Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said there is a lot of potential in enhancing bilateral cooperation between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the areas of investment, agriculture, fisheries, pharmaceuticals, maritime connectivity and higher education.
She said this while outgoing Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Dhaka Professor Sudharshan DS Seneviraine called on her at her official residence Ganabhaban.
Prime Minister's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed the reporters after the meeting.
The premier said Bangladesh attaches highest priority to the relations with the neighbours including Sri Lanka which is based on historical bondages and multitude of commonalities.
She said, "Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have historical bondage as it put emphasis on maintaining good relations with the neighbours".
Bangladesh prime minister and Sri Lankan high commissioner both stressed 'Blue Economy,' Karim noted.
About development, the prime minister said 90 per cent development programmes of Bangladesh is now funded from domestic resources.
She also mentioned that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the development process across the country was somewhat thwarted.
"But, Bangladesh is now struggling and working hard to recover from the setback," Sheikh Hasina said.
She, as well, congratulated the high commissioner on successful completion of his duty in Bangladesh.
Professor Sudharshan DS Seneviraine highly appreciated the socioeconomic development of Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Referring to mega projects like Padma Bridge, he said on completion of projects of Matarbai and Payra, Bangladesh will become big regional hub of connectivity.
The Sri Lankan high commissioner said his country is keen to cooperate in the field of trade, tourism, deep seaport and pharmaceutical sectors of Bangladesh.
He also praised Bangladesh for maintaining balance in foreign policy.
He said he really felt attached to Bangladesh and its people during his stay.
Ambassador-at-large Mohammad Ziauddin and Prime Minister's Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah were present.
‘AL upholds rights of all religions’
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said that her party, Awami League, when is in the government, always works to ensure the rights of the people of all religious faiths.
She said this when leaders of Bangladesh Hindu, Buddhist, Christian Unity Council paid a courtesy call on her at her official residence Ganabhaban.
The prime minister told the leaders that religions belong to individuals but festivals are universal.
She said that her government is pulling the country ahead by implementing the ideology of Bangabandhu and the spirit of the War of Liberation.
The premier's Deputy Press Secretary Shakhawat Moon briefed the reporters after the call on.
During the meeting, leaders of the Bangladesh Hindu, Buddhist, Christian Unity Council, led by its general secretary Rana Das Gupta, said that discrimination has been removed in all fields such as employment, recruitment and promotion in the country.
They thanked the prime minister as people of different faiths are freely following their religious practices.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister and Awami League Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua and central committee member Nirmal Kumar Chatterjee were present.
Alerts AL men against local, foreign plots
Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday alerted her party men against local and foreign conspiracies and asked them to strengthen the party further ahead of the next national election.
"Conspiracies would be hatched nationally and internationally. Many do not want progress of a country in such a pace, so they are working against Bangladesh," she said as leaders and activists of district units of AL from across the country met the premier at her official Ganabhaban residence.
The prime minister vowed to work for continuing the pace of development confronting all the conspiracies.
She said they have been working for the welfare of the country and its people for three consecutive terms since 2009.
Due to hard the work of the AL government, she said the poverty rate declined to 18.7 per cent in 2023 from 41 per cent in 2006 while the rate of extreme poor to 5.6 per cent from 25 per cent.
The prime minister said her government would mobilise the efforts further to decrease the poverty rate by two or three per cent more at the quickest possible time.
"There would be no extreme poor in Bangladesh," she said, adding that her government is doing everything possible that include giving houses free of cost, reaching healthcare services to people's doorsteps and increasing education rate for changing the lots of the countrymen.
The AL President said the fate of the people changes once her party assumes power.
She asked the party men to make AL stronger further and work for the welfare of the people in a more collective way as the national election is knocking at the door.
"So, we want the Awami League organisation to be more strengthened," she said.
The premier said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman liberated the country, adding, "So, we're working for the country's development following Bangabandhu's ideals."
The AL president reminded her party men that they have to have dedication for the welfare of the country and its people as the political parties like BNP and Jatiya Party were formed in the pockets of military dictators.
"The parties like BNP and Jatiya Party are not the parties of the soil and the people," she said.
Briefly describing the country's overall development in the last 14 years, she said Bangladesh has witnessed massive development in every sector such as infrastructure development, healthcare, education and accommodation.
The premier blasted the BNP leaders and their like-minded people for not seeing the huge development of Bangladesh although the southwestern people are getting the benefits of the Padma Bridge.
"They are not seeing any development and are telling lies aloud everyday. No respite even in the Ramadan days. Why they are doing so, I don't understand," she said.
Sheikh Hasina said they have worked for the people and in reply, they vote for her party.
"Awami League needs no vote rigging for going to power as it always comes to the power by winning people's confidence by serving them. Awami League never comes to power without vote," she said.
Those who are talking about election came to power at gunpoint, she said.
"So, the people rejected them," she said referring to 2008 national election in which BNP led 20-party alliance got only 29 seats.
She reminded the countrymen that none has raised question about 2008 election.
"BNP still remains at their early position," she said, adding that the AL has elevated its position further through working for the development of the country and its people.
The prime minister said she is working for the countrymen considering them as her near and dear ones after losing everything, including her parents and brothers, on the dreadful night on August 15 in 1975.
"The people of Bangladesh are my family. Whatever I did I did for the people," she said.
The prime minister thanked the countrymen and the leaders and workers of the AL for giving her shelter when she returned to the country after losing everything.
"I have been able to work for the people as you (party men) are beside me," she said.
