The killers of two foreign nationals won't be spared: PM Sheikh Hasina

"The killers of two foreign nationals won't be spared ... whoever killed them will be tracked down and tried," she told a reception hosted in her honour by Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI).

Addressing the function at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre here this afternoon the premier said the law enforcement agencies were working ceaselessly to find out the culprits who carried out such heinous murders.

FBCCI accorded her the reception for receiving the world's highest environmental accolade -- "The Champions of the Earth Award" -- and "The ICT Sustainable Development Award" of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)".

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, FBCCI President Abdul Matlub Ahmed, ex-FBCCI President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, FBCCI First Vice-President Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin and FBCCI Vice-President Mahbubul Alam spoke at the function.

Earlier, FBCCI President Abdul Matlub Ahmed greeted the premier with a flower bouquet, while eminent TV actress Shami Qaisar read out a citation in her honour.

Ahmed and two vice-presidents of the apex body of the country's chambers of commerce and industries handed later her over the citation, written by famous writer Syed Shamsul Haque.

A documentary on the country's impressive development in different sectors under Sheikh Hasina's leadership was screened at the function, also joined by ministers, lawmakers, foreign diplomats, FBCCI directors and leaders of different trade bodies.

Referring to the foreigners' murders, Sheikh Hasina feared BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia had a hand behind their killings as part of a plot to tarnish the country's image.

She said the elements whom the countrymen rejected with hatred were now conspiring against Bangladesh from abroad and earn the country an image of a militant state.

"We have information, what types of evil activities are going on . . . I can tell you so far they (conspirators) have tried to do many things," she said.

But she questioned "for whom these kinds of incidents are being staged".

"They don't want that the people of the country lead a peaceful life and Bangladesh be made self-reliant nation. But the people of the country never gave shelter to the conspirators," Sheikh Hasina said.

She said the conspirators would also be exposed to justice as "patrons of militants" and there would be no room for terrorism in Bangladesh soil.

Sheikh Hasina said that the government wanted to maintain an atmosphere where the children could attend their schools, people can lead a peaceful life and businessmen could do their business properly to take the country forward further.

The premier said Bangladesh was liberated through the Liberation War and it got the red-green flag in exchange for blood of three million martyrs and chastity of two lakh mothers and sisters.

"None will be able to snatch our rights to live with dignity. Whatever conspiracies are hatching, we will move ahead," she said.

The premier alleged that the BNP-Jamaat clique was carrying on destructive politics in the name of "anti-government movement claiming lives of so many people".

Of late, she said, the BNP chief hatched a new plot of murdering foreign nationals in Bangladesh as "she realised that burning innocent people brought her no good result".

"This is just an enmity with the country and its people," she said.

"They (BNP-Jamaat) are yet to withdraw their so-called anti-government destructive programmes," Sheikh Hasina said referring to the "non-stop hartal and blockade" launched by the BNP-Jamaat coalition earlier this year coinciding with the first anniversary of the January 5, 2014 elections.

She said in the name of the 'movement', BNP-Jamaat terrorists torched over 2,000 buses along with burning trains, launches and power plants.

"We create, but BNP destroys," she said.

Environment

As the FBCCI hosted the reception on her winning the UN's Champions of the Earth award, Sheikh Hasina urged the businesspeople to lay utmost importance to the environmental issues during construction of mills and factories.

"It's not proper to build mills and factories here and there . . . the environment and rivers in particular are polluted due to such unplanned industrialization," the premier said.

She added: "You (entrepreneurs) will have to make arrangements for water reservoir, storage of rain water and solar panels."

The premier reminded the businesspeople Bangladesh's original topography as an Agro-based country and said "farmlands must be protected" while mills, factories and other infrastructures were constructed.

Talking about adverse impact of climate change, Sheikh Hasina said the entire world was now being threatened by the phenomenon "for which the developed countries are mainly responsible".

The Prime Minister noted that since 2009 she raised her voice over the climate change impacts and incorporated the climate issue in Bangladesh's development agenda.

Economy

Spelling out her government's impressive success in different fields, the Prime Minister said her government gave priority to the flourishing of private sector.

"We have made open many things including banks, insurances and television channels for the private sector," she said.

Dwelling on the country's economic uplift, Sheikh Hasina after assuming office in 2009 her government undertook sixth five-year plan and 10-year perspective plan for further development of the country.

Sheikh Hasina said her government always worked to brighten the image of the country also to attract more foreign investments.

"My only aim is to make our independence meaningful by establishing a hunger and poverty-free Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Bangabandhu," she said.

The Prime Minister also vowed to establish Bangladesh as a middle-income country by 2021 and a developed one by 2041 and sought cooperation of all including the businesspeople to achieve the goal.