Photo: BSS

MUNSHIGANJ, May 16 (BSS): Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary A.B.M. Abdus  Sattar today said the previous Awami League government had destroyed everything during its 16 years rule, particularly the financial institutions.

He made the remarks while addressing the inauguration ceremony of the 289th branch of Karmasangsthan Bank at Tongibari upazila here as the chief guest.

“Billions of taka was looted” under the patronage of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said adding that public money had been misappropriated during the previous administration. 

He said the present government aims to recover from the situation and rebuild the country’s financial and banking institutions.

The event was chaired by former secretary Dr. A.F.M. Matiur Rahman, chairman of the board of directors of Karmasangsthan Bank. Among others, Member of Parliament Abdus Salam Azad, Religious Affairs Secretary Munshi Alauddin Al Azad, Financial Institutions Division Secretary Nazma Mobarek, Karmasangsthan Bank Managing Director Arun Kumar Chowdhury, Deputy Commissioner Syeda Nurmahal Ashrafi and Superintendent of Police Md. Menhajul Alam, were present at the function.

The Principal Secretary said that discussions about banks now bring to mind ‘two contrasting images- one positive and one negative’, and expressed his hope that Karmasangsthan Bank would maintain a positive image. He urged the bank’s officials and employees to work with honesty, dedication and sincerity.

Referring to the 2024 mass uprising, Sattar claimed that the Awami League was responsible because of what he described as “irregularities and fascist behavior,” which, he said, were disliked not only by the public but also by members of the party itself.

He also said that present Prime Minister Tarique Rahman intends to govern the country following the examples of former President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. He called upon the citizens to extend full cooperation to the government, saying such support would help to build the country in a better way.

Sattar further announced that the present government plans to provide four crore family cards under which each recipient family would receive Taka 2,500 per month. He added that farmers would receive farmer cards, while mosque imams and temple purists would receive monthly allowances.