BNP Is Making Ill Efforts To Reinstate Militancy In The Society: PM

"The BNP and its cohorts unleashed atrocities across the country by killing innocent people before and after the January 5 elections. They also committed numerous misdeeds that could not end by narrating," she said.

Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League chief, said there was tyranny of terrorism and militancy during the five-year misrule of BNP. "Now they are making ill efforts to establish militancy and terrorism in the society and obstruct the trend of democracy again," she said.

She said while delivering her introductory speech at a joint meeting of the Awami League Advisory Council and the AL Central Working Committee at her official Ganobhaban residence here this afternoon.

Illustrating her government's stride to build Bangladesh as a middle income country by 2021 and a developed one by 2041, the Prime Minister said the country is moving forward smoothly and it would advance further.

"We had to face various blows and counterblows and conspiracies (in the past) and I am expressing my firm determination to take forward the country further by encountering all hurdles," she said.

Referring to BNP-Jamaat nexus's atrocities and massive anarchy in the country during the last national elections, the Prime Minister said they burnt innocent people to death, unleashed vandalism and destroyed the property of the government as well as the Awami league leaders and workers and minority people to foil the 5th January polls.

"BNP-Jamat terrorists had created a terrible situation at that time by uprooting railway fish-plates, torching trains, buses and other vehicles as well as cutting trees and roads in the name of their so-called movement," she said.

But, she said, the general people did not respond to their political movements and cast over 40 percent votes in the elections which is rare even in the developed countries.

In this connection, the Awami League chief thanked the mass people for casting vote in the last general elections ignoring the BNP-Jamaat mayhem.

The Prime Minister said, coming to power again by taking mandate of the general people, her government has brought the situation under control and established peace and stability in the country.

Sheikh Hasina also highlighted her government's tremendous successes in various sectors including education, health, communications, agriculture and ICT over the last five years.

She said her government distributed 31 crore textbooks free of cost and provided stipends to students up to secondary level and the guardians now do not need to think about their children's education.

Besides, the government has taken the health care facility and ICT services to the doorstep of the rural people, she said adding the country has also marched ahead remarkably towards digitization.

Referring to various programmes including One House One Farm projects to alleviate poverty, the Prime Minister said, over five crore poor people have been lifted to middle income group from low income level by dint of successful implementation of such programmes over the last five and a half years.

As a result, Bangladesh has now been recognized as a role model in the world, she said.

Sheikh Hasina mentioned that the homeless people are being provided with houses under Asrayan Projects and the government is closely monitoring the activities to ensure housing for all.

She said her government is advancing with a farsighted and long-term plan and established seven special economic zones, while it has decided to establish 13 more industrial zones in the country.

"We are working hard with the ideals of Bangabandhu who dreamt of bringing smiles on the faces of the common people by ensuring their socioeconomic freedom," she said.

The Prime Minister also mentioned maritime boundary victory over India and Myanmar, saying that her government has been working under the "Blue Economy" concept to take the country forward further.

The Awami League President urged the leaders of the party to strengthen the organization and work hard for establishing a middle income nation by 2021 and a developed one by 2041.

-Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)