DHAKA, Dec 15, 2022 (BSS) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressed the nation this evening on the occasion of the great Victory Day 2022.

 The full text of her televised address is as follows:

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

Dear Countrymen,

Assalamu Alaikum.

On the occasion of the great Victory Day 2022, I am extending heartiest greetings to all the citizens of Bangladesh staying home and abroad.

I am recalling with profound respect the greatest Bangalee of all times Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Under his leadership, we achieved the independent and sovereign Bangladesh through political struggle of 23 years and nine-month Liberation War. 

I am recalling four national leaders - Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, Captain M Mansur Ali and AHM Qamaruzzaman - who led in conducting the Liberation War in absence of the Father of the Nation.

I am paying tributes to 30 lakh martyrs and two lakh violated mothers and sisters. I extend 'salam' to the valiant freedom fighters who had fought the Liberation War risking their lives.

With profound sorrow, I recall all martyrs of August 15, 1975, including my mother Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, three brothers - Freedom Fighter Captain Sheikh Kamal, Freedom Fighter Lieutenant Sheikh Jamal and 10-year-old Sheikh Russel - Kamal and Jamal's newly married wives - Sultana Kamal and Rosy Jamal respectively, my uncle Freedom Fighter Sheikh Abu Naser, Freedom Fighter youth leader Sheikh Fazlul Haque Mani, Freedom Fighter Agriculture Minister Abdur Rab Serniabat, Brigadier Jamil and police officer Siddiqur Rahman.

I convey gratitude to different countries and people, including the individuals and organizations which extended cooperation in Liberation War. A large number of valiant members of Indian Armed Forces embraced martyrdom in our Liberation War. I am paying profound tributes to them. I extend gratitude to the then Indian government, political leaders and above of all the common people who extended support in favour of our Liberation War, gave shelter to refugees and extended cooperation in various ways.

Dear Countrymen,

The entire world today is going through an unstable economic situation.

In the late 2019, the world was hit by the coronavirus pandemic. The world economy suffered a deep wound in the two years- 2020 and 2021. Different countries have faced economic fall down. Our economy also faced a loss. When our economy started to make a turnaround after overcoming the loss induced by coronavirus pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war began at that time. And this war is not a war of arms rather a devastating economic war has also been added to that. Impact of economic war does not remain limited to areas of any single country rather it spreads all over the world. The economic sanctions and counter sanctions followed by the Russia-Ukraine war have crippled the world economy. 

You know that, we have been able to minimize the deaths due to coronavirus side by side keeping the economy vibrant by taking up timely measures. Our target was to save people's lives along with keeping their livelihood continuing. We had created 15,000 beds at different hospitals on urgent basis to ensure treatment of coronavirus infected patients.

PPEs were provided for ensuring safety of health workers and all equipment and oxygen, ventilators and emergency medicines were provided to patients.

Around 34 crore vaccines have been provided free of cost to all eligible people. So far, 14.90 crore people received first dose, 12 crore 65 lakh 25 thousand got second dose and 6.45 crore received booster dose of coronavirus vaccine.

Since 2009, as many as 22,000 doctors and 40,000 nurses and other health workers have been recruited so far.

Stimulus packages worth Taka 1, 87,679 crore under 28 packages have been announced so far so that industries and factories can continue productions and trade and commerce can continue properly.

Salaries and allowances of workers of garments and other industries and factories have been ensured. Cash assistance of Taka 2500 was given to each of fifty lakh marginal people in two phases. People of all classes and professions including transport workers, employees of shops, non-MPO teachers, Imams, Muajjins and cultural workers were among them. 

Just after making phone calls at hotline 333, food items including rice and pulse were reached homes of slum dwellers and poor and lower income group people who cannot beg to others. Around 7 crore 30 lakh 50 thousand people and around 1 lakh 81 thousand 266 institutions have been benefited during the period of coronavirus pandemic.

 Dear Countrymen,

Due to Russia-Ukraine War and economic sanctions and counter sanctions imposed by the Western nations, the developing and import-reliant countries like us have been in much crisis.

Prices of almost all consumer goods including fuel oil, edible oil, wheat, sugar, corn, pulse and chemical fertilizers have risen at unusual rate. 

The prices of almost all consumer goods including fuel oil, edible oil, wheat, sugar, maize, pulses, chemical fertilizers have increased at an abnormal rate in the international market.

The supply chain has collapsed. Transportation costs have increased manifold.

The ship rent which was $ 800 is now $3800 dollars; wheat which was available at $200 per ton has to be bought at $600.

In addition, some countries are stopping export of products without any notice to meet their own needs.

Considering the condition of common people, we are procuring and supplying the products having demand from wherever these are available in the world.

We have given TCB's fair prize cards to one crore families.

Through this card, families can procure rice at Taka 30 per kilogram and edible oil, pulses and sugar at affordable prices. Five million families can buy 30 kg of rice per month at the price of Tk 15 per kg. Thirty kg of rice is being given free of cost every month to distressed people through VGD and VGF.

Many people are making fabricated comments about our reserves of foreign exchange. It is okay if there is a reserve to meet import expenses of three months. At present we have foreign exchange reserves sufficient to cover import expenditures of five months. Imports of all types of heavy machinery, foreign travel and imports of other goods were largely suspended during the period of coronavirus pandemic. During that time our reserves increased to $48 billion. Instead of keeping this huge amount of money idle, we have created a special fund with some money from it. Some important projects are being implemented with money from that fund. 

This loan is being disbursed through Sonali Bank at 2 percent interest rate. Domestic money is coming back home with interest.

If this money was taken as a loan from foreign banks, it would have to be returned with interest at the rate of 4/5 percent. And it had to be paid from the reserve.

Another reason for reduction of our foreign exchange reserves is that we are buying fuel oil, edible oil, wheat, pulse, maize and other commodities at high prices from the international market and selling them to common people at lower prices. Panic is being created by spreading rumors that there is no money in the bank. Don't pay any heed to rumours unnecessarily. There is no shortage of money in the bank. Don't invite a crisis by keeping your earned money at home. Our investment, remittance inflow and import-export situation and all remain normal.

Dear Countrymen,

In our last 14 years, the country has reached a new height of socio-economic development. Today, Bangladesh has joined the status of a developing country.

The country today is self-sufficient in food grain production. This year, 4 crore 72 lakh metric tons of grains including 4 crore 4 lakh metric tons of rice have been produced. The production of various agricultural products including fish, meat, eggs, milk, vegetables, fruits has increased massively.

The poverty rate has reduced to 20 percent from 40 percent. Per capita income rose to $2,824 from $543. Literacy rate has increased to 75% from 45 percent. Maternal and infant mortality rates have decreased. These achievements have been possible because the Awami League government has been running the government consecutively.

During our government's tenure, there has been a revolutionary change in the communication infrastructure sector. We inaugurated the Padma Bridge in June last after overcoming many hurdles.

This bridge directly connects 19 districts of the southern region with the capital Dhaka and other parts of the country by road.

Payra Bridge, the largest one in the southern region, was inaugurated in October. Last November, 100 bridges in 25 districts of the country were opened for vehicular movement. Many highways in the country have been upgraded to 4 or more lanes. Others are in progress. The tunnel under the Karnaphuli River in Chattogram, the Metrorail in Dhaka and a section of the Airport-Kutubkhali Expressway will be opened for vehicular movement very soon. We are building nuclear power plant and launched satellite Bangabandhu-1. We will build the country as a developed and smart Bangladesh by 2041. For this reason, we have formulated and started implementation of the Perspective Plan 2041. We have formulated Delta Plan-2100 to protect our generations from the impact of climate change and build a better future.

 

Dear Countrymen,

Bangladesh Awami League government always works for the welfare of the common people. It was we who introduced various allowances for marginal people, including elderly persons, widows, deserted women, disabled people and freedom fighters, during 1996-2001 period. Both the number and amount of these allowances have been increased. All the backward classes of the society like Hijras, Bedes, Harijans, sweepers, tea workers- are being given accommodation, medical, education allowances and other assistances. About four and a half crore people are getting benefits under various programs of social safety net.

 In 1996, when the government came to power, we started providing houses to landless families free of cost through Ashrayan project and providing training and financial support for their livelihood.

We have declared that no person will remain homeless in Mujib Barsho. That is why we are providing houses along with land to landless families free of cost.

So far, 35 lakh people have been rehabilitated with building houses free of cost. They have been given training and cash assistance for their livelihood. We are providing various scholarships and stipends to 2 crore 53 lakh students. Textbooks are being provided every year to all the students till secondary level free of cost.

From city to village - electricity has reached every house. Pure drinking water and hygienic sanitation system have been ensured. Computer education, broadband and internet connectivity have reached villages. Two crore farmers can procure fertilizers, seeds and other inputs at lower cost with agriculture-card.

One crore farmers have opened bank accounts with Taka 10. The subsidy money is directly deposited to the bank. They are getting 70% subsidy on purchase of electricity and agricultural machinery for irrigation at affordable price.

Dear Countrymen,

When the country is marching forward after overcoming various adversities, a quarter against the independence and development is trying to create anarchy. See their past history. A section of them not only opposed the independence of Bangladesh, they also killed people by being collaborators of the Pakistani occupational forces. After the independence, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib banned their politics. He had brought war criminals to justice. 

But, after assassination of the father of the nation along with most of his family members on August 15 in 1975, Ziaur Rahman seized power illegally and rehabilitated them in politics. After being rehabilitated, they again started the politics of killing and terrorism. 

Another party, which was born and flourished from the cantonment in a General's pocket, has only bloodstains on its hands. Its founder Ziaur Rahman was directly involved in the assassination plot of the Father of the Nation. Wearing uniform, he grabbed the power and killed thousands of patriotic soldiers and officers of the armed forces to prolong his stay in power. 

Harkat-ul-Jihad, Bangla Bhai, Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen etc militant organizations were formed with their direct patronization. On August 21 in 2004, at the order of the top leadership of the party, they tried to kill me and the top leaders of my party by carrying out grenade attacks.

Though I survived, 22 leaders and workers died on that day. On August 17 in 2005, bomb attacks were carried out simultaneously at more than 500 places in 63 districts across the country.

In 2013, BNP-Jamaat introduced a new episode of arson and petrol bomb terrorism across the country which continued till 2015. During the period, 500 innocent people were killed and 3180 people received burn injuries in their petrol bomb attacks.

Many people still bear the pain of burn injury. At that time, terrorists of BNP-Jamaat alliance destroyed public and private property worth thousands of crores of money. In their attacks, 3500 bus-trucks, 29 trains, 9 launches were torched and destroyed. Some 70 government offices and structures were vandalized and 6 land offices were completely torched.

BNP's top leader has been sentenced in orphanage money embezzlement case. Another top fugitive leader has been convicted in money laundering, ten-truck arms smuggling and August 21 grenade attack cases. Why will the general public go to vote for them?

Having lost trust in the people of the country, BNP-Jamaat has now appointed some hired people to malign the country to foreigners. They are now using laundered money and defaming the country.

In 2006, BNP tried to conduct elections by preparing voter's list with 1.23 crore fake voters. Due to BNP's corruption, terrorism and misrule, a state of emergency was imposed in the country in 2007 and the elections were cancelled.

 

The people of Bangladesh boycotted them in the 2008 elections. Out of 300 seats, they got only 30 seats. Similarly, in 2014 and 2018 elections, people did not cast their votes for the BNP-Jamaat alliance. Being rejected by the people, they are now hatching conspiracies to go to power through undemocratic ways.

From 2009 to 2022, the democratic trend continues. The voting right of the people is guaranteed. That's why today Bangladesh has got the status of developing country. If BNP-Jamaat alliance would have been in power, Bangladesh would have never made such progress and could not be a developing country. Now, it is up to the people to choose whether they want the continuation of a dignified life or a miserable life triggered by the criminalization of BNP-Jamaat alliance.
 
Bangladesh Awami League government is a people's government. Our main aim is to work for the welfare of the people. We never want people to suffer. Due to global factors, prices of daily essentials increased. It now started to be normal to a great extent. Inflation rate is also coming down. I want to assure you that as soon as the price of any product including fuel decreases in the world market, we will adjust it immediately.

We need to increase agricultural production. Our soil is fertile. Why should we import agricultural products from outside when trees grow after putting seeds in this soil? I request you - do not leave even an inch of land uncultivated. Crisis will come. Do not be afraid of crisis. With the help of people, we have successfully tackled the coronavirus pandemic. We will also face the current global recession, In Sha Allah. We want your help in this regard.

Dear Countrymen,
Our victory has completed 51 years. Our continuous effort is to build a poverty-hunger-free non-communal 'Sonar Bangladesh' as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. After 1975, the anti-liberation forces were in power for 29 years and they plundered the resources of the country and made the country hollow from inside.

Successors of 1971 'vultures' and hyenas are still active in this country. Whenever they get a chance, they tore apart the country with teeth and claws. When they see that ordinary people are good, they get burning up with jealousy. Local and foreign conspirators became active. But the people of Bangladesh have recognized them. They (people) can no longer be misled by conspiracies.

Being imbued with the spirit of the Liberation War, let's take an oath together on this Victory Day that we will tear up the web of all conspiracies and take ahead the development stride of Bangladesh. We will fulfill the dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by establishing a happy-prosperous non-communal Bangladesh.

All of you stay well, stay healthy. May Allah bless us.

Khuda Hafez

Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu

Bangladesh Chirojibi Houk (Long live Bangladesh forever).