PM urges India, Pakistan to exercise restraints

Leader of Parliament and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged the leaders of India and Pakistan to exercise restrains in their conflicts for saving the people of South Asia from any kind of sufferings.

"We want peace in South Asia. We never want any conflict or tense situation in the region as Bangladesh would also be a victim of any such situation," the leader of the House said while giving her valedictory speech in the 12th session of the 10th Jayita Sangsad.

Sheikh Hasina said her government is striving to take forward the country towards peace and prosperity. So we don't expect any conflict in this region, she said. 

During her 31-minute speech, the prime minister expressed her determination to take stern action against the culprit involved in the recent attack on college girl Khadiza in Sylhet.

"A section of the press and a vested quarter are out to highlight the incident from political point of view. But we are not giving the culprit any indulgence and the offender must get punishment," she said.

In this regard the prime minister criticized the onlookers who didn't come forward to protect Khadiza on the spot as well as BNP leaders who are also trying to explain the incident from political outlook. 

"It's my conviction that people have learned carrying out such atrocities from the movement of BNP and Jamaat in 2013 and 2015 when they brutally bunt people and police alive in broad daylight," the prime minister said adding that the brutality of BNP and Jamaat taught people to be so wilder.

The prime minister also reiterated her government's firm stance on militancy and terrorism saying legal action against the menaces would continue. In this regard she sought support particularly urging the guardians and teachers to keep information about the children. 

As well the Imams of all mosques should preach perfectly to motivate the youths to learn the real teachings of Islam, she said adding that the militants through their misinterpretation are making the lives of Muslims endangered.

Urging all to come to the path of peace and mankind, the prime minister said people of the country have responded unprecedentedly to her call to wage awareness against the militants and terrorists. We hope that people would always remain careful about them, she said.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh is a secular country where people are celebrating their religious festivals spontaneously. Here religion is an individual affair but they celebrate religious festivals together, she said hoping that the people of Bangladesh would uphold the tradition in future.

At the beginning of her speech, the prime minister congratulated the Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury on her 51st birthday. 

As well she congratulated all related to the Jatiya Sangsad particularly the opposition and independent members for their cooperation to make the parliament a functional one. She said though a very short session it was a successful one where six bills were passed and four important issues discussed.

The opposition party has contributed to every bill and brought amendments. We have incorporated many of their amendments, the prime minister said adding, “at least I can say this parliament have no experience of badmouthing which we experienced from the BNP while it was in the opposition bench.

"Now there is no such an atmosphere in the parliament and a proper democratic trend has been established in the parliamentary system of Bangladesh," the prime minister said.

Highlighting the country's progress in the socioeconomic areas, the prime minister said many internationals agencies now acknowledge this. Sheikh Hasina said her government has assumed power amidst global economic recession. But Bangladesh now emerged as a role model of development due to implementation of many pragmatic programmes, she said.

Sheikh Hasina said capacity of people has been increased while per capita income has been raised to US$ 1,466 which will grow more in the coming days. Number of abject poor has been declined while poverty rate came down below 22.4 percent.

Sheikh Hasina said her government wants to make Bangladesh a middle income country by 2021. Already, Bangladesh has been graduated to a low middle income country, but we don't want to remain as low incoming country, she said.

The prime minister said Bangladesh was born at the cost of million of martyrs to live as a victorious nation. As a victorious nation, people of the country have to keep confidence in own strength to overcome every hurdle and live in the world comity keeping the head high, she said.

Referring to her interactions with world leaders during this year's UN General Assembly in New York, the prime minister said every world leader praised the successes of Bangladesh and gave their recognition through many awards. 

However all the achievements could be possible for the people of Bangladesh as they voted Awami League to power and gave scope to form the government, she said. 

Sheikh Hasina said her government is working to take forward the country and implement the spirit of the war of liberation.

Source: BSS