The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina hailed US President Barrack Obama's Cairo speech as a historic global policy discourse that would help establish democracy and peace across the world.

The Prime Minister made the remarks when US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert Blake made a courtesy call on her at her Jamuna residence this (Sunday) evening and the two sides discussed bilateral relations and international affairs of common interest of the two countries, both under new governments.

Hasina said people were happy to listen to Obama mentioning women leadership in Bangladesh and a progressive country. She appreciated the United States for supporting democratic movement here and sending observers contributing to making the December 29 parliament elections free and fair.

The Prime Minister informed the senior state department official that her government has been taking initiative to update madrasa education with science and technology curriculum alongside religious education.

On bilateral trade and investment, Hasina sought US investment in Bangladesh's power, energy and gas sector. She said America could import world-standard pharmaceuticals, ceramics and leather goods.

On health service for the poor people, she said the government would reach medical service and education to the doorstep of the commoners and implement her previous government's plan for establishing 18,000 community clinics.

The government, she said, will stress setting up food-processing industries as Bangladesh's organic food has demand worldwide. "This will bring foreign currency and create employment at home," she said.

Hasina said new industries would be set up under public-private joint ventures, as the government has instituted the new system of partnership and allocated funds in the new budget.

Identifying poverty as a top problem of the country, she said the government would make all-out effort towards alleviating poverty.

Hasina and Blake discussed adverse impacts of the climate change on Bangladesh. The Prime Minister said the government will set up more cyclone centres in offshore islands. Besides, navigability will be increased through capital dredging in major rivers.

Briefing reporters on the outcome of nearly one-and-a-half-hour meeting, PM's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad said the Prime Minister told Blake that her government and she personally are against the violation of human rights and any extrajudicial killing. "The present government will ensure all sorts of human rights," she added.

They also discussed how to strengthen parliamentary democracy in Bangladesh.

Blake expressed the US government's willingness to impart modern training to law-enforcing agencies as part of antiterrorism campaign. He informed that the US also wants to give training in the form of counseling to Bangladeshi law-enforcers in maintaining human rights.

US Ambassador James Moriarty, Secretary of the PMO Mollah Wahiduzzaman and former Ambassador M Ziauddin were present.