It’s A Victory Of The Country: PM

"It's democracy's world victory, it's the victory of the country's people," she told a reception accorded to Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and Saber Hossain Chowdhury for being elected as the CPA chairperson and the IPU president.

Jatiya Sangsad organised the programme at the South Plaza of Parliament this evening with Deputy Speaker Fazley Rabbi Mian in the chair.

Leader of the Opposition Begum Raushan Ershad, Jatiya Party (JP) Chairman and Environment and Forest Minister Anwar Hossain Manju, Information Minister and Leader of JSD Parlaimentary Party Hasanul Huq Inu, Workers Party General Secretary Fazle Hossain Badsha, MP, independent MP Dr Rustam Ali Farazi also spoke on the occasion.

Deputy Leader of the House Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury was also present on the colourful dais.

Chief Whip ASM Feroz delivered the welcome speech and senior secretary of the Parliament Secretariat Ashraful Mokbul gave the vote of thanks.

British High Commissioner in Dhaka Robert Gibson and Acting Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Sandwip Chakravorty spoke at the function on behalf of the diplomatic corps.

Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and Saber Hossain Chowdhury, MP, also expressed their feelings being elected as the CPA chairperson and IPU president respectively.

Earlier, Deputy Speaker Fazle Rabbi Mia read out the message of felicitation of President Abdul Hamid.
The Prime Minister thanked and congratulated the people of the country for keeping their trust and faith in Awami League saying that it has helped restore democracy in the country after overcoming so many hurdles.

"We had to cross mountains of hurdles to restore democracy in the country. We would not have achieved this had the people of the country not kept trust and elected us," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said that Bangladesh lost its memberships in these two organizations thrice--- in 1975 after the killing of Bangabandhu, in 1982 after the proclamation of martial law and in 2008 when the caretaker government was in the power.

"We repeatedly lost the memberships of these organisations, but we regained the memberships after establishing democracy in the country," she said.

The Prime Minister said Bangladesh has been put in a dignified position on the world stage due to its victory in the CPA and IPU.

"I would like to thank and express my gratitude to those who cast vote in our favour," she said.

She also greeted Dr Shirin Sharmin and Saber Hossain on putting crown on the head of the democracy-loving people of the country.

Referring to the criticism about the government and the last election, she said that she did not want to say anything about those in a joyful function as it will divert its mood.

"But I want to say one thing, self-confidence is a must for politicians. They will have to take right decisions at the right time. This is a thing that could advance the country and its people," she said.

Briefly describing various steps of the government for the development of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina said that she firmly believed that the country would be out of poverty by 2021.

In this connection, she mentioned placing of Taka 2,50,506 crore budget in the current fiscal, US Dollar 22 billion forex reserve at present, export earning of 30 billion and reduction of poverty to 24 percent.

Terming the education as the rights of the people, she also said that her government wanted to turn the population into a workforce. "That's why we have given highest priority to the development of education.

Later, the Prime Minister witnessed a colourful cultural programme.

Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury has been elected chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), the first by any Bangladeshi. She was elected to the prestigious post at the 60th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in the Cameroonian capital of Yaound. Dr Shirin Sharmin will lead the 35-member executive committee for the next three years.

On the other hand, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, MP, has been elected president of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) for the next three years. Saber, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Textile and Jute Ministry, was elected IPU president defeating his nearest rival Speaker of Australia's House of Representatives Bronwyn Bishop by 169-95 votes at the 131st assembly of IPU in Geneva of Switzerland on Thursday.

Saber Chowdhury has become the third IPU president from South Asia after Najma Heptulla (1999-2002) and Gurdial Singh Dhillon (1973-1976).

-Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)

Photo: Saiful Islam Kallol