Anti-liberation forces active to turn Bangladesh into failed state: PM

Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said that the anti-liberation forces and the killers of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman are always active in their efforts to turn Bangladesh into a failed state.

“We all should keep in mind that Bangladesh is our country. We’ve brought the country’s independence. But, the anti-liberation forces and the killers of Bangabandhu are always out to turn Bangladesh into a failed state,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina came out with this observation while delivering her closing remarks during the greeting exchange with her party leaders and activists at Ganabhaban a day after her re-election as party president for the 10th consecutive terms.

She mentioned that in 29 years in two phases from 1975 to 1996 and 2001-2009, the governments who were in power during that time had tried to make the country a failed state.

Sheikh Hasina said that now Bangladesh has attained the status of a developing country while people has got dignity as since 2009 Awami League is in power for three consecutive terms through elections getting the votes of people.

The prime minister said only one decision to construct the Padma Bridge with own finance has immensely brightened the image of Bangladesh in the world.

Highlighting that people is the source of power of Awami League, she said that “The general people who support us are the greatest source of power for us. So, each leader and activist will have to work for the welfare of the common people.”

The prime minister said that Zia, Ershad and Khaleda Zia turned the country into a beggar nation after 1975 (killing of Father of the Nation). But, when Awami League came to power, then Monga (famine-like situation) and famine went away from the country. “Today, we’ve achieved self-sufficiency in food,” she said.

She said Awami League is an organisation that has been formed at the hands of Father of the Nation and this organisation had been born through movements of establishing rights of the people of Bangladesh.

So, the party will have to be strengthened keeping it in mind, she told the leaders and activists of Awami League.

The ruling Awami League chief asked her party’s affluent persons to come forward in helping the dedicated but insolvent workers of the party in their respective areas.

She said there are many insolvent activists in Awami League who do politics even selling their ancestral lands but never desired anything.

Sheikh Hasina said many including Ayub Khan, Zia, Ershad and Khaleda wanted to destroy the Awami League, but couldn’t do so as the party has a huge number of dedicated activists.

Talking about the global economic downturn, she said her government is trying its best to continue keeping the economy vibrant and exercising austerity in undertaking and implementing development projects.

She added that “We’re putting importance on the projects which are very essential. And we are completing the implementation of the projects quickly which would invite benefits of the people.”

The head of government said now her government’s goal is to make Bangladesh a developed and prosperous country as well as build it as a “Smart Bangladesh” by 2041.

She said every community up to the grassroots level of the country would turn into a smart community through digital devices and online platforms.

“Everyone will be experts in using computers and online,” she said, adding that smart and digital devices will be used in every sector including economic activities, healthcare services, education and agriculture.

At the outset, Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on behalf of the party greeted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her reelection as the party President for the 10th consecutive time by presenting a flower bouquet.

AL leaders, activists urged to strengthen party

The prime minister urged the leaders and activists to give utmost priority to strengthening the party, saying that Awami League’s biggest strength is the confidence and trust of the mass people.

“You (leaders and activists) must strengthen the party giving the highest priority to it. This is my request to you,” she said.

Mentioning that the confidence and trust of the mass people is the biggest strength of the AL, she said “We don’t have any other strength. We only believe in the power of the masses.”

She said if AL can guide the mass people properly, none will be able to put barriers to the development of the country.

The AL chief laid importance on the set-up of the party office in every district and upazila. “The central AL will help the local AL units to set up their offices if they are unable,” she said.

She said that the party needs at least one office in every district and upazila across the country.

“We’ve established digital Bangladesh. We’ve scope to communicate with the whole country online. Why will AL lag behind in this regard?” she said, adding, “I want to establish an institutional system to communicate with the districts and upazila levels to make it easy.”

Sheikh Hasina also put emphasis on the recruitment of new members for strengthening the party. “We will form eight new teams for the eight divisions, their responsibilities will be to look after the recruitment of the new members.”

She said that AL is the only organisation that came up from the land and people of this country while BNP and Jatiya Party came from the pockets of military rulers who grabbed the state power illegally violating the constitution of the country.

As a result, they don’t have any responsibilities towards the people whereas AL has the duty to build up the fate of the mass people, she said, adding that each and every leader and activist of the AL have responsibilities in this regard.

Sheikh Hasina said that she had accepted to lead the party this time considering the volatile world economic situation.

She added “One must not take responsibility so many times. But, I take responsibility considering the current world situation. You have to remember that I am also getting older.”  

She again put emphasis on utilising every inch of arable land in the country to increase production for averting any unwanted situation due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Ukraine-Russia War, sanctions and counter-sanctions.

The prime minister noted that due to these elements economic recession grips the entire world.  

She added “Many rich countries have already declared themselves as recession-affected countries. Bangladesh must not be trapped in that situation. Rather if we produce extra foods we can export those to many countries, mitigating our own demands.”

She said that many countries have already expressed their interest to import foods from Bangladesh.

She continued “We have to work that way, especially the leaders and activists of Awami League.”