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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said her recent visits to Switzerland and Qatar will further accelerate Bangladesh's multi-dimensional relations with not only these two countries, but some other friendly countries also.
The prime minister read out a written statement prior to taking questions during a press conference in Ganabhaban, organised to brief the press on her three-day official visit to Qatar from May 23-25, and four-day official visit to Switzerland from June 13-16.
Sheikh Hasina visited Switzerland to attend the "World of Work Summit: Social Justice for All" held in Geneva, and prior to that Qatar to attend mainly the “3rd Qatar Economic Forum: A New Global Growth Story” held in Doha.
During her Switzerland visit, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR chief Flippo Grandi called on the Prime Minister at her place of residence at Geneva on June 14.
On that day, Sheikh Hasina held a meeting with President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset at Palais de Nations.
A Memorandum of Understanding on Knowledge and Skills enhancement between Bangladesh and Switzerland was signed there in presence of the two leaders, she added.
The same day, the Prime Minister delivered her address at the Plenary of “World of Work Summit 2023” at the Palais de Nations.
Sheikh Hasina said that by participating in the 'World of Work Summit: Social Justice for All' summit, the various steps taken in the reform of the labour sector under the leadership of her government have been highlighted to the people of the world.
At the same time, the Prime Minister informed the international community about the various preparations and activities undertaken to build 'Smart Bangladesh' through the implementation of her government's Vision 2041.
Sheikh Hasina also separately held meetings with President of Malta Dr. George Vella and South African President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa while ILO Director General Gilbert F Houngbo called on her at the same venue.
In the evening, the Prime Minister attended a dinner with high level dignitaries hosted by the ILO DG at its headquarters.
On June 15, Sheikh Hasina addressed an event on “New Economy and Society in Smart Bangladesh” organised by the World Economic Forum-WEF.
Besides, she also had a meeting with founder of WEF Prof Klaus Schwab at WEF Office.
In the evening, WTO Director General Dr Okonjo-Iweala called on her at the place of residence. She also attended a community reception the same evening.
Sheikh Hasina said that she left Geneva for Dhaka on the morning of June 16 and exchanged greetings with fellow passengers on the Bangladesh Biman flight.
The prime minister said during her Qatar visit,she along with other heads of states and the governments joined the opening session of the three day long Qatar Economic Forum.
She also joined a Gala Dinner hosted in honour of the heads of states and governments attending the conference, she added.
Sheikh Hasina delivered a speech at a high level session of the 3rd Qatar Economic Forum, and attended a view exchange session.
In her speech, the Prime Minister showed that the country's progress in various fields including economic development, poverty alleviation, education and knowledge-based society formation and women's empowerment in the past fourteen and a half years.
On the same day, the Prime Minister went to Emiri Dewan and held meetings with Emir of Qatar Shaikh Tamim Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani
Besides, she also held meetings with Prime Minister of Qatar Mohammed Bin Abdul Rahman bin Jessim Al Thani and Rwanda's President Paul Kagame in Doha at the bilateral meeting at Raffles Tower.
Sheikh Hasina went to Qatar University in Doha and delivered a speech before the students.
Apart from these, Qatari Minister of State Saad Bin Sherida Al-Kaabi called on the Prime Minister at her place of residence while Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid A Al-Falih is also held talks with her at the same venue.
Her sideline meetings were felt to be key to a subsequent deal signed between Bangladesh and Qatar to procure more LNG from RasGas, the Qatari state-owned LNG supplier.
Before leaving Doha for Dhaka, Sheikh Hasina visited Awsaj Academy.
BNP wants to come to power by selling St Martin’s island
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina alleged that BNP wants to come to power by giving a guarantee to sell Saint Martin’s island.
“BNP came to power in 2001 by giving the undertaking to sell gas. Now they want to sell the country. They want to come to power by undertaking to sell St Martin’s island,” she said.
The prime minister was addressing a press conference arranged at her official residence Ganabhaban over the outcomes of her recent visits to Switzerland and Qatar.
Sheikh Hasina said she is the daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and does not want to come to power by selling any resource of this country.
“Now if I say that I will lease out St Martin’s island or our country, there will also be no problem for me to stay in power. I know that,” she said.
But the prime minister said she would not allow anyone to play ducks and drakes with the fate of the people of Bangladesh. “We will not allow any act like carrying out terrorist activities in any place or attacking anyone by using the land of my country,” she added.
“We believe in peace. We believe in peaceful cooperation,” said Sheikh Hasina, adding that Bangladesh did not engage in quarrels with Myanmar even after some 11 lakh Myanmar refugees took shelter in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh continues negotiation with Myanmar on the issue, she said, adding that her government believes in the policy “Friendship to all and malice towards none.”
“We did not go for engaging in fights or quarrels with them [Myanmar],” said the prime minister.
Sheikh Hasina visited Qatar from May 22 to 25 to attend the Qatar Economic Forum-2023 and visited Switzerland from June 13 to 16 to join the "World of Work Summit: Social Justice for All," a summit of ILO.
Replying to a question on election-time government, the prime minister said there is no constitutional scope to hand over power to an unelected government.
She said there is a judgment of the higher court that an elected head of government shall be replaced by another elected head of government. And the constitution was also amended accordingly, she added.
“Everybody knows it. Why are they trying to create a constitutional crisis even after knowing it? What is the motive? It means to destroy the democratic process.”
She said the motive to create a constitutional crisis is to destroy the ongoing democratic process and socio-economic progress, which has been continuing for the last 14 years.
Now it is up to the people of the country whether they want the continuation of democratic trend, economic development and the welfare of the people or they want again the situation Bangladesh faced during the last caretaker government, she said.
Noting that the BNP and some other parties have taken to the streets, the prime minister wondered what their problem is and where the sources of their finance are.
She said the upcoming general election will be held on time as per the constitution and the electoral laws.
‘Bangladesh will join BRICS’
In reply to another question, Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh will join BRICS in order to reduce dependency on a single bloc on the international stage.
“We will join BRICS as we have been engaged since the preparation of its formation. But we could not be a founding member of it. Now we have sought to be its member. We want so as we will not remain dependent on any single one on the international stage.”
She said Bangladesh does not want to remain dependent only on dollars rather it wants to carry out purchasing goods with other currencies as well.
Responding to a question regarding inflation and illegal hoarding of goods, the prime minister said the government is trying to contain inflation to ease the suffering of the people.
She said the government is taking action against those who are engaged in illegal hoarding of goods, which led to the price-hike of commodities.
Answering a question, PM Hasina said the government has taken a decision to provide free food to 10 million people ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha.
In reply to a question regarding a campaign over repression toward minorities, she said propaganda started in this regard, which may increase further ahead of the next election.
Mentioning that communal harmony prevails in Bangladesh, she asked the people of the country not to pay heed to the false propaganda.
