PM wonders why some people can't accept country's development, achievement

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Saturday raised the question why some people of the country can't accept any development and achievement of Bangladesh.

"Why do a group of people feel pain in their hearts seeing the development of Bangladesh? Why can't they accept any attainment as achievement of Bangladesh? Why do they suffer in this mental misery? Where is their problem?" she said.

She posed those questions while leaders of Awami League and its associated bodies greeted her at the Ganabhaban, marking the 14th anniversary of Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's release from prison.

The premier said when many developed countries saw negative growth Bangladesh could attain over five percent GDP growth during the pandemic as the Awami League is in power.

"We've given a budget for fiscal year 2022-23. When many developed countries are having negative GDP growth, Bangladesh maintained a growth of over five percent," she said.

On this day in 2008, Sheikh Hasina was released from the special sub-jail set up on the premises of the Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament) Building after staying captive there for nearly 11 months.

The Awami League president was arrested from her Sudha Sadan residence at Dhanmondi on July 16, 2007 during the military-backed caretaker government, which assumed power through the political changeover of 1/11 in 2007.

The Prime Minister said Awami League has to step forward defying all odds and hurdles, as a vested interested group is always there to pull back Awami League and Sheikh Hasina so that they can't assume power.

Referring to the scenarios before the 2001 national election, Sheikh Hasina said Awami League does politics with an ideology, which has to be kept in the mind of every leader and activist, and that is why it can't hand over the country to anyone for the sake of any greed.

"We can't hand over the country to anyone for the sake of any self-indulgence as the leaders and activists of Awami League have sacrificed their lives and spent years after years in jail only for Bangladesh's betterment," she added.

The Awami League President said whenever she was arrested she sent letters to the people, and leaders and activists of Awami League giving them directives.

She recalled that in 1983 she was arrested after her return to the country and at that time she was taken to the DGFI office.

"I never bowed down to anyone and never begged from anyone. I got the lesson from my father and family not to bow to anything," she said, adding: "I've protested repeatedly in all adverse situations, even in the face of death."

Sheikh Hasina said leaders and activists of Awami League always choose the right path. "I saw it during the time of my father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and I myself also witnessed it (during the regime of the caretaker government after 2007)."

She recalled that the caretaker government was compelled to free her due to the movement and pressure from her party.

They became surprised when they saw that Awami League collected 25 lakh signatures in just 15 days, she said.

"It was only possible because of Awami League, and none can do it," she said, adding, "This is Awami League and people are our strength."

In this connection, Sheikh Hasina mentioned that people are not the strength in case of the BNP as their birth happened through the power of a military dictator and its beneficiaries of power.

Source: BSS