PM calls ‘boat’ symbol of independence, development
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today termed her Awami League's logo "boat" as the symbol of Bangladesh's independence and development, seeking peoples support for it in the next local body and national elections.
"The boat of Prophet Nuh (SM) had saved people from disaster and (our election symbol) boat awarded us the independence and led the nation towards development," she told a mammoth public rally at this northwestern divisional city, BSS reported.
The premier urged the people to vote for "boat" in the upcoming local government and general elections to keep up the current trend of development and spirit of independence describing her call as "my ardent appeal to you all".
Rajshahi district and city unit of Awami League staged the rally at the city's Madrasa Maidan with city AL President AHM Khairuzzaman Liton in the chair while the party's presidium member and health minister Mohammad Nasim, joint general secretaries Mahbub-up-Alam Hanif, Dr Dipu Moin and Jahangir Kabir Nanak, among others, spoke.
Sheikh Hasina, who also heads the Awami League, said all these elections would be held with party symbols and "I seek your votes also to let people live in peace and happiness".
"We want to build a hunger and poverty free, prosperous Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman," she added.
Sheikh Hasina blasted the opposition outside parliament BNP for waging movement to defend their party chief, calling it a campaign for "a thief" convicted of emblazing orphans money.
"This movement is for a thief (Khaleda). It is also forbidden in the Holy Quran to embezzle fund of the orphans . . . so she is now paying the price and suffering the punishment," she said.
The premier also wondered about the location of the orphanage and number of orphans there for whom the fund was raised and said "Khaleda along with her family members and her party men grasp the money meant for the orphans".
She said Khaleda Zia brought funds from abroad to set up the orphanage long 27 years back but never set it up and rather plundered that fund.
"That fund did not go to the orphans . . . so the Anti Corruption Commission filed the case and she (Khaleda) eventually was punished in that case," the premier said.
Sheikh Hasina said, looting and plundering, however, symbolized BNP's character as Bangladesh became champions for five consecutive times during their tenure in power while her incumbent government managed to repatriate the money siphoned out by the ex-premier's sons from abroad.
The Prime Minister said despite their frantic efforts the past caretaker government failed to find any irregularity in the operations of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust.
The trust was set up to assist the students, injured of the August 21 grenade attack and the distressed AL leaders and workers.
