Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday came down heavily on those who are tarnishing the image of Bangladesh abroad.

“Some people, staying abroad, criticise and tarnish the image of the country. As we’ve elevated the country to a dignified position with our hard work, now their business is to undermine the country,” she said.

The Prime Minister made the remarks while addressing a civic reception arranged by the US Awami League at New York LaGuardia Airport Marriott hotel here.

“Some people call the Awami League government an illegal one. But my question is how do they get the scope to utter those words (criticise the government)? They’ve got the scope as we’ve built Bangladesh as ‘Digital Bangladesh’,” she said. 

“If they’re the people of principles and if they’ve any ideology, why do they use the digital systems we’ve built?” she said, adding that they criticise the government receiving money from BNP and Jamaat.

Sheikh Hasina said the High Court declared the governments of Ziaur Rahman and Ershad as illegal ones because they had formed their governments imposing martial laws. 

Besides, Ziaur Rahman’s wife is convicted for embezzlement of orphans’ money and her son (Tarique Rahman) is convicted in the 10 truck-arms haul case and the August-21 grenade attack case. “Even information about their corruption was revealed by the FBI in the United States,” she said.

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She said they (BNP) have made so much illegal money by embezzling the money of the people of Bangladesh that they hired an FBI man which was later revealed by the FBI. 

In that case, Hasina said, it was disclosed that BNP provided money to kidnap and kill Joy (Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed) in the USA. “But now they call Awami League (govt) illegal,” the Prime Minister added.

People cast votes for the Awami League and then AL was elected with their votes, she said, adding that BNP will join the election if it has such strength and courage (to win the polls).

Talking about the elections held under the BNP regimes, she said Khaleda Zia had arranged the February-15 general election in 1996 with other political parties boycotting it, and people did not cast votes for them. “Since people didn’t vote for them, they couldn’t survive in power,” she added.  

Hasina said the information about the corruption of Khaleda Zia and her two sons got revealed not only in Bangladesh, but also in the USA. 

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She said both Tarique Zia and Koko were convicted for siphoning off money from the country and the government brought a portion of that back to the country. “It’s their habit to lead a lavish life abroad siphoning off money,” she added.

The PM said those who want to tarnish the image of today’s Bangladesh in foreign lands do not actually believe in Bangladesh independence and its development as they believe in its destruction. “So, they’re not pro-country and pro-liberation people. They’re rather enemies of the people of the country,” she added.

When AL came to power, the people of the country first realized after 1975 that the government is for serving people and it works for the welfare of people. “The AL government proved it. As long as Awami League remains in power, Bangladesh will continue to march forward,” Hasina said.

Why journey to NY by Biman aircraft

Hasina said she came to New York by a Dreamliner of Biman for two reasons -- had she come by plane from another airline during this Corona period, she would have to pay huge money and Biman aircraft would remain idle during this pandemic and it takes huge money for their maintenance  every day.

Besides, the government continues an effort to resume flights on the operation of Biman on Dhaka-New York route. If she comes by a Biman aircraft, the country will finally get the money and Biman would also have a landing practice at JFK (John F Kennedy airport) in New York, she said.

“I heard some people saying that we came here with huge sacks or trunks of foreign money in our aircraft. Those who say so they can give the information where the sacks or trunks are,” she said

She said: “Khaleda Zia had gone to Saudi Arabia with 150 suitcases when she was in power. She (Khaleda) kept many things by hiring lockers in Saudi Arabia. And her cabinet member Babar was captured with several lakhs of dollars at the airport of the USA and later he was released by the Bangladesh embassy, the PM added.

Hasina said her government gives importance to the expatriates and provides two percent incentive for sending remittances.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam were present at the virtual reception conducted by AL publicity and publication secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap.