<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday directed the authorities concerned to keep sharp eyes on the emerging situation of the Middle East following Iran's retaliatory attack on Israel.</b></span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She also asked them to take necessary preparations to face possible impacts, considering that some sectors of Bangladesh might be affected if this conflict continues for a long time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The premier issued the directives during an unscheduled discussion at the Cabinet meeting. She chaired the meeting at her office here in the city.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Later, Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain briefed reporters at Bangladesh Secretariat in the afternoon after the meeting.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> “The Prime Minister said all concerned should keep an eye on the reality that is emerging in the Middle East. All members of the cabinet and ministries concerned have been asked to keep a sharp eye on the emerging situation,” he said quoting the PM.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The ministries concerned were asked to take preparation from right now for possible reactions of the conflict, he added.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“It has been asked to take preparation for how we will deal with the matters or what we can do in facing these things, if the conflict continues for a long-term,” said the Cabinet Secretary.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If the conflict turns long-term, then it would leave impacts in various sectors, the authorities of the sectors concerned were asked to take plan to face the impacts, reports UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In reply to a question over the sectors that might be affected, Mahbub said all were asked to take preparation in their respective sectors. “If a crisis is created, the price of fuel may go up. So, it was asked to make a plan for what should be done in that case,” he said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/fas</div>