Kuwait showed keen interest in providing all-out support to different development projects in Bangladesh and also expansion of bilateral trade and business between the two brotherly Muslim countries. The assurance came when Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had separate meetings with Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah and her Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al Sabah in Kuwait city yesterday. During the meetings, they discussed matters related to different bilateral interests and expansion of trade and business between Bangladesh and Kuwait for the mutual benefits of the peoples of the two countries. Other important issues like Bangladeshi manpower export, river dredging and Kuwaiti investment in Bangladesh’s development sector also came up for discussion. Referring to the Kuwaiti investment in Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Prime Minister urged the Kuwaiti entrepreneurs to invest more in Bangladesh taking advantage of her government’s lucrative investment policy. In this context, she said, her government would provide possible assistance for foreign investment in Bangladesh and laid emphasis on exchange of visits programmes of the businessmen of the two countries to widen the way for further enhancing the trade relations between the two countries. About the manpower export, she said, her government is providing training to the Bangladeshi workers on the language, customs, laws and technical know-how to enable them to work efficiently in different countries. Referring to the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s role on the climate change issue, the Emir and the Prime Minister of Kuwait said, Bangladesh has come in the forefront of world leadership to stand beside the Most Vulnerable Countries through the bold leadership of Sheikh Hasina.

Earlier, on her arrival at the Bayan Palace, Kuwaiti Prime Minister received the Bangladesh Prime Minister as a smartly turned-out contingent gave her the state guard of honour. The Prime Minister also paid a call on Speaker of Kuwait Parliament (Maslis-e-Ummah) Jassem Al Khorafi at the parliament building in Kuwait city yesterday. During the meeting, they discussed matters of different bilateral issues including strengthening the parliamentary democracy. Besides, the Prime Minister held series of meetings with Kuwaiti government and business leaders examining newer avenues of cooperation. Four agreements were signed between Bangladesh and Kuwait yesterday. The agreements are on cultural promotion, joint commission, economic and technical cooperation and promotion of tourism.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged the Kuwaiti chamber leaders to invest more in Bangladesh. She said this while addressing a luncheon hosted in her honour by Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) at the Kuwait Chamber House in Kuwait city yesterday. She also assured the Kuwaiti business communities of providing all possible assistance and cooperation in the process of their investment in Bangladesh.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has invited the sister of Kuwait Emir, Anthal Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah, to visit Bangladesh for having a look regarding the adverse effect of climate change in the Most Vulnerable Countries like Bangladesh. She made the invitation when Anthal called on the Prime Minister at her suite at Bayan Palace on Sunday. The Premier apprised that more than 300 rivers of Bangladesh have seriously been affected due to the climate change, adding, her government had taken a number of steps to overcome the adverse effects of the climate change.

President Zillur Rahman administered the oath of newly-appointed Chief Justice M Fazlul Karim at Bangabhaban yesterday. Later, talking to newsmen, Chief justice said, he would try his best to ensure rule of law in the country.

The government will start selling of low-priced rice in Dhaka city through cards from February 25 under a special programme. Talking to newsmen in Dhaka yesterday, Food and Disaster Management Minister Dr. Abdur Razzaque said, some 9,00,000 poor families will be offered rice at Tk 22 per kg under the programme.

The Monthly Pay Order (MPO) facility would be provided to the non-government educational institutions on the basis of performance index not on political consideration, Education Minister Nurul Islam Naheed said this while talking to newsmen in Dhaka yesterday.

Secretaries of the government at a meeting yesterday decided to work in a coordinated way to speed up the administrative activities for fully implementation of development programmes. Secretaries of different Ministries and Divisions decided to visit districts regularly for supervising and monitoring activities of the field administration, Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder told newsmen yesterday.

The Power Development Board (PDB) yesterday signed contracts with two Chinese companies for two 150 mw public sector power projects, both of which would be implemented by the end of 2011.

Six foreign companies have expressed their interests in manufacturing mobile set and laptop with the joint venture of state-owned Bangladesh Telophone Shilpa Sangstha. The government floated international tender in December 2009 inviting the entrepreneurs.

The bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Australia increased to A$ 495 million in fiscal year 2008-09 from A$ 281 million in the previous year, registering a 98 percent growth. The value of Bangladesh exports to Australia also increased at A$ 119 million from A$ 43 million.

Doctors at Dhaka Shishu Hospital yesterday separated conjoined twins Moni and Mukta in the third such operation performed successfully in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh displayed their best-ever performance in the South Asian Games with a dream gold in football at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka yesterday, where they defeated Afghanistan at 4-0 in the final match to the delight of a packed home crowd. At the Medals Table, Bangladesh is in third position with 18 gold, 23 silver and 55 bronze medals.