CHATTOGRAM, Dec 15, 2021 (BSS) - Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said a country whose democracy is under threat has no right to give lessons of democracy to another country.

“In that country, parliament was attacked to sabotage the election results, some people including police officers were killed after parliament was surrounded and agitated people sat in the speaker's chair and took pictures from there,” he added.

The minister said that a democracy conference was held in United States (US) a few days ago and many countries, including Pakistan, were invited to the conference though the US democracy is also under threat today.

“Because the US Parliament was attacked and some people were killed there. Such incident never happened in Bangladesh,” he added.

Dr Hasan said these as chief guest while addressing a discussion meeting on the occasion of Golden Jubilee of Independence and Great Victory Day organized by Chattogram North District Awami League (AL) this noon at Bangabandhu hall of Chattogram Press Club.

Chatogram North district AL President MA Salam presided over the function while its Vice Presidents Muktijoddha Professor Mohammad Moinuddin, Abul Kalam Azad, Abul Kashem Chishti and ATM Piyarul Islam, among others, addressed the function as special guests.

The minister said, “The United States is our development partner. We have multi-dimensional relations with them. Our law enforcers and security forces are working with them to prevent militancy and terrorism.”

 “We urge our friendly state, the United States, not to be influenced and confused by the words of those who did not want the independence of this country, who are jealous of the development and prosperity of this country. That will be our expectation in the 50th year of our independence and in the Mujib Year,” he added.

He said, “We have been able to deal with militancy and terrorism more successfully than any other developed country in the world.”

“Bangladesh's security forces, police RAB have played a very important role in this regard. The sanctions against some of them today are actually inciting militancy and terrorism,” he said.

Hasan Mahmud, also joint general secretary of AL, said that Bangladesh under the dynamic leadership of Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina is moving forward at an indomitable pace towards fulfilling Bangabandhu's dream.

“This progress is not liked by many others. Bangladesh is a proud country today in its 50th year of independence” he added.

He said that Pakistan looks at Bangladesh and laments seeing “our development and that is the significance of Bangabandhu and Sheikh Hasina.”

The minister said Bangladesh now remains ahead of Pakistan in every index 50 years after independence.

“Pakistan had become happy seeing our war-ravaged condition after the independence and Pakistan was in doubt whether Bangladesh could survive at all. But, today Bangladesh remains ahead of Pakistan in all aspects after 50 years of independence,” he said.

Dr Hasan said that Bangabandhu had not only created Bangladesh, he had tried to transform Bangladesh into a developed and prosperous state, but he was not given that time.

“When he was assassinated, the economic growth of Bangladesh in 1974-75 was 9.54 percent. We have not been able to break that record till today. We have achieved more than 8 percent growth, but not more than 9 percent. If growth had continued at that rate, if Bangabandhu had survived after independence, Bangladesh would have been a developed country in 10/15 years,” he added.

Dr. Hasan Mahmud said, Bangabandhu loved the country’s people more than his life.

“Bangabandhu encouraged the Bengalis in such a way that people went to war with their lives in their hands. Such a leader is rare not only in Indian history but in world history. Bangabandhu has been able to organize a people in such a way that is rare in the history of the world as people have given their lives to snatch freedom,” Hasan added.

Mujibur Rahman is not only the greatest Bengali of all time; he is also a rare leader in the world history, he said.