& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

Dhaka decided in principle to sign Ticfa

New foreign minister tells journalists

UNB, Dhaka
New Foreign Minister Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali yesterday said Dhaka and Washington would sign the Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (Ticfa) as the decision was taken in principle earlier.
"Let's see...still we've time," he told journalists after a marathon meeting with his colleagues a day after getting his portfolio.
Earlier in parliament, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said ministers of the election-time government would not make any policy decisions, rather would only be doing routine works.
Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed and acting deputy of US Trade Representative Wendy Cutler is scheduled to sign the deal on behalf of their respective sides on November 25.
Asked on the government's position if India agrees to sign the Teesta deal on December 15, a smiling Abul Hasan said, "We say in English we'll cross that bridge when we'll come near to it. Time will say how we'll cross that bridge. Future will answer your question."
He said there has been a significant progress in Bangladesh over nearly the last five years and in many indexes Bangladesh is well ahead of many countries, including the biggest and friendly neighbour India.
"Bangladesh has achieved a respected position in the
FROM PAGE3
world stage over the last five years."
He mentioned Bangladesh's development in the areas of primary education, child and maternal health.
"It's an initial meeting (with the ministry officials), we'll discuss more. We'll have to work together. I seek your cooperation and support. We also need support from the media," he said.
The foreign minister assured to listen to the media and remain open to all saying "you have the right to know".
He mentioned that the success in many cases depends on an effective foreign policy and it has multifaceted impacts.
Asked why he started his
work on a Friday, he said the ministry works round the clock and there was nothing like holidays. "When I was here, we also worked in that way."
Responding to another question, he said he would contest in the election and had already submitted the nomination paper to the party. "I don't think I'll face any difficulty in doing both jobs."
It was Mahmud’s first working day in the ministry and he stepped into it at about 10:00am and held a meeting with the senior officials.
Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque, additional secretaries and director generals were, among others, present at the meeting.