and inducted six new ministers in the government as part of sweeping changes. 'Reformists' are those who attempted intra-party reforms while Hasina was in jail on graft charges during 2007-08 and whose loyalty to her was doubtful, media reports said.
Bangladesh cabinet approves lifelong protection for Hasina, familyJuly 28th, 2009 DHAKA - Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Rehana and their children will get Special Security Force (SSF) protection in view of threats to their lives, as per an executive order. Hasina Monday chaired a cabinet meeting that approved the Father of the Nation's Family Members' Security Bill 2009 with immediate effect "to ensure lifelong and foolproof security", New Age newspaper reported Tuesday.
Cabinet approves special lifelong protection for Hasina, familyJuly 28th, 2009 DHAKA - Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Rehana and their children will get Special Security Force (SSF) protection in view of threats to their lives as per an executive order. Hasina Monday chaired a cabinet meeting that approved the 'Father of the Nation's Family Members' Security Bill 2009' with immediate effect "to ensure lifelong and foolproof security", New Age newspaper reported Tuesday.
Obama says tour of Ghanaian slave fortress should be eye-opener for daughtersJuly 11th, 2009 Obama: Daughters should learn from slave tourCAPE COAST, Ghana — President Barack Obama says he hopes his family's tour of a former slave fortress on the coast of Ghana shows his daughters that history can take very cruel turns. Eleven-year-old Malia and eight-year-old Sasha accompanied Obama on a tour of Cape Coast Castle Saturday.
Graft cases against Hasina, Zia being reviewedMay 11th, 2009 DHAKA - While Bangladesh's courts hear the government recommendation that 11 cases against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina be dropped, a senior law officer Monday began scrutiny of documents relating to 20 graft cases against opposition leader Khaleda Zia and her family. The cases were instituted by the military-backed caretaker government that ruled the country 2007-08.
With husband unwell, Hasina may alter America tour plansMay 9th, 2009 DHAKA - Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina may be forced to alter her plans to visit North America due to her husband's failing health, media reports said Saturday. Hasina visited he husband, retired nuclear scientist M.A.
Islamist militancy a threat in Bangladesh: US envoyMay 4th, 2009 DHAKA - Islamist militancy continues to be a threat in Bangladesh, the US ambassador to this country has said, adding 'we do have disturbing indications'. 'We do have disturbing indications.
India, US to maintain dialogue on climate changeMarch 26th, 2009 WASHINGTON - India and the US have agreed to continue their high level dialogue on climate change in the run up to the Copenhagen conference to evolve a new global regime on the issue. The agreement came as Prime Minister's Manmohan Singh's Special Envoy on climate change, Shyam Saran, Wednesday concluded the first high-level interaction with Obama administration on climate change and related matters.
Dhaka plans to train 10,000 IT programmers every yearMarch 26th, 2009 DHAKA - Bangladesh plans to train 10,000 programmers a year by introducing compulsory IT education at the high school level by 2013 and for primary students by 2021, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced. The present capacity is 2,500 IT programmers annually.
Do not force me to take action: Hasina warns mutineersFebruary 26th, 2009 DHAKA - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in an address to the nation Thursday afternoon, asked the mutinous Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) troopers to lay down their arms and warned that she would take 'strong action if compelled to do so'. Hasina, in the address at about 2.30 p.m., said she had granted general amnesty to the rebels and assured them that they would not be harmed in any way if they give up their 'suicidal' mission.
Zia criticises Hasina as she is being sworn in as PMJanuary 6th, 2009 DHAKA - Former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia launched a broadside against her political rival and now prime minister Sheikh Hasina even as the swearing-in ceremony was being conducted, accusing her of 'killing, snatching and criminal activities'. Upset at the post-poll violence that left one dead and several injured across the country, Zia visited the family of one of those allegedly attacked in the national capital Tuesday evening while the the swearing-in ceremony was being conducted in Bangabhavan, the presidential palace.
Sheikh Hasina starts work as Bangladesh PMJanuary 6th, 2009 DHAKA - Bangladesh's first democratically elected government in over two years got to work Wednesday, as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina attended office after a landslide victory in the Dec 29 poll. She was sworn in as the prime minister Tuesday evening, ending the tenure of a military-backed caretaker government that held office for a week short of two years.
Bangladesh MPs take oath, new government next weekJanuary 2nd, 2009 DHAKA - With newly-elected members of parliament taking oath Saturday, the process of ushering in a democratic government in Bangladesh has begun after a gap of nearly two years. Sheikh Hasina, who led her Awami League (AL) and a nine-party alliance to a landslide victory in last Monday's poll, will be invited to be the prime minister by President Iajuddin Ahmed once the alliance members, likely to meet late Saturday, write to him after electing her as the parliamentary party leader.