Foreign delegates praise PM for combating terrorism

The members of the foreign delegations now in Dhaka to attend the 20th National Council of Bangladesh Awami League yesterday highly appreciated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's leadership in containing terrorism and militancy as well as alleviating poverty and women empowerment.

"The way Bangladesh has clamped down on terrorism and militancy under the leadership of Prime Minister is fantastic," the delegation members said when they called on the Bangladesh premier at her official Ganabhaban residence here last night.

Apart from the issues of terrorism, militancy, poverty alleviation and women empowerment, Bangladesh's success in social safety net programmes, food security, enhanced connectivity with neigbouring countries, environment, particularly Rampal Power Plant, communal harmony, etc came up for the discussion between the prime minister and foreign delegates.

The foreign delegates expressed gratitude to Sheikh Hasina for arranging "five-star hospitality" for them and said they were impressed at the decoration that was made in Dhaka city on the occasion of the AL's 20th National Council.

Public Administration Minister and AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Foreign Ministry Dr Dipu Moni, AL's International Affairs Secretary Muhammad Faruk Khan, Dr Habibe Millat, MP, Kazi Nabil Ahmed, MP, and Mahzabin Khaled, MP, were present on the occasion, among others.

While talking about the issue of terrorism and militancy, the Bangladesh premier mentioned her government's "zero tolerance policy" against these social menaces.

Her government, she said, has involved the people of all walks of life including guardians, teachers and religious leaders to combat terrorism and militancy.

In this connection, Sheikh Hasina said she talked to the people of all strata through videoconferencing after the Gulshan cafe attack on July 1 to create mass awareness against terrorism and militancy.

The premier said she is very glad to the people that they responded her call promptly on the issue and started conducting campaign against terrorism and militancy.

Sheikh Hasina also reaffirmed her government's firm stance not to allow Bangladesh's land to be used for terrorist acts in other countries.

She regretted that Bangladesh had to face lot of odds in the past as the people had time and again witnessed someone from the cantonment suddenly captured power violating the army rules and constitution and had declared himself as the president.

Such dictators had forced other politicians to join them, she said adding that there had not been any practice of democracy during that time.

But, she said, the Awami League is a political party of the mass people and it has been working for the development of the country and welfare of the people.

Sheikh Hasina said it is very unfortunate that Awami League has to compete with such elements which were involved in usurping power illegally and violating constitution. 

About her government's success in women empowerment, Sheikh Hasina said the desired development of the country is not possible leaving the women, the half of the total population, out of development process.

She said 30 percent seats in the local government bodies like Union, Upazila, Municipality and City Corporations have been kept reserved for the women. 

She also mentioned that the country's women are now in very high position in all sectors like administration, judiciary, education as well as in the armed forces and in law-enforcement agencies. 

While the delegation members wanted to know about her thinking about the current challenge in Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina said the main challenge of her government is poverty reduction. "We are working relentlessly on how to eradicate it and there by ensure economic development of the poor."

Besides, she said, terrorism is also a current issue and her government has been fighting against it.

In this connection, an Indian delegation member termed the prime minister as the daughter of a "great hero" and said, Sheikh Hasina is running the country just as a heroic woman. He also commended Sheikh Hasina as she has been working with courage and so much sacrifice of her family.

At the meeting, a German delegation member drew attention on power and solar energy when the Prime Minister said, Bangladesh badly needs power to ensure desired development.

When Rampal issue was raised, the prime minister argued that the coal-based power plant at Rampal would be a modern plant where most sophisticated and latest technologies would be used. 

"We are very much careful about environment and the plant would not cause any harm to the Sundarbans and environment of the adjacent areas," she said.

Accusing a section of the society who are crying for the Rampal issue, she said they don't say anything about similar coal-based power plants set up at Dinajpur.

Issues of easing visa process between Bangladesh and India, Asian highway, connectivity, trade and commerce also came up for discussion at the meeting.

Earlier, a delegation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by its Vice President Binay Prabhakar Sahasrabidhe also called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganabhaban yesterday evening.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said the BJP team showed their keen interest in the activities of Centre for Research and Information (CRI), the research wing of Bangladesh Awami League.

They also sought cooperation between the CRI and the BJP research cell.

The prime minister recalled her recent visit to Goa, India to attend the BRICS-BIMSTEC Leaders' Outreach Summit, saying that the summit was very successful.

Source: BSS