Prime Minister's Adviser on Private Industries and Investment Salman F Rahman said the US visa restrictions against those responsible for obstructing Bangladesh's democratic election process will not have any impact on bilateral trade.

He said this while talking to reporters on current affairs after attending a conference on development planning in the capital on Saturday (September 23).

Referring to US visa restrictions as very good, Salman F Rahman said, I think it is very good. Action will be taken against those who obstruct the election. On behalf of the government, we have always said, yesterday the Prime Minister also said this in her speech at the United Nations. They are talking about fair elections. We want the same. We don't want to interrupt. There will be visa sanctions against those who obstruct fair and impartial elections.

He told reporters that they (the United States) have spoken not only of obstruction, but also of violence. You know, the main opposition party, they are openly saying that 'we will not allow the election'. They also said yesterday that they will not allow the election to be held under Sheikh Hasina. How not to let it happen? There is only one way to prevent it by violence. I think there will be sanctions against those who obstruct. It is very good. Donald Lu said in an interview that members of the opposition party, the ruling party and law enforcement agencies will take action against those who stand in the way.

He said that the US State Department has said that the sanctions are coming, that there are opposition parties, government parties and members of the law enforcement agencies. So everyone is on the list. Let's see, whose name comes!

In response to the question whether the credibility of the election will be questioned if the European Union does not send observers, he said, not at all. Whether to send observers is up to them. I will conduct my election according to the constitution.

Election Commission Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath said that the appellants against the decision to cancel the nominations will get hundred percent justice.

He said this in response to questions from reporters on the fourth day of the appeal proceedings at the election building premises at Agargaon on Friday (December 8).

Ashok Kumar said, those who are appealing against the decision given by the Returning Officers in the 12th Jatiya Sangsad(JS) elections, will get hundred percent justice.

There have been some appeals challenging the validity of the nomination, if there is evidence against them, then whether to cancel it or not, he said in response to the question of journalists, of course. It is in the law, this time the RPO has been amended. Earlier there was an appeal against rejection by the Returning Officer. In the RPO, not only the rejection of the Returning Officer, but the decision of the Returning Officer can be appealed. That would be an appeal against acceptance, an appeal against rejection. As per law, the commission will take appropriate decision.

When asked whether the commission will consider if the application to get back the candidature after resolving the minor mistakes, he said that the commission will consider it, but I cannot say in advance. The Commission must decide their appeals fairly.

In response to another question from the journalists, he said that if they could not submit their nominations on time, they would have gone to the High Court. If the High Court so directs, the Returning Officer will accept the nomination papers. If they do not get a remedy from the High Court, there is nothing we can do.

‘BNP is carrying out arson-terrorist activities in the name of blockade across the country. It is harming the common people of the country. They will create such a situation in the country by next March, they will cause famine. This is their next plan. It is not only the country, but the foreign countries also have a plan, in any way famine has to be caused in this country.'

Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said this during an exchange of views with leaders and activists in her constituency Kotalipara on the second day of her two-day visit to Gopalganj on Friday (December 8).

During the exchange of views, Sheikh Hasina raised the question of how BNP will participate in the election, who is the leader of BNP? They have no leader. BNP thought there would be no election. Now the election is process is going on. They once said that the election will not be allowed. There is an incitement to prevent the election. Election schedule is done. Now they think the election will be done.

Meanwhile, the head of the government said to the leaders and activists that it should be ensured that no one can create chaos in the election, chaos cannot be allowed under any circumstances. Everyone should be aware of this. Election code of conduct cannot be violated.

Sheikh Hasina also said, now they (BNP) will not hold elections. They said the same thing in 2014. How will they actually choose, what is the real thing? The reality is the election of 2008. No one raises any questions about this election because the election was held under a caretaker government.

Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reached Kotalipara on Friday (December 8) around 10:15 AM. Later she exchanged views with the leaders and activists for about two hours at Kotalipara Upazila Awami League office. Later went back to Tungipara from there.

In this meeting, the Prime Minister gave various directions regarding the upcoming elections. Awami League Advisory Council Member Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, Development Representative of Prime Minister's Constituency Shahid Ulla Khondkar, Sheikh Helal Uddin MP, Sheikh Salahuddin Jewel MP, Sheikh Sarhan Nasen Tanmoy MP and leaders of Kotalipara Upazila Awami League and allied organizations spoke in the exchange meeting.

Before this, they reached Tungipara by road at 4 pm on Thursday and paid respect to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's tomb and offered prayers. Later she exchanged views with Tungipara upazila leaders and activists at her residence.

1 crore 25 lakh marginalized people of 262 upazilas of the country are getting benefits under the government's safety net scheme which is playing a significant role in poverty alleviation.

Secretary of Social Welfare Khairul Alam Sheikh said that a large number of rural marginalized people of the country are getting the benefits of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's safety net scheme.

He said the government has expanded social safety net programs to help rural marginalized people to overcome all economic hardships and lead a better life.

He further said that the government is working with Hijras, Bedes, tea workers and other marginalized communities to bring marginalized people under the social protection program.

Recently, the Social Welfare Minister said that the government is working sincerely to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 to eradicate poverty and build the country as a 'Golden Bangla' as dreamed by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

According to the Ministry of Social Welfare, the total number of beneficiaries of the four social security schemes currently stands at 1.25 crore. Among them, 58.01 lakh are elderly, 25.75 lakh widows and abused women and 29 lakh physically challenged people.

It is said that the government is giving cash allowance of Tk. 600 per month to the elderly, Tk. 550 to widows and abused women and Tk. 850 to the physically challenged.

The government has allocated Tk. 112.24 crore as education stipend for 1.0 lakh physically challenged students in the current financial year (2023-2024). The secretary said that allowances are given directly through MFS (Mobile Financial Services) following the Government-to-Person (G-to-P) system among the elderly, widows and abused women and financially indigent physically challenged persons. Education stipend is also being distributed to physically challenged students under the SSN program.

He said that Bangabandhu's celebrated daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has introduced allowances for the destitute, old, physically challenged, destitute, widows, oppressed women and stipends for various underprivileged students.

Besides, the government has been providing assistance for the education of helpless, underprivileged children and disabled youth. Education stipend program has been launched for students with disabilities.

Initially, 12,209 students with disabilities were brought under this program through the Department of Social Services in FY 2007-2008. In FY 2023-24, the number of beneficiaries was 1.0 lakh.

Each physically challenged student at primary level is getting Tk. 750 per month, secondary level student is Tk. 800, higher secondary level student is Tk. 900 and higher level student is getting Tk. 1,300 per month. A total of 1 lakh students are getting stipend every month.

The number of third gender (transgender) people receiving an allowance of Tk. 600 per month has increased to Tk. 2,600. 5,066 people of Bede community are getting Tk. 600 monthly allowance.

Each tea worker is getting an annual allowance of Tk. 5 thousand and the number of tea workers has increased to 60 thousand.

Head of Media and Communications of Bangladesh Post Office's innovative and promising digital financial service 'Nagad', Zahidul Islam Sajal said that a total of 75 percent allowances are being distributed through ‘Nagad’.

All allowances launched by the government are ensuring direct disbursement of cash to the beneficiaries, he added.

The government is spending Tk. 3,500 per head per month on the Sheikh Russell Child Training and Rehabilitation Centre, while orphans in private orphanages are receiving Tk. 2,000 per head per month as grant.

In addition, the government is giving Tk. 50,000 annually for the treatment of an indigent patient with cancer, liver, kidney, liver cirrhosis, crippled by stroke and congenital heart disease and thalassemia.

Meanwhile, financial support has been given to ensure treatment of cancer, kidney, liver cirrhosis, paralysis, stroke, heart disease and thalassemia patients across the country.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that an evil force will try to create chaos, urging everyone to be careful so that no one can create chaos in the upcoming 12th Jatiya Sangsad elections. Under no circumstances should it be allowed to do so. Everyone should be aware of this.

She said this during a meeting with the leaders and activists of Tungipara Upazila Awami League and affiliated organizations on Thursday (December 7) evening.

Calling for election campaigns in accordance with the code of conduct, the head of government said that the election code of conduct cannot be violated. The election code of conduct announced by the Election Commission should be followed. It cannot be tampered with.

At the same time, she said to the leaders and activists to carry out a wide publicity campaign for the development, progress and prosperity of the Awami League government that they should go to the doorsteps of the people. The success of the government should be highlighted. The leaders and activists of allied organizations should be encouraged and taken to the streets. I have no mother, father, brother. you are my everything You will see my everything.

The Prime Minister said that BNP has not done anything for Basanti since being in power. Just profited. I walked to Basanti's house. Awami League is now in power. We have changed the status of Basanti.

At that time Gopalganj District Awami League President Mahabub Ali Than, General Secretary GM Sahab Uddin Azam, Tungipara Upazila Awami League President Sheikh Abul Bashar Khair, Senior Vice President Md. Elias Hossain, General Secretary Babul Sheikh, Municipal Mayor Sheikh Tozammel Haque Tutul, Tungipara Pourashava Awami League President Sheikh Saiful Islam, General Secretary Md.Forkan Biswas including other leaders of Tungipara Upazila Awami League and allied organizations including were present.