These awards are an honour for the nation: PM Sheikh Hasina

"These awards are an honour for the nation and the credit should go to the people," she said after receiving a flower bouquet from eminent writer and poet Syed Shamsul Haque at the stairs of Ganobhaban main entrance this afternoon.

The Prime Minister received the world's highest environmental accolade - "Champions of the Earth" - and the International Telecommunication Union's "ICT Sustainable Development Award" in New York last week.

The Prime Minister reached Ganobhaban at 2.08 pm after arrival at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport here at 1.05pm from Sylhet.

Thousands of people irrespective of class and profession greeted their beloved leader standing on both sides of the road from the airport to Ganobhaban.

They congratulated the Prime Minister on her way to Ganobhaban by dancing and singing, beating drums, showering flower petals, chanting sky-rending slogans as well as carrying miniature national flag and placards, banners, and festoons inscribed with the portraits of the Prime Minister and Bangabandhu.

Those who were present at Ganobhaban to greet the Prime Minister included artist Hashem Khan, Tagore song singer Rezwana Chowdhury Bannya, architect Iqbal Habib, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Nazmul Hasan Papon, Everest winners Musa Ibrahim and Nishat Mazumdar, Bangladesh national cricket team captains Mashrafee-bin-Mortuza and Mushfiqur Rahim, world's best cricket allrounder Shakib Al Hasan and fast bowler Taskin Ahmed.

After the Prime Minister was presented the flower bouquet, country's celebrated Tagore song singer Bannya sang the famous song of Kabiguru - "anondo loke, mongola loke birajo sotto sundaro". Those who were also present at that time sang in chorus with Bannya.

Later, the Prime Minister exchanged greetings with the country's renowned artists, singers, Everest-conquerors and sports personalities.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Health Minister Mohammad Nasim, State Minister for jute and Textiles Mirza Azam, Chief Whip of the Jatiya Sangsad ASM Feroze, AL Joint secretary and former state minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak, among others, were present on the occasion.

Earlier, a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying the Prime Minister and members of her entourage landed at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport here at 1.05 pm from Sylhet.

Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury, Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon, Environment and Forests Minister Anwar Hossain Manju, PM's Political Affairs Advisor HT Imam, Media Advisor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Defence Advisor Major General (read) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, State Minister for Post and Telecommunications Advocate Tarana Halim, State Minister for ICT Division Junaid Ahmed Palak, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki and PM's Principal Secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad were present at the airport, among others, to welcome the Prime Minister.

Besides, Awami League Advisory Council Member Dr Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, Presidium Member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Joint Secretary Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif, Abdul Matin Khashru, Habibur Rahman Siraj, Advocate Afzal Hussain and high civil and military officials were present at the airport.

On her way to Dhaka from London, the Prime Minister made a one-hour
stopover at Sylhet Osmani International Airport.

Leaders of Sylhet district and city units of Awami League welcomed the PM.

They included Imran Ahmed, MP, Mahmud-us-Samad Chowdhury, MP, Amatul Kibria Keya Chowdhury, MP, acting President of District AL Lutfur Rahman, General Secretary Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury, City AL President and former city mayor Badaruddin Ahmed Qamran, General Secretary Asaduddin Ahmed and Sylhet Sadar Upzila Chairman Ashfaq Ahmed.

Earlier on her way home from New York, Sheikh Hasina made a one-day stopover in London.

During her stay in New York, Sheikh Hasina delivered her country statement in the general debate of the 70th session of the UNGA on September 30.

The Prime Minister received the prestigious "Champions of the Earth Award" from Executive Director of UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Achim Steiner on September 27.

Sheikh Hasina also received the "ICT Sustainable Development Award" from International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Secretary General Houlinzhao on September 26.

The Prime Minister along with other heads of state and government attended the opening session of the 70th UN General Assembly on September 28.

On the day, Sheikh Hasina joined a reception hosted by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as well as a luncheon arranged in honour of the heads of state and government attending the assembly.

Apart from attending the general debate of the UNGA, the Prime Minister attended a number of events.

The Prime Minister held bilateral meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Dutch Queen Maxima.

Besides, Sheikh Hasina addressed a press conference at Bangladesh Permanent Mission in New York.

Earlier on September 24, the Bangladesh Premier arrived in New York via London to attend the 70th session of the UNGA.