PM Hasina
Want peace, but ready to resist external attack: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said the armed forces are being developed appropriately to give fitting reply if the country comes under attack by any external forces.
“If external forces attack, we have to face that. For that we have to build up appropriate armed forces and accordingly we have taken various steps,” she said.
The prime minister said this while addressing the 10th Tigers’ Reunion of the East Bengal Regiment at Bangladesh Military Academy (BMA).
She said that Bangladesh does not want to engage in war with anyone.
“We believe in the policy of friendship to all and malice to none. This policy was formulated by the Father of the Nation,” she said.
Briefly describing various development activities of the government to modernise Bangladesh Army, she said that Sheikh Russell cantonment has recently been established in Mawa-Jazira while construction of new cantonments is under way in Mithamin, Rajbari and Trishal.
“Construction of Army Aviation Forward Bases at Chattogram and Cox's Bazar and Aviation School at Lalmonirhat is also in progress,” she said.
Also read: PM urges South Korea for more investments in Bangladesh
She mentioned that the government has added new composite brigade and para commando brigade in the army.
“Sophisticated and up-to-date weapons are being procured for each force,” she said.
She said that the government wants to transform Bangladesh as a country of peace.
“For that we have adopted zero tolerance policy against terrorism and militancy," she said.
The PM said that Bangladesh has faced COVID-19 pandemic successfully.
But she mentioned that Russia-Ukraine war and subsequent sanctions caused economic recession across the globe where developed countries have also been affected.
Also read; Next national polls will be free and fair: PM Hasina tells US official
“Food prices in various countries increased excessively, and there is trouble in getting foods also,” she said.
She said that the land of Bangladesh is fertile while people are very much skilled.
“I want that every citizen of the country will cultivate whatever land one has so that the blow of world economic recession can not hit Bangladesh,” she said.
Hasina said that the government has increased country’s food production and ensured food security.
“It is true, but alongside of that we have to continue this (increased food production) until this (Russia-Ukraine) war stops and the world get rid of the economic recession,” she said.
She urged all to work hard ensure that the global economic recession does not affect Bangladesh.
At the programme the PM took salute and also inspected the parade riding on an open jeep.
She witnessed the spectacular parade of a smartly-turned out contingent of East Bengal Regiment followed by a colourful cultural programme.
Keep vigil against evil forces to sustain country's development pace
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday urged the people of the country to remain alert against the evil forces so they can't grip Bangladesh again.
“The people of the country have to remain alert and cautious so that dark clutch (of evil force) must never again grip Bangladesh,” she said.
The prime minister said this while handing over the keys of 5000 government-built houses, ‘Bir Nibash’, to the underprivileged freedom fighters of the country. A total of 30,000 houses are being built across the country under the project.
Liberation War Affairs Ministry organised the programme at Osmani Memorial Auditorium with its minister AKM Mozammel Huq in the chair.
Hasina said that Bangladesh is advancing with an unstoppable speed and no one will be able to stop it.
“Bangladesh will be built with the spirit of the Liberation War. We will build Bangladesh as non-communal country imbued with the ideology of the Liberation War and that is our aim,” she said.
She said that under the leadership of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman the people had sacrificed their blood to attain Independence in 1971.
“This is our country, and we have gained our Independence sacrificing our blood under the leadership of the Father of the Nation. We will build this country as the Golden Bangladesh of the Father of the Nation, Inshallah,” she said.
Also read: ‘Bir Nibash’: PM gives away keys to 5000 houses for disadvantaged freedom fighters
The prime minister said that her government will build a better living condition for the freedom fighters.
She said her government has been giving houses to disadvantaged freedom fighters and arranging for them means of livelihoods so they can lead a dignified life.
She said the construction of 17660 more houses for the freedom fighters are in various stages.
"I hope that the construction of 30,000 Bir Nibash will be completed by this year," she said.
Describing briefly her government’s programmes for the overall development of Bangladesh in the past 14 years, Hasina said that Bangladesh has now become a developing nation from the least developed one. And it would be a developed, prosperous and Smart Bangladesh by 2041.
She said freedom fighters and their family members now get Tk 20,000 per head as monthly allowance. Besides, they get various festival bonuses including the one on Bangla New Year’s Day.
The PM said they have arranged treatment for the freedom fighters and their free transportation alongside giving special scholarship to their family inmates.
“For which the worthy sons of the soil nowadays can say they’re freedom fighters and their family members can say they’re coming from freedom fighters’ families keeping their heads high,” she said.
The PM said her Awami League government is not only honouring the freedom fighters of the country, but also the foreigners who fought for Bangladesh’s independence particularly the Indian military personnel and stood by the country during the War of Liberation in 1971.
Sheikh Hasina asked all concerned to find out the mass killing grounds, which are yet to be traced and preserve those for the people to know about the true history of independence and the sacrifices of the martyrs.
Over 20,000 graveyards of the freedom fighters have so far been preserved, she said.
“We have already built Liberation War memorials and museums in 360 places in 293 upazilas. We’re building a separate Liberation War Complex in each upazila of the country where there will be a museum and a memorial inscribed with the names of freedom fighters,” she said.
She said that it might not be possible to find out names of every freedom fighter of the localities.
“We’re preserving the places as the people from generation after generation can remember those for whom we have achieved the country’s independence,” she said.
The Prime Minister said they have also preserved two places from where the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave the historic 7th March speech and the place where the Pakistani occupation forces surrendered to the allied forces aimed at presenting the true history of the Liberation War before the people.
Liberation War Affairs Secretary Khaja Miah also spoke at the programme.
A documentary related to the project was screened at the programme.
The Tk 4,122-cr project - house construction for poor freedom fighters - was approved by the Ecnec on March 21 last year.
Under the project 30,000 ‘Bir Nibash’ (houses) for poor freedom fighters, Birangana (women freedom fighters), widows and children of martyred and late freedom fighters will be built for their socioeconomic uplift.
Named as Bir Nibas, the 635-square-foot-houses, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a dining room and a kitchen will be built for poor freedom fighters on their family homesteads.
This project is an initiative of PM Hasina seeking to uplift the socio-economic status of poverty-stricken freedom fighters, widows and children of late heroic freedom fighters.
Construction of each house costs Tk14,10, 382, according to official sources.
Deputy Commissioners of Narail, Madaripur, Gopalganj, Gazipur and Kishoreganj, on behalf of the Prime Minister handed over the keys in their respective areas.
Six by-polls proved vote can be fair under the AL govt: PM Hasina tells JS
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said no one should raise any concern about the election being free and fair under the AL government following the recent by-elections in six parliamentary seats and Rangpur City Corporation.
“These have proved that fair elections are held during the Awami League period,” she said.
The prime minister said this while participating in the discussion on the thanksgiving motion on President's speech in parliament.
She said that six by-elections were held just a few days ago where Jatiya Party won in one seat.
She mentioned that in another seat, the BNP MP who resigned from the parliament returned as an independent candidate.
“Moreover, we left one to Rashed Khan Menon’s party where the Jatiya Party candidate won. Another was given to Hasanul Haque Inu’s party and it won in Bogra,” she said.
She said that AL candidate won only in Bogra and Chapainawabganj.
“No one could complain about Rangpur mayor election. But Jatiya Party won that election, Awami League lost.”
Therefore, she said, “we have been able to prove that the election has been fair, free and impartial during the Awami League government.”
“I hope no one gets a chance to raise anything about the election after this (by-elections and mayor election).”
She mentioned that AL always has fought for people's right to vote.
“I think it is our responsibility to ensure the right to vote.”
PM Hasina said that the government has built the Padma Bridge with its own funding, which was a challenging job.
“This one decision has changed the image of Bangladesh internationally. Those who earlier thought that Bangladesh will never be able to stand up proved wrong. Those who seized power after 1975 tragedy (assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) had wanted that,” she said.
Hasina said that the international status of Bangladesh has increased as the country has proved that it can.
She said that digital services are being launched in all areas and now the documents of land can be taken at home while any bill can be paid from home.
She said that the government is working for the overall development of the people of the country.
The premier recalled the election during Ziaur Rahman's tenure. The people had seen how the presidential election of 1981 was rigged, she said.
She also said that during his time General Ershad (founder of Jatiya Patty) changed the election results by withholding the counting for 48 hours.
She recalled that no party could form the government in the 1991 elections on its own and so BNP joined hands with Jamaat to form the government. And they held a election without participation of voters on February 15, 1996. People don't let go if votes are stolen. Khaleda Zia had to resign on March 30.”
The PM said that there was a conspiracy in 2001 regarding the sale of country’s gas.
She said that Bangladesh is sending medical teams, medicines, dry food to help the earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria.
‘We keep our promises one by one’: PM Hasina says at launch of underground metro construction work
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today launched the construction of Bangladesh’s first underground metro rail – hailing it as yet another milestone in the country’s journey towards progress under her leadership.
“We are launching the construction work of underground metro rail. With this, another milestone has been achieved in Bangladesh’s development journey,” she said.
The PM was addressing a civic rally arranged at Purbachal, on the outskirts of Dhaka city, to mark the inauguration of Mass Rapid Transit Line-1 (MRT-1) – country’s first underground metro project – construction work.
She launched the construction work of the 31.24 km MRT Line-1, unveiling its inaugural plaque in Rupganj under Narayanganj.
The MRT Line-1 – having both underground and elevated facilities – will be constructed at an estimated cost of Tk 52,561.43 crore by 2026.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh is progressing at an indomitable speed as per the slogan “Bangladesh on the march towards prosperity” – announced in her party’s 2018 election manifesto.
“We keep our promises one by one,” she said, adding that her government implemented the Vision-2021 as well as metro rail to ease traffic congestion as per its commitment announced before the 2008 national election.
“If Awami League makes a promise, it keeps it,” she said.
AL gets votes, winning hearts of the people through work, she said.
Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League president, said the BNP-Jamaat alliance secured only 30 seats out of 300 in the 2008 parliamentary election.
“We have ensured people’s wellbeing. So, they are are voting for us. We have earned the trust and confidence of the people. We are getting votes, winning the hearts of people through our work,” she added.
Referring to Wednesday’s by-elections, she said the ‘boat’ – electoral symbol of Awami League – won in by-polls in Bogura and Chapainawabganj.
Also read: PM opens construction work of country's first-ever underground metro rail
The AL chief extended sincere thanks to those who voted for the ‘boat’.
The first underground metro line will have two parts – a 19.87 km part from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Kamalapur (Airport route) and an around 11.37 km elevated line from Natun Bazar to Purbachal (Purbachal route).
The airport route includes 16.4 km underground with 12 stations, while the Purbachal route includes seven stations.
To implement the MRT Line-1, Japan International Cooperation (JICA) will finance Tk 39,450.32 crore, while the rest Tk 13,111.11 crore will be drawn from the government’s fund.
Some eight lakh passengers will be able to travel through the MRT Line-1 every day. It will take commuters only 25 minutes to travel from Dhaka airport to Kamalapur with breaks at 12 underground stations and 21 minutes from Natunbazar to Purbachal with breaks at seven stations.
Besides, commuters will be able to reach Purbachal from Kamalapur with an interchange in Natunbazar station within only 40 minutes with breaks at 16 stations.
A total of six metro rail routes will be inaugurated in the capital city Dhaka by 2030.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the MRT line-1 project at Tk 52,561.43 crore in 2019.
On December 28 last year the prime minister opened the operation of the country’s first metro rail service on the Uttara-Agargaon part of MRT Line-6 (Uttara-Agargaon-Farmgate-TSC-Motijheel-Kamalapur). The work of MRT-6 line till Motijheel will be completed by December 2023 and will be extended to Kamalapur by June 2025.
The construction work of MRT-5 (northern route) will be inaugurated in July 2023. MRT-5 (northern route) line will be from Savar’s Hemayetpur to Bhatara via Gabtoli, Mirpur and Gulshan.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader presided over the event, while Textiles and Jute Minister and local MP Golam Dastagir Gazi, Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori, Secretary of Road Transport and Highways Division ABM Amin Ullah Nuri, Managing Director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) MAN Siddique and Chief Representative of JICA Bangladesh Ichiguchi Tomohide spoke on the occasion. Narayanganj City Corporation Mayor Selina Hayat Ivy, Bagerhat-1 MP Sk Helal Uddin, Narayanganj MPs Shamim Osman, AKM Salim Osman, Nazrul Islam Babu and Leakat Hossain Khoka were also present at the event.
PM opens construction work of country's first-ever underground metro rail
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday opened the construction work of the country's first-ever 31.241-km underground metro rail project, Mass Rapid Transit Line-1 (MRT-1).
She unveiled the inaugural plaque of MRT Line-1, joining its launching ceremony at Purbachal in Rupganj of Narayanganj, on the outskirts of Dhaka.
The MRT Line-1 having both underground and elevated facilities will be constructed at an estimated cost of Tk 52,561.43 crore by 2026.
The first underground metro line will have two parts -- a 19.872-km part from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Kamalapur (Airport route) and an around 11.37-km elevated line from Natun Bazar to Purbachal.
The airport-Kamalapur part includes 16.4-km underground with 12 stations, while the Natun Bazar-Purbachal part includes seven stations.
A total of six metro rail routes will be inaugurated in the capital city Dhaka by 2030.
To implement the MRT Line-1, Japan International Cooperation (JICA) will finance Tk 39,450.32 crore, while the rest Tk 13,111.11 crore will be drawn from the government’s fund.
Also read: Construction work of underground metro rail to be inaugurated Thursday
Some eight lakh passengers will be able to travel through the MRT Line-1 every day. Passengers will take only 25 minutes to travel from Airport to Kamalapur with breaks at 12 underground stations and 21 minutes from Natun Bazar to Purbachal with breaks at seven stations.
Besides, passengers will be able to reach Purbachal from Kamalapur with an interchange in Natun Bazar station within only 40 minutes with breaks at 16 stations.
Both the elevated and underground stations will have lifts, stairs, and escalators.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the MRT line-1 project at Tk 52,561.43 crore in 2019.
On December 28 last year the prime minister opened the operation of the country's first ever metro rail service on the Uttara-Agargaon part of MRT Line-6 (Uttara-Agargaon-Farmgate-TSC-Motijheel-Kamalapur). The work of MRT-6 line till Motijheel will be completed by December 2023 and will be extended to Kamalapur by June 2025.
The construction work of MRT-5 (northern route) will be inaugurated in July 2023. MRT-5 (northern route) line will be from Savar's Hemayetpur to Bhatara via Gabtoli, Mirpur and Gulshan.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Textiles and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi, Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori, Secretary of Road Transport and Highways Division ABM Amin Ullah Nuri, Managing Director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) MAN Siddique and Chief Representative of JICA Bangladesh Ichiguchi Tomohide were present.
Digital connectivity key to build Smart Bangladesh: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said digital connectivity would be the key to transform Bangladesh into a smart nation in every way.
“Digital connectivity will be the key tool to build Smart Bangladesh. Smart citizens, smart economy, smart government and smart society will be developed on the basis of digital connectivity,’’ she said in a video message aired at the inaugural ceremony of the Digital Bangladesh Fair-2023.
Posts and Telecommunications Ministry arranged the three-day Digital Bangladesh Fair at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) for showcasing the IT and ITES products and services in the country.
She also hoped that the digital goods would play a significant role in investments and exports.
Hasina said that Digital Bangladesh is now a reality and the next target is to build Smart Bangladesh and Smart Nation.
Also read: PM directs DCs to increase food production, exercise austerity
“There is no substitute for using ultra modern technology to achieve the target of building Smart Bangladesh,” she said.
The prime minister said her government wants Bangladesh to become prosperous economically, ensuring maximum use of the digital technology that includes artificial intelligence, internet, virtual reality, augmented reality, robotics and big-data.
In this connection, she said that 5G services will be ensured at the industrial regions.
She mentioned that a revolution has taken place in Bangladesh in terms of digitisation.
Also read: Next stop, Smart Bangladesh: PM lays out renewed vision at BASA meet
“Young generation is now seeing the dream of building Smart Bangladesh.”
The Prime Minister said that her government had launched Bangabandhu Satellite-1 in the orbit in 2018 which has brought a revolutionary change in the broadcasting and telecommunications sectors.
She said that Bangladesh is earning a huge amount of foreign currency by using unused frequencies from satellites.
PM Hasina said that steps have been taken to install Bangabandhu Satellite-2 with multifaceted working capacity aiming to materialise the target of establishing Smart Bangladesh.
She said her government is going to set up a third submarine cable by 2024 as they have already installed the first and second submarine cables, adding that Bangladesh has so far achieved a bandwidth capacity of 3400 GBPS.
“The bandwidth capacity will be increased to 7200 GBPS in the middle of this year, while it will be 13200 GBPS after installation of the third submarine cable.”
She mentioned that Bangladesh is earning US$4.81 million every year through giving bandwidth leases to Saudi Arabia, France, Malaysia and India.
The PM said Bangladesh doesn’t need to depend on foreign satellites any more.
She noted that nearly 956298 kilometers optical fibre cables have been set up at union levels across the country while 10 Gigabyte capacity has been ensured in every union which help give high speed internet to the people and the government offices.
She said that a total of 8600 post offices across the country have been turned into digital ones using the infrastructure, she said, adding that nowadays 18 crore mobile SIMs are being used while the number of people using the internet is 12 crore.“The digital inequality and prices of broadband internet between the rural and urban areas has been erased due to it,” she added.
At the function, the newly introduced Posts and Telecommunication Award was distributed among 22 organisations and individuals in 14 categories in recognition of their praiseworthy works in the telecom sector to build Digital Bangladesh.
Education Minister Dipu Moni, Posts and Telecommunications Division Minister Mustafa Jabbar, Posts Telecommunications and Information Technology Ministry's Parliamentary Standing Committee President AKM Rahmatullah, and Secretary of Posts and Telecommunications Division Abu Hena Morshed Zaman spoke at the function.
PM Hasina opens annual DC conference
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday opened the three-day annual conference of the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) at Shapla Hall of her office here in the city.
This time there will be a total of 26 sessions, including 20 working sessions, with various ministries in the DC Conference-2023 that will end on Thursday (January 26, 2023).
On this occasion, the DCs will meet the President, the Chief Justice and the Speaker and take instructions from them.
Read: World keeps silent as Afghan govt stops education for women: PM Hasina
In the conference the DCs will exchange views with the relevant ministries for the implementation of various policies, strategies and instructions of the government.
They come up with various reform proposals based on the challenges they face, the experience they accumulate at the field level while implementing the government's various directives and policies.
A total of 245 proposals have been received from various ministries and deputy commissioners this year, officials said.
Read: Raise own funds for development: PM Hasina urges public universities
State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain, Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain, Principal Secretary M. Tofazzel Hossain Miah, Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner GSM Jafarullah, and Deputy Commissioners of Narsingdi and Bandarban Abu Nayeem Mohammed Maruf Khan and Yasmin Parvin Tibriji spoke at the inaugural session of the DC Conference.
We need dedicated hospital for children in every division: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday called for establishing dedicated hospital for the children in every division of the country to provide better healthcare for them.
“I think that establishment of Shishu Hospitals is necessary in every divisions,” she said.
The premier was inaugurating the operation of community vision centres set up in 45 upazila health complexes under third phase in 15 districts through a videoconference.
She joined the inaugural ceremony, held at National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital in the capital, from her official residence Ganabhaban.
Read: PM Hasina urges affluent section to stand by destitute people
Hasina said that steps should be taken in every divisional medical universities or district hospitals for better healthcare to the children.
In this regard, she mentioned that the government has waived taxes from child medicare items and incubator.
She said that her government established Medical Universities in Sylhet, Rajshahi and Chattogram and it has plan to establish medical universities in all divisions gradually.
“Medical colleges will be affiliated under those universities, will provide proper medical services and we are taking steps towards that,” she said.
She said that the government has expanded the facilities so that medical colleges and health services could be established through private initiatives.
She said that the government has reduced taxes on medicate equipment or hospital building materials so that medical hospitals can be established in private sector.
Read: Far-right and far-left side with BNP to unseat govt: PM Hasina
Talking about the modernisation and expansion of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, the PM said that the government has taken plan to upgrade it to 5000-bed facility
“We have taken plan, but worldwide economic recession due to the coronavirus pandemic and Ukraine-Russia war we could not start the construction, in future it will be built, for that we have taken special measurers,” she said.
Regarding the community vision centres, she said that in three phases some 135 community vision centres have been opened and gradually it will be established in all upazilas across the country.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque and Health Services Division Secretary Dr Mohammad Anwar Hossain Howlader also spoke at the programme.National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital Director Professor Dr Golam Mostafa briefly described the activities of the community vision centres.
A documentary was also screened at the programme.
Later she talked to cross section of people joined through video links from Charfashion in Bhola, Amtali in Barguna, Pekua in Cox’s Bazar and Banshkhali in Chattogram.
PM Hasina urges affluent section to stand by destitute people
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday urged the affluent section of the society to stand beside the destitute people as her government has been working to arrange houses for all homeless people of the country.
“Not a single person will remain landless and homeless in Bangladesh. That is our goal,” she told the representatives of the Bangladesh Association of Banks (BAB) during a meeting at her office here.
In the meeting 36 banks donated a total of Tk 113.25 crore for the construction of houses for homeless people under Ashrayan-2 project, said PM’s Deputy Press Secretary KM Shakhawat Moon while briefing reporters.
The premier said most of the country's homeless and landless people have already been given houses and the remaining people will also get abodes. “Nothing can be greater than the smile and satisfaction of the people who got Ashrayan houses,” she added.
She said many people who got Ashrayan houses on two-decimal lands are also growing vegetables, rearing chickens, opening cottage industry and shops there. “They’re finding a way to make a (decent) living. The life of the people is changing for the better,” she said.
Hasina asked the well-off section to come forward in the construction of houses for landless and homeless people. “Not only the government, but we all together will take the country forward on the path of development,” she said.
The PM thanked the BAB and bankers for providing donations on different occasions saying, “I don't even need to tell you (for providing assistance). You all come spontaneously and help during any disaster and crisis.”
Also read: AL always fulfills election pledges made to the nation: PM Hasina
Focusing on the outcome of her government’s initiative to open banks in the private sector, she said three lakh graduates were employed due to the establishment of private banks. “It's a big matter,” she added.
PM Hasina said the country is marching toward prosperity overcoming all natural and manmade disasters.
Referring to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war on the global economy, she said, “We’re not in big trouble, unlike other countries. We are overcoming it.”
Also read: Work collectively for a fair economic order: PM at Voice of South Summit
PM’s Principal Secretary Tofazzel Hossain Miah conducted the event, while BAB chairman Nazrul Islam Mazumder also spoke on the occasion.
Far-right and far-left side with BNP to unseat govt: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday warned that all the extreme rightist and leftist groups are joining forces with the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party to try to oust her Awami League government, which has been working tirelessly for the welfare of the country and its people.
“Now they (BNP) are saying they will forge movement from 11 (January)…they got their as their companions the extreme leftists and rightists. All extremists are gathering in one place to topple us from power,” she said.
The premier was addressing a discussion marking the historic Homecoming Day of Bangabandhu organised by the Awami League at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC). Hasina, also the AL president, presided over the event.
On this day in 1972, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman returned to the newly liberated Bangladesh via London and New Delhi after spending nine and a half months in a Pakistani jail.
Hasina said that her government is so strong that it won’t be easy at all for BNP and its extremist allies to oust it from power.
“Let me tell you one thing. The AL works for the people and their welfare. Don’t think it will fall down if one shakes it. Things are not that much easy,” she said.
On the other hand, she said, her party does know very well how to oust illegal power grabbers and voter riggers. “And we had proved that repeatedly.”
She said that taking advantages of digital transformation of the country BNP has hired people who are spreading slander against Awami League on the social media and trying to confuse the people.
“They spread panic over the December 10 (rally of BNP) beating drums and trumpets, but it finally went to Golapbag,” she said ridiculing the opposition party.
PM Hasina recalled that Khaleda Zia was compelled to cancel two elections - February 15, 1996 and January 6, 2006 - that took place under her government.
“People deposed them as they rigged people’s votes. They were ousted and rejected repeatedly by the people. How would they practice democracy? They and their party do not have any democracy in them,” she said.
Also read: Homecoming Day of Bangabandhu: PM pays tribute at Dhanmondi-32
She claimed that Awami League practices democracy within the party and also in the country.
“Transparent ballot boxes, voters’ lists with photos, ID cards and EVMs all have been introduced by us so that people could cast their votes freely,” she said.
Coming to power with people’s verdict, Hasina said, her party engaged all their strength for the development and welfare of the people.
“Advancement of AL will be continued. Inshallah, we will build Golden Bangladesh and Smart Bangladesh. This is our pledge to our Father (of the Nation),“ she said.
She also mentioned that supreme sacrifice of the Father of the Nation and millions of martyrs must not go in vain.
“It will not go in vain. People of Bangladesh will move across the world with their heads ever high,” she said.
The prime minister said that her party has developed the country following ideals and principles of Bangabandhu.
The government is advancing the country according to the AL election pledge and Bangladesh has already got the status of a developing country, she said.
Coming down heavily on Zia, Ershad and Khaleda governments, Hasina said that they had failed to develop the country.
Also read: Proposal was made to demolish Kamalapur Station for metro rail landing, and I opposed: PM
Elaborating the changed scenario of the country in the last 14 years, she said that the present generations cannot even imagine the condition of Bangladesh before 2009.
She said that those who were born 20 years ago and did not see 1975 and those who have no idea about the 1971 do not know how was Bangladesh during that time.
Saying that anti-liberation forces and the ghosts of 1971 had been in the state power for a long time, Hasina regretted that one of the killers of Bangabandhu became the army chief and the president of the country.
Not only that, the governments after the 1975 carnage distorted the history of country’s emergence, she said accusing them of narrating false history among the new generations.
Even, the freedom fighters could not tell about their identities, she regretted.
The PM said that after returning to power after 21 years, Awami League began working for the welfare of the country and its people.
Later, the Awami League government developed Bangladesh as a digital country and ensured basic rights of the people including their foods, cloths, housing and treatment, she added.
Hasina also elaborated lifelong struggles and sacrifices of the Father of the Nation for establishing an independent Bangladesh and bringing smile on faces of the people.
She said that the independence of the country was completed after the homecoming of the undisputed leader of the Nation Bangabandhu on January 10.
AL general secretary Obaidul Quader gave the welcome address at the programme where AL central committee members Professor Mohammad Ali Arafat, Advocate Tarana Halim, former Jahangirnagar Vice-Chancellor Farzana Islam, eminent actor Ramendu Majumder, Dhaka South unit AL Abu Ahammad Mannafi and Dhaka north unit AL general secretary SM Mannan Kochi also spoke.
AL Publicity and Publication Secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap conducted the discussion.