Irresponsible person mustn’t assume power

GBNEWS24DESK//

Criticising the then BNP government’s “irresponsible management” of the devastating 1991 cyclone, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said people should be cautious so that no irresponsible person assumes power.

“I urge the countrymen to be cautious so that any person like her [Khaleda Zia], who showed irresponsibility by saying that the number of deaths was less than expected, cannot come to power,” she said.

The PM was addressing a programme marking the inauguration of 50 Mujib Killas, 80 flood shelters and 25 district relief warehouses-slash-disaster information centres on the occasion of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2022.

The disaster management and relief ministry organised the event at the capital’s Osmani Memorial Auditorium, with the premier joining it virtually from the Gono Bhaban.

Hasina said Bangladesh has established its position as a disaster resilient country on the global stage.

“The world believes that whatever disaster occurs, Bangladesh is capable of tackling it. We have to continue our efforts.”

The premier said Bangladesh witnessed a devastating cyclone in 1991 when the then BNP government was not aware of it and that’s why 1.5 lakh people were killed.

Hasina, also the Awami League president, said the leaders and activists of her party stood by the cyclone-hit people and she herself visited different islands in Chattogram and helped the victims.

She said Bangladesh is a disaster-prone country due to its geographical location and the country is used to facing flood, cyclone, waterlogging and salinity.

Bangladesh would certainly advance towards prosperity fighting all natural and manmade disasters as the AL government was working to achieve the target, the premier added.