Bangladesh government has opened a media centre at a luxury hotel in Dhaka to relay election information to journalists on the day of December 30 election.

Top officials of the information and foreign ministry were present at the launching of the media centre at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka in the morning.

Abdul Malek, secretary to Ministry of Information said, the centre will provide all types of information till December 31 midnight to foreign and local journalists and election observers.

Md Shahidul Haque, foreign affairs secretary, said two hundred foreign observers and 50 overseas journalists who will be catered information from the centre.

Besides, the centre will provide security and visa related necessary information as well as online facilities to the overseas journalists and election observers.

The election result provided by the EC will also be displayed through Bangladesh Television (BTV) at the media centre.  

Five officials and staffs of the information ministry will work at the media centre round the clock. The media centre will keep communication with the EC through two hot lines.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged Sri Lanka to invest more in Bangladesh, particularly in its special economic zones (SEZs).

"Bangladesh is developing 100 (SEZs) and Sri Lankan entrepreneurs can come up with more investment here availing the existing favourable policies for foreign investors," said Hasina when the newly-appointed Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sudharshan Deepal Suresh Seneviratne made a courtesy call on the PM at her Gono Bhaban residence.

Prime Minister's Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Jahid Tusher briefed reporters about the meeting.

The Sri Lankan envoy expressed his gratitude to the prime minister for getting the vaccine as the government is also providing inoculation to diplomats and foreigners alongside the country's people.

Congratulating Saima Wazed Hossain for being World Health Organization's (WHO's) champion for autism in the South-East Asia Region, the High Commissioner said her work in the field of autism is praiseworthy.

The high commissioner also praised the government's initiative of transferring money from the social safety net programme to the marginal people through bank accounts and termed it "groundbreaking".

Prime Minister's Office Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah and Military Secretary to the Prime Minister Major General Naquib Ahmed Chowdhury were present among others in the meeting.

Bhutan Premier Dr Lotay Tshering today arrived in Dhaka to a red-carpet welcome by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The Bhutanese PM is the fourth among world leaders to arrive in Dhaka on a three-day official visit to attend the golden jubilee celebrations of Bangladesh's independence and the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

A VVIP aircraft of Bhutan's national carrier Druk Air carrying Prime Minister Tshering and other entourage members landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HISA) around 9:30am.

Prime Minister Hasina welcomed her Bhutanese counterpart at the VVIP tarmac of the airport with a flower bouquet. The visiting leader was subsequently given a tri-services guard of honour at the airport.

Several Ministers, State Ministers, and high-ranking civil and military high officials were also present at the airport.

From the airport, the visiting premier headed to the National Memorial in Savar to pay tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War of Bangladesh.

At the National Memorial, Tshering signed the visitors' book and planted a sapling next to the one he planted on April 12, 2019.

He is also slated to visit Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi no 32 to pay tributes to the Father of the nation. A visit to BIMSTEC Secretary General's residence for a meeting is also on his itinerary.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen will call on him at the Presidential Suite in the hotel.

In the evening, the Bhutanese PM will attend a cultural programme and a banquet hosted by Prime Minister Hasina in his honor.

On Wednesday, Lotay Tshering is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Hasina at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), where both the leaders are scheduled to hold talks.

After the talks, a couple of MOUs are likely to be signed between Bangladesh and Bhutan to enhance the cooperation between the two countries.

The Bhutanese Prime Minister will also pay a courtesy call on Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban.

Later in the afternoon on Wednesday, Tshering will join the celebrations at National Parade Square as the guest of honour, where Prime Minister Hasina will receive him.

Bangladesh Nationalist Front President SM Abul Kalam Azad today said that the national election will not be free and fair under this Election Commission.

"Our supporters, voters, activists are feeling insecure," Azad, who is contesting from Dhaka-17, was speaking to reporters after a meeting at the commission.

Azad is currently a lawmaker of the current parliament and his party BNF is also a component of the Awami League-led ruling 14-party alliance.

"Our constitution says an election will be held under the Election Commission. But, we don't see it. It is heavily influenced by the ruling party," he said.

Speaking after meeting Election Commission Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed, he claimed 55 BNF candidates were attacked by Awami League and Oikyafront men.

"We want to stay in the election till the last day, but it should be held under a neutral Election Commission," he said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the government is implementing various programmes to strengthen the position of womenfolk in the society, create women leadership and enhance women's education so that they can advance equally.

"We want women of the country to step forward equally. Half of the population of this society are women. If the womenfolk cannot prepare themselves equally ... then how this society will be developed?" she said at a programme at Bangladesh Shishu Academy auditorium marking the 140th birth and 88th death anniversary of Begum Rokeya Shakhawat Hossain.

Prime Minister Hasina said that the government wants to build Bangladesh into a developed country.

Sheikh Hasina said that the government has given importance to women's education and their employment. The government wants to develop the socioeconomic condition of the country and for that it has taken massive development programmes.

In this connection she mentioned about the special training programmes for women.