BSS-06 City polls reflect country’s sound democratic atmosphere: PM

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ZCZC

BSS-06

PM-MAYORS-OATH-LEAD

City polls reflect country’s sound democratic
atmosphere: PM

DHAKA, Sept 5, 2018 (BSS)-Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina today said victory of candidates from different
political parties in the recently held city
corporations’ polls clearly manifested a good democratic
atmosphere in Bangladesh and democracy stands on a
strong foundation.

“People could cast their vote freely in the city
corporation elections in favour of their candidates
belong from both the ruling and opposition political
parties,” she said.

“People of every area have acquired the right of
casting their votes freely, electing their favourite
candidates,” she added.

The prime minister said this at the oath taking
ceremony of newly elected Rajshahi and Sylhet city
corporation mayors and councillors at her office here
today.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina administered the oath
to Rajshahi City Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton and Sylhet
City Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury while the councilors
took oaths from Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives
Engineer Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain.

Senior Secretary of the Local Government Division
Jafar Ahmed Khan conducted the oath taking ceremony.

Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, Minister
for Road Transport and Bridges Division Obaidul Quader,
political leaders of Rajshahi and Sylhet were present on
the occasion.

Mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation and 40
councillors and mayor of Sylhet City Corporation and 36
councillors were elected in the polls held on July 30,
2018.

“You are seeing the change of the country due to
continuation of the government since 2009,” she said
adding that the global community acknowledged Bangladesh
as a role model of development.

Pointing out her struggle for strengthening
democracy, the prime minister said her government has
ensured the voting rights of the people so that they can
exercise their franchise independently.

Laying importance on a sustainable democratic system
in the country, the prime minister said a country can
prosper under democratic rule. Over the last 10 years
Bangladesh could achieved a tremendous success in every
sector due to uninterrupted democracy, she said.

Sheikh Hasina said her party came to power in 2009
with a commitment of change. “Today, you truly feel the
change and people are being freed from poverty,” she
said highlighting the socioeconomic development plan of
her government.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh Delta Plan-2100 has
been prepared envisaging the next hundred years’
development plan. Bangladesh is now a developing country
and we have to make it sustainable to go ahead, she
said.

Disclosing her government’s plan to establish a
medical university in Sylhet, the prime minister said
her government never allocated budget for local bodies
on political considerations.

“We have given huge allocation for development of
the Rajshahi and Sylhet city corporations in the past
and the government never considered the political
affiliation of mayors, but welfare of the people.

“Democracy is for establishing voting rights of the
people, which is one of their constitutional rights
also. We are fully committed to safeguarding the right
and it will certainly remain in their hand,” the prime
minister said.

Sheikh Hasina hoped that the elected representatives
would always devote them to public welfare. Elected
representatives would not only make them wealthy but
work also to make the people wealthy, she said.

The prime minister assured the mayors and
councillors of giving all possible support from her
government. However, the government would not tolerate
any irregularities and corruption as well as instigation
to militancy, terrorism and unsocial activities.

“We want to build Bangladesh as a developed country
to make it a prosperous and peaceful country in South
Asia…. And it’s my ideology and goal,” the prime
minister said.

BSS/AKH/AKM 1325hrs