Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina says a vested quarter is trying to oust her Awami League government despite the government’s success in putting the country on the road to development and prosperity.
The prime minister came up with the statement while addressing a meeting with leaders and activists of Tungipara and Kotalipara Upazila Awami League in Tungipara of Gopalganj on Monday, reports UNB.
The premier, who is also the president of the Awami League, arrived in Tungipara early in the day on her first visit to her hometown through the Padma Bridge since its opening by her on June 25.
She said, “The government has been working tirelessly to transform Bangladesh into a developed and prosperous nation free from poverty and hunger as envisioned by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.”
She asked her party leaders and activists to make sure that none of the people including her party members and workers would have to suffer pain owing to the Covid-19 outbreak and the Russia-Ukraine war.
"Make sure that not a single activist of mine and the people has to suffer pain," she told the party leaders and activists.
She urged the AL leaders and activists to stand beside the people to pursue the government move so that none will remain poor, homeless and hungry anymore.
"Each Awami League leader and worker has to work for changing the mindset that of enjoying everything alone," she said.
The PM said that the world is now going through a critical juncture due to the double blow of the ongoing Coronavirus and Russia-Ukraine war and reiterated her call for all to exercise austerity in every sector particularly in using energy and electricity.
"We're still in a good position and trying to be well. It requires help from all the citizens," she said.
Hasina again asked all to bring every inch of land across the country under cultivation to grow foods so Bangladesh does not suffer such a crisis.
She said her government has built the Padma Bridge, supplied electricity to every house and is giving homes to every landless and homeless people and ensuring food security for all.
The Awami League president described grassroots activists as the lifeline of her party saying, "The grassroots activists always take the right decision and uphold the party."
She asked the party leaders to enquire about the well-being of every party member and stand by them if required.
In this connection, she recalled the inhuman torture suffered by the leaders and activists of the Awami League during the regime of Zia, Khaleda, Ershad, Ayub and Yahiya Khan.
On her visit to Tungipara, Hasina was accompanied by her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and daughter Saima Wazed.
The PM offered prayer at Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's mausoleum in Tungipara there seeking eternal peace for his departed soul of and for other martyrs of the August 15, 1975 massacre.
She also placed a wreath at the mausoleum of Bangabandhu.
After laying the wreath, she stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of the architect of the independence, who was brutally killed by some disgruntled army men on the dreadful night of August 15, 1975, along with most of his family members.
On her way to Tungipara, Hasina with her son and daughter spent some time on the Padma Bridge and took a rest for a while at Jajira point's service area.
She left Tungipara for Dhaka this afternoon.
The PM, who became the first person to pay the toll to cross the country's longest Padma Bridge during its opening on June 25 last, also paid the toll this time too on both legs of her visit.
Hasina said that all post-1975 governments except the Awami League-led one o served only their own interests.
Referring to the pandemic and flood, she praised the leaders and workers of her party for helping people affected by Covid-19 and now the floods.
About the opening of the 6.15km Padma Bridge, the prime minister said it will now ease long-distance traffic and transportation of commodities from the southern region.
It will also play a significant role in helping the southern region of the country thrive economically, she said adding that only two and a half hours are needed now to come from Dhaka to Tungipara.
She however requested the people in the southern region to make efforts to be self-dependant using the benefits of the Padma Bridge.
Hasina urged them to be engaged in various productive works to supplement the efforts of the government to increase production.
She said like other countries, Bangladesh is also passing through a critical time due to the crisis in the world. She also asked AL and its associate bodies to plant saplings during this rainy session to make the country greener.
Sheikh Hasina said, “Though she is now aged she will continue to work for the cause of the country and its people as long as she lives.”