ZCZC
BSS-39
PM-AL-VICTORY-DAY-2-DHAKA
Sheikh Hasina said BNP had branded Bangladesh as a most corrupt nation in the world ranking making it champion in corruption for five consecutive years. Awami League did nothing during its stay in power disgracing the nation, she added.
“Bangladesh is now regarded as the model of development and its nationals are honoured with dignity abroad. So, I cannot understand where we have established totalitarianism,” the prime minister said.
Sheikh Hasina blasted the Oikyo Front for being associated with the anti-liberation forces and giving nomination to the persons convicted for corruption, militancy and war crimes.
“Theoretically they talk high, but they have joined hands with the all evil forces. I don’t want to mention their names… I can only show pity for them as they are derailed and purposeless,” she said.
The prime minister said the post 1975 rulers erased the history of independence from the memory of the people and destroyed the spirit of the liberation war. It’s misfortune for a generation who was brought up without knowing the glorious history of their ancestors, she added.
After coming power in 1996, Sheikh Hasina said the Awami League government paved the way to let the people know the real history of the independence and implement the spirit. But, the process was frustrated when BNP-Jammat came to power in 2001, she continued.
Sheikh Hasina blamed an orchestrated conspiracy against her party to bar it from coming to power in 2001 despite wooing more votes than BNP-Jamaat alliance.
“BNP-Jammat didn’t come to power in 2001 with securing popular vote. They got less votes, but more seats. So, they never cared about the welfare of the people, but nursing corrupts, terrorists and militants. They resorted to reign of terror like marauding Pakistani force in 1971,” she said.
Pointing out some terror and grenade attack incidents during BNP-Jammat regime the prime minister said their terrorism halted normal life of people, and even the foreign diplomats were not spared.
Sheikh Hasina said a politician should do politics to serve the people. But, BNP looted the public wealth when they were in power and killed people in arson attacks when they were in opposition, she added.
“So, on which ground they will solicit peoples’ support to come to power again,” the prime minister asked saying people should also know who would be their prime minister if the BNP backed Oiyko Front wins the coming election.
The prime minister said BNP had enrolled one crore 20 lakh fake voters and constituted an ‘own-styled’ Election Commission to ensure their victory in the general election in 2007.
The prime minister said her government strictly controlled militancy and terrorism to take forward the county. Awami League government erased the ‘bad name’ of Bangladesh as a corrupt nation, rebranding it as a ‘developing country’ and ‘model of development’. Mentioning the programs of her government to build a ‘digital Bangladesh’ the prime minister said youths are getting modern and technology based education.
“Now, living condition of the people of Bangladesh has been improved and people of grassroots level are enjoying the benefits of the development,” she said adding that her government in its entire economic plan has given emphasis on rural development.
“The goal of our every step focused on changing the lots of people, giving jobs to youths, create business opportunities and explore scopes of modern and vocational education,” she said.
“We didn’t create an alternative government like ‘Hawa Bhaban’ or atmosphere for terrorists, militants or corrupt people… But we are tirelessly working for welfare of the people.” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said her government has introduced the social safety net (SSN) programmes for alleviating abject poverty. The government has taken steps so that the beneficiaries can receive the allowances at home, she said.
One of the main successes of the Awami League government was to instill confidence in people about their capacity to do something for themselves and society as well, the prime minister said.
BSS/AKH/KU/2150 HRS