Awami League government
BNP to unveil polls-time govt formula at 'appropriate' time: Fakhrul
Stating that their party will unveil a ‘formula’ on a non-party polls-time government at an ‘appropriate’ time, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday said it is the responsibility of the current regime to incorporate this provision in the constitution.
“We’ll definitely present that (non-party government’s) formula when the time comes," he said.
Speaking at a press conference at BNP chairperson's Gulshan office, Fakhrul said the current Awami League government must form a non-party neutral government and then hand over power to it for holding a credible national election.
Read:BNP to hold rallies in 10 divisional cities from October 8
As a journalist pointed out that the constitution should be amended for this, the BNP leader said, “They (govt) have to take the initiative to amend that constitution. Because they created the crisis and it is their responsibility to overcome the problem. Since it is the demand of the people, they must take the initiative by accepting the demand.”
He recalled that BNP introduced the caretaker government system through the 13th amendment to the constitution in 1996. “They (current govt) can do it in the same way.”
In 1994, Awami League spearheaded a campaign for installing a non-partisan caretaker government to oversee free and fair polls and forced BNP to accept it in 1996 in the face of a fierce movement.
The caretaker government system was abolished through the 15th amendment in 2011 as the Supreme Court struck down the 13th amendment to the constitution as illegal. The last two general elections were held under the Awami League-led government.
Fakhrul said they will force the government to accept their demand for holding the next polls under a non-party administration through a simultaneous movement.
He also said they will present the outline of the 'simultaneous' movement very soon.
Read:AL must be ousted to restore people's voting rights: Mosharraf
Fresh cases against 25,000 BNP activists
Fakhrul said their party’s five leaders--Nur-e-Alam and Abdur Rahim in Bhola, Shaon Prodhan in Narayanganj, Shahidul Islam Shaon in Munshiganj and Abdul Alim in Jessore--were killed by the Awami League government during the movement in protest against the price hikes of fuel and daily essentials since July 31.
Of them, he said four were killed in police firing while another was killed by the ruling party ‘cadres’.
Besides, Fakhrul said 2,768 BNP leaders and activists were injured and 294 were arrested during the period.
At the same time, he said the government filed 75 ‘false’ cases against around 25,000 leaders and workers of their party. “We strongly condemn the filing of such false cases. This unelected government is resorting to murder, torture, and false cases to suppress the ongoing movement on the justified demands of the people.”
Investigate incidents of enforced disappearance under UN or face trial: Fakhrul to govt
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday warned that the Awami League government must be brought to justice for indulging in enforced disappearances if it does not investigate such allegations under the UN mechanism.
“On this day, we stand with family members and children of the victims of enforced disappearances demanding that an independent and impartial investigation be carried out immediately under the United Nation,” he said.
Speaking at a human chain programme, he also said, “Or else, you will be brought to justice like the heads of the government in different countries who were tried for indulging in enforced disappearances and killings in the past."
BNP’s Dhaka south and north city units arranged the programme in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office, marking the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.
Family members, including kids, of many leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies, who have been subjected to enforced disappearance, also spoke at the programme.
They narrated the ordeal and mental trauma they are going through losing their near and dear ones and called upon the government to take steps for bringing the missing people back to their families.
Fakhrul alleged that Awami League has established a reign of terror. “They’re running the country by resorting to intimidation, enforced disappearance and killing.”
He urged the party leaders and activists to get ready for making more sacrifices by waging an irresistible movement together with people to trace out the victims of the enforced disappearance and bring smiles to the faces of their children and other family members.
“They (govt) have already got afraid of our current movement and unleashed oppressive forces. No repressive acts will work this time as people have started waking up,” he said.
AL govt’s fall is now only goal of BNP: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday categorically said the fall of the Awami League government is now the the only goal of the main opposition party.
“The absolute reality is that now a terrible fascist and monstrous regime is destroying everything we have. Our only goal now is to resist and defeat them (govt),” he said.
Speaking at a discussion marking national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam’s 46th death anniversary, the BNP leader urged the people to be imbued with the rebellious spirit of the national poet and come forward with the goal of restoring democray.
“Let us remember him (Nazrul) anew now and move forward upholding his spirit. This should be our vow on this day of his death,” he said.
Jatiyatabadi Sangskritik Foundation arranged the programme titled “The Politics of Nazrul-the politics of Bangladesh” at the Jatiya Press Club.
Describing Nazrul as a "poet of world humanity", Fakhrul said, his poetry has always inspired the exploited and oppressed people to wake up.
Read:BNP turns down EC’s move to use EVMs up to 150 seats
“Kazi Nazrul Islam is more relevant in today's context to inspire people to fight against injustice, despotism, torture and oppression. When my brother Noor-e-Alam was shot dead in Bhola or when my brother Ilias Ali was made disappeared and all our leaders and activists were tortured and when we see our leader Begum Khaleda Zia was unfairly jailed, Nazrul Islam seems more relevant to me,” he observed.
Fakhrul bemoaned that Nazrul is now being ignored in the country in many ways.
“His poems and essays are not included in the curriculum of Bengali literature. I have noticed that Nazrul Islam's songs are very rarely aired on electronic channels,” he observed.
The BNP leader also said the newspapers are now not publishing supplements with importance like in the past on Nazrul Islam's birthday or death anniversary. “I don't see it. This is extreme narrowness. This is an effort to push the people of Bangladesh towards a wrong direction.”
The 46th death anniversary of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam will be observed on Saturday amid various programmes.
Nazrul, revered as Bidrohi Kobi (a rebel poet) for his activism for political and social justice, breathed his last in Dhaka on 12th Bhadro of Bangla calendar year 1383 (August 29, 1976) at the age of 77. He was buried with full state honour beside the Dhaka University Central Mosque.
Nazrul wrote a large body of poetry and music with themes that included love, humanity, secularism, religious devotion and spiritual rebellion against all sorts of oppression.
Govt deliberately pursuing import-dependent energy policy: Speakers
Speakers at a seminar on Monday accused the Awami League government of deliberately pursuing an import-dependent energy policy only to plunder money.
“They’ve transformed the energy into a political commodity from a market commodity to use it as a tool to make money for a certain section of businessmen,” said Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, a member of the BNP standing Committee.
The BNP organised the seminar titled “Corruption is the Sources of Energy Crisis” at the Jatiya Press Club with party secretary general Mirza FAkhrul Islamj Alamgir in the chair.
BNP Standing Committee Member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, who was the power and energy minister during Khaleda Zia’s government in 1991, presented the keynote paper at the seminar.
Also read: PM's Energy Adviser hopeful of overcoming power, energy crisis
In the keynote paper, Mosharraf alleged that despite Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation’s huge fund deposited with banks, the government raised the price of petroleum fuel by 51 percent without any logical reason.
He claimed that available statistics reveal the BPC has Tk 32,000 crore deposits with different banks while its three subsidiary companies have another Tk 13,000 crore deposits.
“Many energy experts believe that the government could have continued the petroleum supply for next 21 months without raising prices with such deposited funds, “ the BNP leader said adding, the price was increased only to plunder public money.
He said the fuel price hike had directly impacted all the sectors of the economy pushing up prices of all commodities. “This is absolutely unacceptable and a deception with people.”
Stating that the Awami League government is not an elected one, Mosharrf said, “Had they been elected, they would have a responsibility to people and would have tried to resolve the problem without raising the fuel prices”.
“But the government has been driven by a business-monger mentality which is a major reason to be worried,” he said adding, the Awami League government has to be removed through a mass movement.
Also read: Patience can help overcome crisis in energy sector: Nasrul
The seminar was also addressed by BNP standing committee members Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, former editor of New Nation Mostafa Kamal Majumder, professional body leader Engineer Rezaul Islam, environment expert Zakir Hossain, Jatiya Press Club Secretary Elias Khan and Dhaka Union of Journalist (DUJ) president Quader Gani Chowdhury.
Dr Moyeen Khan said there is no consistency with the claims of the government and the ground reality of the economy. “They’re snatching the pockets of the poor while allowing the rich to siphon off money abroad,” he said.
Nazrul Islam Khan said the prices of kerosene and diesel are now highest in Bangladesh compared to many other countries like Pakistan, India and Bhutan.
Mostafa Kamal Majumder observed that the number of poor people has become double in the country while the number of rich has also increased. “This proves the sound of their development is empty.”
Zakir Hossain said the government’s initiative to set up a coal-fired power plant near the Sundarbans has put the country’s environment and economy in danger.
He said the country should pursue a policy to promote renewable energy as 80 percent of the electricity could be generated from renewable sources. “If the country does not depend on its own sources to generate 80 percent of electricity, it will jeopardise the country’s energy security.”
AL can’t earn people’s trust even with 1000 Padma bridges: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said the Awami League government will not be able to earn the confidence of people even if it builds a thousand Padma bridges keeping 'democracy besieged.
"Hold a credible election to see how much confidence people have in you (govt). Ayub Khan also carried out development activities during the Pakistan period. There’s no point of constructing a thousand Padma bridges if there is no democracy and political emancipation of people and if they don't have voting and other rights,” he said.
Fakhrul came up with the remarks at a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office reacting to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent comment that people are giving Awami league votes again and again as they have confidence in her government.
Read: BNP leaders, activists being obstructed from distributing flood relief: Tuku
He questioned how the government gained people’s confidence by rigging votes the night before the election day and by depriving people of their voting rights.
Reiterating their party’s stance on the next polls, the BNP leader said their party will participate in the election if it is held under a non-party neutral government.
"A neutral and non-partisan government is a must for a free and fair election in Bangladesh. Otherwise, even if you bring the election commissioners from heaven, you won’t have a credible election. “It’s impossible,” he observed.
Fakhrul who recovered from Covid infection recently came up with the outcome of their party’s standing committee meeting at the press conference.
He said their standing committee meeting feels that the government has completely failed to stand by the affected people in the flood-hit areas. “It could not reach adequate relief materials among people. There’s no visible activity by the government for rehabilitating flood victims.
The BNP leader said the meeting demanded the government immediately take steps for ensuring food, clothes, medical treatment and construction of houses for the affected people.
He said their standing committee members expressed serious resentment as the Planning Minister himself admitted that the 6th Population and Housing Census was not done properly across the country.
“It has never been possible to get the actual information through all kinds of surveys and studies during the tenure of the current government as data collection are done as per its instructions… as a result, international organisations can’t trust all the information and data of Bangladesh,” the BNP leader said.
About the sudden rise in load-shedding, Fakhrul said people across the country have been experiencing terrible power outages. “The frequent power cuts have proved that the government’s comments on cent percent electricity coverage are just rhetoric.
He said the government set up quick-rental power plants with the main goal to make their pockets heavier by indulging in corruption.
The BNP leader said the frequent power cuts are signs that Bangladesh is moving towards a fragile condition.
Read:BNP blames govt for fresh spike in Covid cases
Fakhrul said their meeting observed that the real foreign exchange reserves now stand at 34.02 billion as $7.5billion loans from the reserves were given to the influential persons close to the government high-ups in the name of the Export Development Fund (EDF).
They said these are forced loans given by the state-owned banks and the IMF has suggested not to including this amount of money in foreign exchange reserves.
The meeting also observed that the $7.5 billion are unlikely to return as foreign currency to the country's foreign exchange reserves.
The government is doing this terrible damage to the country by violating all the rules and regulations of the economy and the reserves only for the benefit of its own close and influential people.
He said the influential people did huge damage to the country's economy by siphoning off foreign currency abroad from the country in the name of EDF loans. “Economists fear that the far-reaching effects of such loans will bankrupt the social economy and the economy as a whole.”
The BNP leader said their meeting voiced deep concern over the EDF loans from the serves and decided to present a report with detailed information on the issue.
BNP reaches consensus with Ganosanghati Andolan on 'simultaneous’ movement:Fakhrul
BNP on Tuesday reached a consensus with Ganosanghati Andolan to wage a 'simultaneous’ movement to ensure the fall of the Awami League government and establish a polls-time neutral government.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir made the remarks while talking to reporters after nearly a two-hour political dialogue with Ganosanghati Andolan.
“We’ve reached a consensus to establish a true government of people ousting the current awful fascist regime, which has destroyed our all achievements, through a mass upsurge by uniting the country’s all people and political parties. We’ve also agreed on a simultaneous movement,” he said.
Also read:BNP vows to overcome intimidation, repression: Fakhrul
Fakhrul said they also agreed on many other issues through the talks as they think no change would come in the country if the current government is not removed from power.
He said they have agreed that the current government must step down, Parliament has to be dissolved, an election-time government is formed and the election be conducted by an Election Commission to be constituted by the neutral administration after the fall of the Awami League one. “The future government and Parliament will be formed through that election.”
Echoing Zonayed Saki, he said some basic issues need to come up in the country’s politics to strengthen democracy. “Zonayed Saki talked about it. We also believe that some changes of fundamental things and amendments to the constitution are needed to give democracy an institutional shape. I hope we can reach a consensus on this issue through discussions.”
Referring to their party Acting Chairman Tarique Raman’s formula for a national government, Fakhrul said a government will be formed based on consensus through talks among the political parties--those will win the polls under a neutral administration. “That government will bring the changes and implement those.”
He said their discussions with Ganosanghati Andolan were very fruitful and such talks with other parties will continue.
“We believe that we will be able to take the process of talks with political parties to a logical stage by completing it very quickly, and we can stand as an effective opposition force. We’ll also be able to win against the government that is destroying the state machinery and people’s hopes and aspirations. We hope that we could form a people's parliament and government. “
He said they hope that all other political parties will also agree to their party’s demand for the release of Khaleda Zia and other political prisoners and the withdrawal of cases against 35 lakh opposition leaders and activists.
Zonayed Saki said their party thinks that a movement is a must to overthrow the present government from power.
“If an outline (of a movement) from the opposition is presented before the nation, then people will get a fresh vigour and we’ll be able to force the current government to resign by forging greater unity. That is why we’ve initially agreed that the simultaneous movement should be carried out from our respective position,” he said.
The Ganosanghati Andolan leader said the government has put the country’s 18 crore people in the same line by snatching their voting rights. “Everyone will now launch a movement for the restoration of their voting rights.”
He said they talked about the coordination of a simultaneous movement and will also discuss it further in the future. ‘Through this, an outline will definitely come to the fore. ”
Saki said they placed various proposals during the talks on various issues, including protecting people’s voting rights, democracy and strengthening the election system, bringing a change in the constitutional structure of the state power and ensuring the independence of the judiciary, amending the article 70, taking steps for the appointment of all constitutional posts through a constitutional commission, establishing a local government system, balancing the power of President and Prime Minister, introducing a provincial system and revoking all undemocratic laws, including the Digital Security Act.
Also read: BNP denounces govt’s amnesty plan for money launderers
As part of BNP’s ongoing dialogue with political parties to forge strong unity for a greater movement for the "restoration" of democracy, a party delegation, led by its secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir joined the talks around 12:15 pm at Ganosanghati Andolan’s Hatirpool central office.
Amid the speculation about the formation of a new political platform, 'Ganatantra Mancha', by seven parties, BNP held the talks with one of its probable components Ganosanghati Andolan.
The other BNP delegation members include its standing committee members Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuk and former MP Zahir Uddin Swapan.
Ganosanghati Andolan’s chief coordinator Zonayed Saki, its executive coordinator Abul Hasan Rubel, political council member Taslima Akhter, party leaders Hasan Maruf Rumi, Bachchu Bhuiyan, Deepak Roy, Shyamoli Shil and Mizanur Rahman, among others, took part in the talks.
On May 24, BNP formally began a dialogue with other opposition parties with the first meeting with Nagorik Oikya aimed at forging unity among opposition political parties.
Three days later, the party also sat with the Labour Party, one of the components of the 20-party alliance.
The BNP standing committee decided to hold talks with political parties and finalise an outline of a united movement through the discussions.
BNP won’t even join talks on polls until AL quits power: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said their party even will not join any talks on the next parliamentary polls until the Awami League government quits power.
“I think there’ll be no talks until the Awami League government resigns,” he told a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office.
The BNP leader came up with the remarks as journalists drew his attention to a reported decision of the Awami League Central Working Committee to make all-out efforts to bring BNP to the next parliamentary election.
Also read:Fakhrul demands withdrawal of soybean oil price hike
Fakhrul renewed their party’s stance that BNP will not join the next polls under the current government.
“Our position on the next polls is clear. There’s no question of holding an election if the Awami League regime does not resign and power is handed over to a completely neutral government. We won’t go to the polls, if Sheikh Hasina remains in power,” he viewed.
Fakhrul said the government must meet two conditions to bring BNP to the next polls. "The first condition is that they (govt) must resign and then they must hand over power to a neutral non-partisan government.
He said a non-party neutral government will reconstitute the Election Commission for conducting the polls based on public opinions and thus a government and parliament will be formed representing the country's people.
Sought his comment on Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader’s comment that the opposition parties would be given a scope to hold meetings and rallies, Fakhrul said Awami League is a party of ‘frauds’.
"They (AL leaders) are used to say like that…but they’ll do whatever they need to do. This is the character of Awami League that they don’t keep their words. They have been deceiving people from the beginning since the country’s independence,” he said.
The BNP leader said the ruling party leaders talk about democracy like gentlemen, but they do not allow even to hold a milad and doa mahfil and Eid reunion let alone a meeting and a rally. “They attack an Eid reunion and A milad mahfil. What can you expect from them? “
It’s an attack on BNP
He strongly condemned and protested the attack on the house of party standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain in Daudkandi on Saturday, and said the government has started resorting to terrorism again to hang onto power.
Fakhrul said their standing committee’s senior member Khandaker Mosharraf went to his residence in Daukandi on Saturday to exchange Eid greetings with the local leaders and workers.
As he came out of his residence to join an invitation at Titas, the BNP leader alleged that Awami League ‘cadres’ attacked the house and Mosharraf’s companions with sticks, brickbats and batons.
“We think it’s a physical attack on Dr Mosharraf. The attack was so intense that the party workers took Mosharraf to the house and closed the gate. Even then, the Awami cadres hurled brick chips and stones like rain towards the house”, Fakhrul said.
Also read:Raise your voice to restore lost rights: Fakhrul to workers
Later, he said police brought the situation under control and helped Mosharraf to come out of his house.
“He (Mosharraf) is the senior leader of our standing committee. We consider the attack on him as an attack on the standing committee as well as on our party. We can't take it lightly. This attack has proved that there is no change in their character. Rather, they have resorted to extreme terrorism with fresh vigour to eliminate and suppress BNP and the opposition,” the BNP leader observed.
He demanded the government arrest those involved in the attack on Moshharf’s house and bring them to justice.
Fakhrul also slammed the government for hiking the price of soybean oil further for what he said protecting the interests of corrupt ruling party business syndicates.
BNP not to join polls under AL: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday reaffirmed that their party will not join the 12th general election under the Awami League government.
"As we said before, we’re least bothered about the new Election commission. Our main worry is about the election-time government,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion meeting, the BNP leader said it is certain that there will be no election in the country if Awami League is there in the government.” Because they’ll (AL) try to snatch the election results in their own style again and we’ll have to just watch it sitting at home. So, we won’t join that type of election.”
Read: AL 'helping big power' make Bangladesh a subservient country: BNP
Bangladesh Hindu, Buddhist and Christian Oikya Front arranged the programme at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) protesting the reported communal remarks by Keraniganj Police Station OC Abdus Salam and an attack on BNP leader Nipun Roy Chowdhury.
Fakhrul reiterated that BNP’s only demand is for holding the general election under a non-party neutral or caretaker government. “Our demand is not for the formation of the Election Commission (EC) and the search committee. “
He said the Awami League government must resign handing over power to a non-partisan government. “Then the non-partisan government will form the Election Commission to hold fair elections and establish the rights of people."
Earlier on Saturday, President Abdul Hamid appointed former defence secretary Kazi Habibul Awal as the new Chief Election Commissioner.
Based on the search committee’s recommendations, he also appointed Brigadier General Ahsan Habib Khan (retd), former district and sessional judge Begum Rashida Sultana , former senior secretaries Mohammad Alamgir and Anisur Rahman as the four other commissioners of the new EC.
The tenure of the immediate past EC, led by KM Nurul Huda, expired on February 14.
Fakhrul alleged that the current government has destroyed the EC like other state and constitutional organisations.
He said the Election Commission, a constitutional body, has a sacred responsibility to ensure the voting rights of the country’s people so that they can vote.
The BNP leader said it is also the responsibility of the EC to help form a parliament and a government that truly represents people through holding representative elections. “But this system was destroyed since Awami League came to power.”
Fakhrul alleged that Awami League revoked the caretaker government system as it knew it would not able to come to power with people’s votes. “The caretaker government was their (AL’s) demand. We accepted that as it was a desire of the country’s people…there were four unquestionable elections under caretaker governments.”
He said the people of all walks of life and all professions have got fed up with the ‘fascist’ rule of the Awami League government.
Read:
The BNP leader said people are waiting to get rid of the Awami League’s ‘misrule' and repression.
Criticising the communal remarks by Keraniganj OC Abdus Salam, he said police dared make such remarks as Awami League has used them to stay in power.
“I express my hatred towards the OC and also the government for giving him the scope to say such things. Where do the police get the courage to talk so much? Because you (govt) used the police in snatching votes from people at night. Also, you have been using the police for 14 years to suppress and repress those who have been fighting for democracy,” the BNP leader said.
He also alleged that Awami League has been repeatedly trying to destroy communal harmony in Bangladesh for making its political gains.
BNP to observe ‘Baksal Day’ on Jan 25
BNP will observe January 25 as ‘Baksal Day’ commemorating what it says introduction of one-party rule in the country on this day in 1975.
BNP standing committee, the highest policymaking body of the party, took the decision at a virtual meeting on Monday.
Read: BNP trashes draft law over EC formation
“Our standing committee has decided to observe January 25, the day when one-party autocratic rule was imposed on the country annihilating democracy, the golden outcome of the Liberation War, as a Baksal Day in all cities and districts across the country,” said party standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan.
Speaking at a press conference at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office on Tuesday, he also said their party’s national committee on celebrating the Golden Jubilee of independence will arrange a virtual discussion with the participation of Bangladeshis living in different countries all over the world.
Read: Zia's birth anniversary: BNP chalks out elaborate programmes
On 25 January 1975, the then Awami League government had introduced one-party Baksal rule through the fourth amendment to the constitution in parliament.
BNP observes the day as 'Democracy Killing Day'.
Hasina calls for strong vigilance on forces active against Bangladesh
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday said all should remain alert so that no one can play with the fate of the people of Bangladesh and stop the country’s remarkable journey to economic development.
“We all have to keep up vigil so that no one can play ducks and drakes with the fate of people. Our development march forward must not be hindered in any way,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said this while addressing the nation marking the 3rd anniversary of her current government formed following the 11th national parliamentary election held on December 30, 2018 and stepping into four years of the present Awami League government.
State-owned Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar simultaneously aired the Prime Minister’s address.
Hasina formed the government for the third consecutive term on January 07, 2019 after her party Awami League’s landslide victory in the 2018 national election.
She said many people cannot tolerate it as Bangladesh is now moving fast on the development highway. “So, anti-Bangladesh and anti- independence forces, both at home and aboard, are hatching various conspiracies to stop this progress.”
In her 28-minute speech, the Prime Minister said the anti-Bangladesh and anti-liberation forces are trying to confuse people in social media with false, fabricated and imaginary, information in their efforts to misguide the development partners abroad also. “People are the source of power. We believe in the power of people. So, we’re with people,” she stated.
Corruption & Militancy
The Prime Minister said the government has taken a tough stance against corruption. “The corrupt people are not spared and won’t be spared either, no matter what their political affiliation and strength are. The Anti-Corruption Commission is discharging its duties independently in this connection. But to eradicate this disease, social awareness creation is needed,” she said.
The Prime Minister mentioned that the government has resisted the emergence of militancy with an iron hand. “Bangladesh is a country of communal harmony. The people of all religions and creeds are living here maintaining mutual tolerance and will do so in the future, too.”
Read: No one will be allowed to play with people’s fate: Hasina
Economic Progress
Hasina said Bangladesh has made marked progress in the last 13 years. “In the South Asia, Bangladesh is leading in various socioeconomic indexes, including Poverty eradication, development of the health system, reduction of the maternal and child mortality, increase in average life expectancy, women empowerment and literacy.”
She mentioned that this has been possible as people reposed trust in them. “You helped us keep up the pace of the development by giving the scope for running the country for three consecutive times. By continuing this, we’re working to build a pro-welfare, developed and prosperous Bangladesh so that Bangladesh could join the line of the developed countries by 2041. For this, you were with us and I do hope you'll be with us in the future.”
To build a potential future for the new generation, Hasina said, the government has worked out all the plans for their present and future activities.
She mentioned that the young generation is full of potential and they can remove all the darkness and hurdles, and thus they will build a progressive and secular Bangladesh, which was the dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. “The power of the youth can materialise the spirit of the Liberation War of Bangladesh. My strong belief is that our next generations will move forward towards the future with their heads high.”