Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday told Parliament that it is not possible to isolate her from the people as they have trust and confidence in her.
“You can’t isolate me from the people,” she said pointing at her critics who question each activity of her government.
Hasina, also the leader of the House, said this while delivering her valedictory speech before the prorogation of the second session of the current parliament.
She said her government has been working for the welfare of the country’s people. The people of the country are now enjoying the benefits from her government's works , she said.
“Admit it (the people are enjoying the benefits of her government’s works). If you criticise to make every work questionable, what can be done with it? You can’t isolate me from the people,” she added.
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The PM said confidence has been created among the people as she works for them. “So, this confidence and trust is the only asset for me. I move with this asset. So, I care none. I care none as long as the people of my country stand beside me,” she said.
Talking about power generation, Hasina said the power production was once only 1600 megawatt but today it is more than 16000 megawatt.
Countering the critic of the special law (Quick Enhancement of Power and Energy Supply (Special Provision) (Amendment) Act, 2010), she said the special law was enacted not to give indemnity to anyone rather provision was kept here so that none can stop power plants by filing lawsuits.
“None was given indemnity in the special law,” she said, adding that she rather materialised US$ 10,000 as fine every day from Summit group for its delay in completion of its first power plant construction in Khulna under a private venture.
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“We don’t give indemnity. It will have to be kept in mind. Even there is no indemnity provision in the law. But provision is there so that none can file cases, stop power plants and my works,” she said, adding that development of communication system and power supply are the most essential things to make development of a country.
“Is there any country in the world where an agreement for power plant construction is signed without a clause for capacity charge?” she said.
Describing the Rooppur nuclear power plant as an environment-friendly one, the PM said she would construct another nuclear power plant there and she has already discussed the matter.
About the loan default, Sheikh Hasina said the culture of bank loan default started during the regime of military dictator Ziaur Rahman. The continuation of this bad culture was seen during the regimes of HM Ershad and Khaleda Zia. “There is still no complete relief from it. It is a reality. Even then we continue our efforts here,” she added.
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Focusing on her government’s successes in different sectors, she said her government reduced the poverty rate to 18.7 percent now from 41 percent and the extreme poverty rate to 5.6 percent from 25.1 percent.
Noting that the people particularly the people with limited incomes are suffering from high inflation to some extent, she called upon all to boost food production not leaving any piece of land uncultivated in order to remove the sufferings.