Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday dismissed the talks that there is no money in the country's banks.
“Some people talk about reserves but there is no problem regarding it. Some say there is no money in the banks which is a blatant lie, she said while addressing a mammoth public rally at the Jashore stadium organised by the party.
“Even yesterday I had a meeting with the Bangladesh Bank governor and others concerned. It was confirmed that we have enough money in banks.
“If you keep your money in your house withdrawing from banks, thieves will take away that money. It will just create scopes for the thieves,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina, also the president of the ruling Awami League, said due to Covid-19 there is an economic crisis everywhere across the globe but in Bangladesh "we have kept our economy standing on a strong base till now."
“We have remittance inflow, foreign investment coming, export income has increased, and our tax collection has also increased. When all countries are struggling to avoid a recession Bangladesh has remained strong economically,” she added.
The prime minister urged the people not to pay heed to any rumours. “It is the job of the BNP to spread rumours all the time and you know that."
Mentioning that after 1975 no development work has been done in this country, she said when military ruler Ziaur Rahman died he left nothing but a broken suitcase and torn clothes and the BNP only looted the country when they were in power.
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The prime minister said that the BNP had never done anything for the welfare and betterment of the country and its people. “They always engaged in looting while they were in power.”
During the 2001-06 regime, she said, the BNP left foreign reserves at $2.5 billion only, when the Awami League formed the government in 2009 for the second time it was $5 billion after the regime of the caretaker government.
During the pandemic there were no exports and imports, as a result, the reserves reached $48 billion, she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the government has spent money on procuring vaccines, fertiliser, rice, wheat, and corn for the people.
“It (reserve money) did not go anywhere, it was spent for the welfare of the people.”
She mentioned that the government now is constructing roads, bridges and many other things.
“We have invested in various works, giving stimulus for export, agriculture and fulfilling the deficit money which accumulated up to $8 billion,” she said.
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, MP elected from Khulna Sheikh Helal, Presidium members Md Abdur Razzak, Piyush Kanti Bhattacharya and Jahangir Kabir Nanak also spoke at the rally.
Jashore District Awami League President Shahidul Islam Milon presided over the rally. District Awami League General Secretary Shahin Chaklader conducted it.
A boat-shaped stage was prepared at the rally venue by leaders and activists of Awami League, exhilarated by the prime minister’s presence as the chief guest.
Thousands of people joined the rally that started at 3pm.
The law enforcement agencies and district administration deployed the Rapid Action Battalion's (RAB) dog squad with other precautions from Tuesday to ensure security.
A team of 400 volunteers was formed to make the rally a success.
From Jashore airport to the stadium, the walls of public-private and autonomous institutions were painted in different colours with the prime minister’s speech and various slogans of the party. Repair work on the damaged road was also completed ahead of the rally.
Jashore Sadar Traffic Inspector Subhendu Kumar Munshi said 12 specific routes were kept open for the crowds to reach the venue.
Around 20 parking areas were selected as per the target of the district Awami League, he added.
