Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today greeted Emmanuel Macron on his re-election as the President of the French Republic.

In a message to Macron, she said, "It is indeed an immense pleasure to convey my warmest congratulations on your victory in the recently held Presidential Elections."

"Your re-election manifests the trust and confidence of the great French people that are reposed in you and your initiatives and commitments to ensure their welfare and prosperity," the Bangladesh premier said, adding: "The election, as you said, was a referendum for the European Union, secularism, and fraternity."

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Sheikh Hasina told Macron that she firmly believes the French people have given him the mandate to carry on with his values and vision.

"I trust, under your able stewardship, France will continue to serve as an essential player on the global stage beyond its role within the European Union," she said.

The Bangladesh PM recalled the celebration of 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and expressed commitments to deepen and strengthen cooperation in diverse areas of shared interest.

"We count on France being on our side in our efforts to enhance trade, connectivity, and security cooperation with the European Union," she said.

The prime minister added that she looks forward to working closely with him in advancing the countries' shared priorities of combating climate change, preventing violent extremism, promoting regular migration, and ensuring gender equality.

She fondly recalled her visit to France in November last year and expressed deep gratitude for extending the gracious hospitality to her and her delegation.

Sheikh Hasina renewed her invitation to the reelected President of France to Bangladesh at his early convenience.

"I take this opportunity to recall your promise to visit Bangladesh if re-elected. Our Hon'ble President and I look forward to receiving you and your lady wife in Dhaka at your earliest convenience," she wrote.

Bangladesh cabinet today approved a draft law that proposes four-fold compensation in case of acquisition of land from the general people.

Today’s regular cabinet meeting, headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, approved the draft law. Cabinet Secretary M Shafiul Alam briefed reporters afterwards.

Also, the cabinet endorsed a draft guideline for the film industry in order to protect it. Under the guidelines, the government will build information centres at all the districts.

There have also been some restrictions for movie production, barring any rape scene or any anti-state dialogues in the draft law.

Additionally, the cabinet also approved the draft of regulation of motor vehicle passenger traffic between India and Bangladesh that will be signed with Delhi.

The cabinet today approved the draft of 'The National Agriculture Policy 2018' incorporating nano-technology to control disease and determine generic nutrition.

Some new issues have been incorporated in the draft of the new policy including research on agriculture development, technology transfer and agriculture extension, mechanisation, specialised agriculture, ICT, marketing of agricultural products, women empowerment and nano-technology, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam told journalists after a cabinet meeting.

About the nano-technology in the agriculture sector, the Cabinet Secretary said, primarily nano-technology will be used to identify diseases in crops, determine the demand of generic nutrition and increase the capability of collection of nutrition.

Besides, sensor-technology will be used to examine the quality of land, he said.

The approval was given at the weekly meeting of the Cabinet held at Bangladesh Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

The policy aims to ensure profitable agriculture and nutrition and food security in the country, he said.

"The new agriculture policy has been formulated incorporating some new issues following the expiry of the Agriculture Policy 2013,"  he said.

Shafiul Alam said, "The main goal of the policy is to ensure food security and socio-economic development through productivity of crops, boosting production and raising farmers' income, diversifying crops, producing safe foods and developing marketing system, profitable agriculture and use of natural resources."

Bangladesh Shishu Academy Bill

The cabinet also approved in principle the draft of "The Bangladesh Shishu Academy Bill, 2018" bringing some changes in the existing law.

The Cabinet Secretary said the draft bill is the updated version of the existing Bangladesh Shishu Academy Ordinance 1976 which was promulgated during the military regime.

In the draft bill, the post of director of Bangladesh Shishu Academy has been upgraded to Director General. "And the Director General will be a fulltime official," he said.

Shafiul Alam said the governance and administration of this academy will be entrusted with a 17-member management board headed by a chairman.

The other members will be Director Generals of Bangla Academy, Shilpakala Academy and Shishu Academy, Dean of Fine Arts Faculty of Dhaka University, joint secretary-level representative each from Women and Children Affairs Ministry, Finance Division, Social Welfare Ministry, Information Ministry, Cultural Affairs Ministry, Primary and Mass Education Ministry, Health Services Division and Shishu Kalyan Parishad and ICT Division as well as four persons, including at least two women, to be appointed by the government for their special contributions to development of children.

The cabinet secretary said a new provision has been incorporated in the clause 8 of the draft bill to confer fellowship titled 'honorary fellow' to the persons involved in flourishing children by their outstanding contribution to education, language, literature, Arts and culture, sciences and society.

There will be a 7-member committee for giving the Bangladesh Shishu Academy Honorary Fellow, he said.

Shafiul Alam said the headquarters of the academy will be in Dhaka, its branches can be set up in divisional cities on the government's permission.