Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said Bangladesh Awami League (AL) is not running the state by neglecting the people, rather the party is working for their welfare by becoming a companion of their weal and woe.
“We’re not running the state by neglecting the people, rather we’re working for the welfare of the masses by becoming a companion of their joys and sorrows and staying beside them in their peril,” she said.
The premier added: “The country is progressing fast as we’re working by adhering to this principle”.
Sheikh Hasina, also the AL president, was delivering her introductory speech at a meeting of the AL Advisory Council and Central Working Committee at her official Ganabhaban residence here this afternoon.
The prime minister said Awami League has emerged as a political party by respecting and reciprocating to the inherent words and messages of the people. “Father of the Nation Bangabandhu had brought independence for the nation by strengthening the party,” she said.
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Putting emphasis on further strengthening the party and mobilising public opinion, the Awami League chief said political strength and public support are very much needed to this end.
“Simultaneously we’ve to take every step forward by integrating all our thoughts and spirits … we’ve to advance in a planned way,” she continued.
The prime minister said a plan to run the state properly was almost prepared by the party. “If we come to power, where will we go and what will we do — such a plan was almost ready and that’s why we could work (for the country),” she said.
The AL president said her party has a plan on where it (party) will take the country from the present position.
“We’ve already declared our plan. But we’ll have to take preparations and overcome the hurdles to this end,” she said.
“For this, the organisation will have to be further strengthened and public opinion be created,” the PM added.
Taking a swipe at a section of civil society members, the prime minister said there are some people who do not feel comfort in anything.
“We’re marching forward economically. But some people see it in different eyes … it’s their habit,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina added that these people never want democratic trend to continue. “They don’t take a breath if democratic trend continues and their price goes up if abnormal situation exists,” she said.
The prime minister said her party wants continuity of the democratic process and take the country forward economically. “We’ve expanded social safety net programme and we stay aware (of development) of agriculture, education, health and other fields,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh has also a capability of tackling any natural disaster.
“The officials and volunteers concerned start working when any disaster hits the country … there is no need to give any directives to them,” she said.
In this connection, the premier said her government is taking information frequently about flood, rains and river erosion.
“The officials concerned are performing their responsibilities and there is no relaxation in this regard,” she said.
The AL president, however, said the political parties will have to remain active in this regard. “Awami League always played a pioneering role during past disasters,” she said.
Spelling out country’s tremendous development in various sectors, the prime minister said Bangladesh has already got recognition as a developing country and earned successes in other fields.
Placing emphasis on retaining this achievement, she said, “We want to advance further and build Bangladesh as the most developed and prosperous country in South Asia.”
Sheikh Hasina continued:”We’ve such a plan and thinking and we’ve to implement those plan and thinking.”
The prime minister said her government has been able to keep up the country’s development spree.
“We not tumbled in the last one decade and didn’t lag behind … we didn’t give a jump suddenly,” she said.
“We advanced the country up to this level … it’s very important and we’ve proved that goal could be achieved by going through the rules,” she said.
Expressing gratitude to the people for giving scope to the Awami League to run the country time and again, Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh has become a role model of development in the last one decade, while the Bangalee nation has gotten honour in the whole world.
“Bangladesh has become self-reliant economically and we’ve been able to increase the GDP growth to 8.1 percent,” she said.
The prime minister said Bangabandhu graduated Bangladesh to a least developed country within three and a half years of independence.
“Following his footprints, we got recognition as a developing country. But our journey to this way was not smooth … we had to tolerate many things like killing, fire terrorism and repression. Despite that we’ve been able to advance,” she said.
(BSS)
