Only AL can take forward Bangladesh in all fronts: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday sought public mandate again for Awami League in the next general elections saying it was the only political party in the country which could take forward Bangladesh in all fronts.

"The Awami League is the only party which has a vision to move forward the country in all areas of development and the party has proved it when it came to power," she told a mammoth public rally at the Jessore Eidgah maidan in this western district. 

Sheikh Hasina added that, on the contrary, the country "goes back like the 'ghost' when BNP-Jammat comes to power". 

Sheikh Hasina arrived in Jessore yesterday on a day-long visit.

"You have given vote for 'boat' (AL election symbol). In future you will also cast your vote for the candidates of 'boat', ensuring their victory to create scope to serve the people, and I expect this from you," she said while thousands of people raised their two hands in a gesture of support to her call.

AL Presidium Member Pijush Kanti Bhatacharya, Joint Secretaries Dr Dipu Moni, Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Kazi Nabil Ahmed, MP also spoke in the meeting chaired by Awami League's district unit president Shahidul Islam Milon. 

The premier said people could achieve the expected prosperity as Awami League remains in power and Bangladesh could celebrate the golden jubilee of its independence in 2021 discarding its image as a poor country.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh was liberated with a goal of becoming a happy and prosperous nation but over 27 years the anti-liberation forces reigned the country in its 46 years history, ruining the nation's development, peace and prosperity. 

She said In the name of multi-party democracy they rehabilitated the anti- liberation force who never wanted the country's welfare.

"People have got taste of development only when Awami League was in office while BNP plundered public wealth when they ruled the country and killed people in arson attack when they were in opposition," the prime minister said. 

The prime minister said Awami League fought for liberating the country under the leadership of the Father of the Nation for 23 years. Awami League has united the people for war of Liberation and brought freedom for the people.

"Inshallah, Bangladesh, led by the Awami League, would be able to reach the country to its cherished goal and settle it in a dignified position in the world," she said. 

Sheikh Hasina said the post-1975 government sent to oblivion the history of Liberation War and turned the country into a land of killing, conspiracy, coups and corruption while the people had to tolerate the sufferings for 21 years. 

"When Awami League came to power in 1996 people of Bangladesh first could realize that they can get the services from the government. Within five years of its tenure Bangladesh attaining food autarky and progressed in all socioeconomic areas," she said.

In 2001 BNP-Jammat alliance came to power through conspiracy and plunged the country into unbridled corruption, terrorism and militancy resulting in introduction of state of emergency rule.

"Their (BNP-Jamaat) misrule ate up more eight years of the life of the people of Bangladesh," she said.

Highlighting the projects taken for development of Jessore the prime minister said the much-awaited project for resolve the Water logging problem of the Kapotakkhya River would make easy the water drainage of the Bhabadah River.

Paying her tributes to the party leaders and workers killed by BNP- Jammat she said Awami League doesn't want to see any bloodshed and Bangladesh would go ahead to achieve its cherished goal of becoming a developed and prosperous nation.

Pointing out the steps taken for welfare of the farmers the prime minister said her government first introduced collateral free bank credit for sharecroppers alongside agricultural cards to give them subsidies. 

"Bangladesh will not survive on begging to others.The country would stand in the world comity keeping its head high," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the electoral pledge of her party to build a "Digital Bangladesh" has taken a real shape.

Digital Centers were extended up to union level facilitating the people to get government services digitally, she said.

She said many youths have found their jobs in the digital world which attracted huge foreign investment while Jessore district was playing a big role to make Bangladesh a digital one.

Pointing out the World Bank's allegation of corruption against her government the Prime Minister said they wanted to tarnish the image by giving false allegation but their claim proved false "when I challenged the global lender". 

"'As the daughter of the Father of the Nation I didn't come to politics for making wealth through corruption. We do politics for the welfare of the people not for corruption," she said.

The prime minister said the Padma Bridge is now being constructed with the own resources of Bangladesh while. A railway track would be constructed along the bridge to connecting Jessore.

Source: bss