Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged party leaders and workers to make proper preparations for the upcoming national elections and said that the upcoming elections will be a challenge due to multifaceted conspiracies.

She said this during an exchange of views with leaders of Awami League and its affiliated organizations at Ganobhaban on Monday (June 5).

Sheikh Hasina said that whenever there is some improvement in the living standards of the people of the country, there are some sycophants in Bangladesh, who speak against Bangladesh and tell lies everywhere.

The Prime Minister said that some people create a wrong impression about Bangladesh in front of foreigners to get international grants.

She said, those who do not believe in the independence of Bangladesh, committed genocide and other crimes including looting, rape and repression during the liberation war and now their generation is relentlessly spreading propaganda against Bangladesh.

Referring to BNP's practice of vote rigging, the Prime Minister said, they have a record of vote rigging and stealing democracy. However, we are now hearing the cry of democracy from them.

She said, now we have to listen to the slogan of democracy from the party formed by the military dictator. It is their habit to steal votes. So what will the people of Bangladesh learn from the thieves?

Awami League president urged the leaders and activists to work to strengthen the party and said that our party is strong enough. To make the team stronger, we have to take that step.

Highlighting the development of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina said that this development was possible because her party was in power for 14 consecutive years after the 2008 general elections and maintained a stable democratic environment in the country.

Mentioning that Bangladesh has become a developing country, she said, "We wanted to change Bangladesh." Today we have successfully made the change.

She said, our biggest achievement is reduction of poverty rate in rural areas. Poverty rate is higher in Dhaka city but lower in rural areas. No one could have thought of this in the past.

The Prime Minister said her government has kept its promise to provide electricity to every home, but Bangladesh is facing problems due to the rise in global commodity prices, transport costs, gas, fuel and coal prices after the Ukraine war.

She said interest rates on foreign loans have been increased, which has put pressure on the country's foreign exchange reserves. However, she pointed out that there is still enough reserve stock to collect food for five months.

She called upon all to plant crops everywhere in the country without leaving any land uncultivated to meet the local needs as well as increase agricultural production for export.

She said that food prices have increased all over the world and also in Bangladesh. In fact people are suffering due to increase in commodity prices. However, products are available (in the market) and there is no shortage of anything, she said.

Sheikh Hasina said that the yield of rice and other crops has been good in Bangladesh this year as well.

The Prime Minister said that her government recently recorded the largest national budget of Tk. 761 thousand 785 crore. She said that no one could have given such a big budget in the past and the most important thing is that the government has been able to give such a big budget in these difficult times.

She said the budget has increased both the number of beneficiaries and the amount of allowance under various social security programs.

She said the government has also arranged a card system so that the low-income people can purchase some essential commodities including rice, pulses and edible oil at subsidized prices to ease their suffering.

Private clinics and hospital-owners have announced closure of surgeries due to increase in fees of anesthesiologists.

Operation theaters (OTs) of all clinics in Rajshahi remain closed from Thursday (September 21).

Earlier, the leaders of Rajshahi branch of Bangladesh Private Clinic, Hospital and Diagnostic Owners Association made this announcement in a press conference at a Chinese restaurant in Rajshahi last Wednesday evening.

They said the new fee set by anesthesiologists will be double of the current fee. If this is implemented, all categories of patients will be affected when they come to undergo surgery, as well as private clinics and hospitals will also be affected.

Mukhleshur Rahman, general secretary of the organization, said that if the rates set by the anesthesiologists are implemented, the medical expenses will increase further. As a result, many people, especially low-income people, will find medical expenses unaffordable. They cannot afford to pay for emergency surgery. Their lives will be in danger.

It has been decided to stop all types of surgery in all private hospitals and clinics in Rajshahi from Thursday (September 21). They said that they have taken this decision in the interest of the patients.

Meanwhile, BSA Rajshahi Branch General Secretary Dr. Md. Khizir Hossain said, after 2016, our fee was not increased. Clinics and hospital-owners charge more money from patients in the name of anesthesiologists during operations. We told them, we have to pay the money taken in our name (anesthesiologist).

Highlighting the new fee hike, he said, currently, anesthesiologists get Tk. 1,500 to Tk. 2,000 for caesarean section. We have demanded to make that fee 2500. But the clinic-owners are saying that we are demanding a double fee increase.

Before this, on September 4, Bangladesh Society of Anesthesiologists (BSA) Rajshahi branch sent a new list of remuneration to various private clinics and hospitals, causing bargaining and moral pollution between the two sides. In view of this, the private clinic and hospital-owners have announced the suspension of surgery from tomorrow.

The European Union (EU) is not sending a full-fledged observer team to the upcoming 12th National Parliament election, said Election Commission Secretary Md. Jahangir Alam. He said the European Union would not send a full observer team due to budget problems.

The EC secretary gave this information to the journalists in his own room of the Election Commission Secretariat at Agargaon in the capital on Thursday (September 21).

He said they did not express any apprehension about the election. They thanked for the earlier meeting with the Election Commission. They also said that they will continue to be in touch with the Chief Election Commissioner.

Earlier, a six-member EU pre-election observation team visited Bangladesh from July 8 to 23 at the invitation of the Election Commission. The delegation mainly assesses the scope, planning, budget, logistics and security of the election observation mission. The pre-election observation team met with representatives of the Government of Bangladesh, election-related authorities and representatives of the international community, law enforcement agencies, political leaders, civil society and media representatives.

Chattogram Bureau: Hefazet Islam Bangladesh is moving ahead of the national elections. The Islamic organization has announced the National Ulama Mashaikh conference in the capital Dhaka on October 28.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the organization's newly formed central committee at Jamia Islamia Azizul Uloom (Babunagar Madrasa) in Fatikchhari, Chattogram on Thursday (September 21).

Hefazat Islam leaders claimed the conference is not politically motivated, but such a program is considered significant ahead of national elections. Although this conference was called to demand the release of imprisoned clerics and the withdrawal of all false cases, many leaders and workers of the organization think that they want to give a clear message to the government on various issues.

Recently, a committee of 211 members of Hefazat Islam was formed. The organization wants to be strengthened after the committee. As part of this, this meeting was held on Thursday. Leaders from all over the country attended the meeting. The meeting was presided over by Ameer of Hefazat Islam Allama Shah Muhibullah Babunagari.

In the meeting, the Secretary General of the organization Allama Shaikh Sajedur Rahman announced the National Ulama Mashaikh Conference on October 28 to demand the release of imprisoned scholars and the withdrawal of all false cases. Apart from this, in the meeting, district, upazila and metropolitan committees were formed across the country and a decision was taken to hold a resolution conference in each district.

In the meeting, Amir Allama Shah Muhibullah gave a long speech to the leaders and workers of Babunagari. He said, "We don't have any candidates in the national and regional elections, nor any propaganda." We are not affiliated with any political party. We have always said, we are still saying that it is not our agenda to put anyone in power or to remove them from power. There is no scope for any political activities under the banner of custody.

Claiming that he is not the enemy of the government, the Amir of Hefazat also said, "We are not the enemy of the government, let the government do the work of the government, we will do our work." However, if an atheistic force raises its head and spreads Islam phobia, and if the government does not take any action or if the government takes any action that is against Islam, then we will protest on the basis of faith. If necessary, we will be forced to go to the movement in a democratic way.

Peter Haas, US Ambassador to Dhaka, said that the US has no intention to interfere in the elections of Bangladesh. The goal of the United States is to assist the people of Bangladesh in free and fair elections. Through this, the people can elect their leaders.

He said this in a seminar on the occasion of International Day of Peace organized at North South University on Thursday (September 21) morning.

Peter Haas said that the goal of the United States is to implement human rights, United Nations and international programs. United States is working to solve the problem of Bangladesh. In this case, the youth should come forward to stop rumors and maintain peace on social media.

He said that the Biden administration is working on several issues including repatriation and sanctions against Myanmar to deal with the Rohingya crisis. He also said that a coordinated effort is needed to overcome the crisis.

Requesting the government to ensure the freedom of the media the US ambassador once again urged for free, fair and peaceful elections in Bangladesh.

Regarding the Day of Peace, the US ambassador said that the International Day of Peace reminds us of the important role of peace in confronting global challenges. Every state can make their decisions independently; their government is working on it. Stating that security is a prerequisite for peace, he said that Russia's attack on Ukraine is destroying peace.

Chairman of Board of Trustees of North South University Javed Munir Ahmed and Vice Chancellor Atiqul Islam and others were present. Javed Munir said that peace is now the most valuable asset in a conflict-ridden world. And there is no alternative to negotiation in establishing peace.

Vice-Chancellor Atiqul Islam said even stable countries face significant inequality and political divisions. This is why peace is urgently needed in the world.