Continuity of government made Bangladesh’s uplift visible: PM

GBNEWS24 DESK//

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said continuity of her ruling Awami League (AL) in state power made visible the country’s uplift and urged the party leaders and workers to supplement the government efforts to change the people’s lot.

“Since Awami League’s landslide victory in 2008 (general) elections, we remain in the government for three consecutive terms,” she said addressing a joint meeting of the AL Central Working Committee and Advisory Council in Tungipara this afternoon.

Sheikh Hasina, who is also the ruling Awami League’s president, said, “The country’s development is being visible and the people’s lot is being changed due to the continuation of our government”.

“Every leader and worker of the party will have to move with the ideology of Father of the Nation. We’ll build a hunger-and-poverty-free Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Bangabandhu Insha Allah,” she said.

The premier said her government was working tirelessly so the people in grassroots and those who lived in rural areas get the benefits of all achievements.

Mentioning that the main aim of the Awami League government is to change the luck of the countrymen, she said “We’re working and will continue to do it to achieve the goal”.

“We’ve attained high growth rate and we’re in strong position economically . . . we’ll continue our drives against terrorism, militancy and corruption,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the government has drawn up elaborate programmes to celebrate the ‘Mujib Barsho’ nationally.

“Besides, other organisations and institutions will celebrate Bangabandhu’s birth centenary in a befitting manner,” she said.

“We’ll celebrate Mujib Barsho from March 17, 2020 to March 17, 2021 and we’ve already started its countdown … we’ll also celebrate the golden jubilee of independence in 2021 with a huge enthusiasm,” she said.

“A huge enthusiasm prevails among all on the occasion of Mujib Barsho,” she added.

Sheikh Hasina said the name of Father of the Nation was once wiped out by assassinating him on August 15 in 1975. “But today none could erase his name because he made struggle and suffered pain throughout his life for the people of the country,” she said.

The prime minister said Bangladesh earned independence through 24 years struggle and triumphing victory in the Liberation War under the leadership of the Father of the Nation.

Paying tributes to Bangabandhu, the four national leaders, three million martyrs and two lakh mothers and sisters, Sheikh Hasina said: “Our aim is to make meaningful the independence which was earned due to their sacrifice.”

The prime minister said over 82 percent people lived under the poverty level when Bangabandhu liberated the country. “But our Awami League government has been able to bring down the (poverty) rate to 20.5 percent,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said Father of the Nation liberated the country to change the lot of the exploited and deprived people and he also started the work to this end.

“But we’re unfortunate that Bangladesh was deviated from that ideology and spirit after the brutal killing of Bangabandhu,” she said.

The prime minister said the country started its journey towards development again when the Awami League government assumed office after long 21 years. “It has been possible as we’re following the ideology of the Father of the Nation,” she said.

Earlier, the newly-elected AL Central Working Committee and Advisory Council led by party President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid rich tributes to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.