DHAKA, Sept 28, 2021 (BSS- Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has reached her current position through long struggle and has now become a world leader crossing the country's boundary. 

   "Sheikh Hasina is a brand name today. Sheikh Hasina herself is a history. She was born in the necessity of history. Bangabandhu's daughter reached today's position through long struggle. That is why, her bold leadership earned accolades in the international arena," he said.

  Quader was addressing a discussion, arranged by Awami League, on the occasion of the 75th birthday of Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the city.

  He said as Sheikh Hasina remains alive, war criminals were brought to justice, Bangladesh has been witnessing massive progress and the people remain well.

  Because of her bold leadership, Bangladesh becomes a role model in poverty alleviation, he added.

  Awami League Presidium Member Begum Matia Chowdhury chaired the discussion while Presidium Member and Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque, AL leader Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Presidium Members Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Abdur Rahman, Joint General Secretaries- Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organizing Secretaries Ahmed Hossain and Mirza Azam, Health Affairs Secretary Dr Rokeya Sultana, Awami League Central Working Committee (ALCWC) Member Anwar Hossain, AL's Dhaka City North unit President Sheikh Bazlur Rahman and Dhaka City South AL General Secretary Humayun Kabir addressed it, among others.

  AL Deputy Publicity Secretary Aminul Islam Amin moderated the discussion.

Quader said the next general elections will be held in due time. "BNP is holding series meetings. They will wage movement! If they want to carry out subversive acts in the name of movement, Awami League along with the people will give them a befitting reply," he added.

   He urged the party leaders and workers to remain united under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina.

   The AL general secretary said they want to make the party smarter and more modern before the next general election and that is why no opportunist should be given any room in the party and devoted workers who stayed with the party in its dire need should be evaluated.

   "Centering the next elections, all of our leaders and workers will have to take oath that they will remain united to maintain discipline inside the party," he said.

   Those who will be found involved in any sort of wrongdoing won't get the party's ticket in the coming days, he mentioned.

   The minister said BNP had killed democracy in the name of establishing democracy. They made mockery with democracy in the name of introducing multi-party democracy, he added.

   "Why Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir (BNP secretary general) didn't join parliament even after being elected in polls? What type of democracy is it?" he questioned.

   Information and Broadcasting Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud said AL President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's continuous leadership is needed to keep on the country's development spree.

   Sheikh Hasina's leadership is needed in the country for development and achievement as well as in waging movement and overcoming crisis, he said.

   When Sheikh Hasina smiles, Bangladesh also smiles and when Bangladesh sleeps, she remains awake, he mentioned.

   Dr Hasan said the entire world looks at Bangladesh with surprise witnessing the country's unprecedented development. That is why the United Nations gave SDG Progress award to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in this year's general assembly, he added.

   The minister said world leaders today laud Sheikh Hasina but some people who make bigger talks in media after 12 midnight as well as BNP cannot praise the premier's achievements.

   The AL joint general secretary said: "Some days ago, we saw BNP to hold series meetings and said they will oust the government after forging unity with all parties. We also saw BNP's alliance in 2018 when their unity was blown away in wind". 

  Dr Hasan said repeated attacks were carried out on Sheikh Hasina when she was travelling from the country's one end to other to organize the party after returning to her homeland on May 17 in 1981 following a long exile abroad. With the support of BNP, Freedom Party led the attacks at Dhanmondi 32 number residence during the period, he recalled.

  Kotalipara bomb plot and Chattogram massacre were perpetrated and grenade attacks were carried out at anti-terrorism rally of AL at Bangabandhu Avenue with the attempts to assassinate Sheikh Hasina, he said.