Hasina elected Nam vice-chair

She asks Malaysian PM to recruit more Bangladeshis
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been elected vice-chair of the Non-Aligned Movement for the next three years.
Hasina was made vice-chair when she was presiding over the general debate on ‘Current Global Financial and Economic Crisis’ on the opening day of the two-day summit of the forum that got off to a ceremonial start in this Egyptian resort city on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the PM attended the second-day sessions of the 15th Nam summit and presided over part of the opening programmes of the day.
Besides, she had a meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak on the sidelines of the summit in the meeting room of the summit venue, Maritime Congress Centre, yesterday morning.
During the meeting, Hasina requested the Malaysian prime minister to recruit more manpower from Bangladesh and ensure all facilities for professional betterment of the Bangladeshi expatriates working in the Asean country.
In reply, Najib assured Hasina of ensuring necessary facilities for the Bangladeshi people there.
Hasina also called for more Malaysian investment in various development sectors of Bangladesh.
Najib congratulated Hasina on the Awami League-led Grand Alliance’s landslide victory at the December 29 parliamentary polls last year and on her assumption of the office of Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
He hoped the people of Bangladesh would be able to attain their desired development and prosperity under the “wise and visionary leadership” of Hasina.
Both the premiers hoped that the existing friendly bilateral relations between the two countries would strengthen further in the days to come.
The PM also had bilateral talks with Nepalese Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, Foreign Minister of Qatar Khalid Mohammad Al Aphiya and Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya by taking time out of the summit programmes on the concluding day.
During the meeting with the Qatar foreign minister, the premier also called for recruiting more manpower from Bangladesh and ensuring all necessary facilities for the Bangladeshi expatriates working in the Gulf country.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni and Secretary Mijarul Quayes and PM’s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad were present in the meetings.
Earlier on Wednesday, Hasina had bilateral talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Philippine President Gloria Maccapagal Arroyo, Prime Minister of Jordan Nader Al Tahabi, Bahrain’s Crown Prince Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa Khalid and Chairman of the Council of Oman Dr Yahya.
The PM, during all the bilateral talks, exchanged significant views and opinions with the world leaderships on democracy, poverty alleviation, education, and health services for people of all walks of life.
She termed poverty as “the biggest enemy” of the Asian nations and emphasised joint efforts for poverty alleviation.
Hasina highlighted her government’s plans and programmes to remove poverty from Bangladesh and turn the country into a modern digital country by 2021.
She said the present government has come to power with “massive mandate of the people who were waiting for a long time to get a democratic government.”
The PM reiterated her government’s strong commitment to fulfil all desires and expectations of the people as, through the mandate, the people have “reposed a big responsibility on the present government to work for them.”

Unb, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt