Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday reiterated her call to the Bangladeshi expatriates to put in their all-out efforts to brighten the country's image and dignity before the world community.
"I would like to call upon all of you to brighten the image of the country," she said while the UK Awami League (AL) leaders along with its front and associate bodies called on her at her place of residence.
Sheikh Hasina said that a section of people living abroad are making deliberate slander against the country.
"Some people, who left the country being involved in various offences or misdeeds or corruption and who have lost their jobs due to illegal acts, are defaming the country deliberately," she also said.
She observed that they didn't see any good and development works (of the government) but rather always found wrong deeds all over Bangladesh.
Asking her party men to enhance their activities on digital and social media platforms to tackle this despicable propaganda, the Prime Minister emphasised carrying out publicity of the development works of the AL government and its front and associate bodies before the people.
Asking the critics (of the government and its development works) to travel to Bangladesh, the premier said that there is no hue and cry in rural Bangladesh.
"I can claim that the living standard of rural people in Bangladesh has improved a lot and if Awami League remains in power, we will ensure all other remaining necessary works for their developed life," she added.
She mentioned that poverty in Bangladesh has been brought down to 18 per cent from 41 per cent, while extreme poverty reduced to 5 per cent and the unemployment rate now stands at only 3 per cent due to different initiatives implemented by the government.
Sheikh Hasina, also the [resident of ruling AL, said after the assassination of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975, they started the movement of bringing democracy back to Bangladesh from London in 1980, as Ziaur Rahman and other military dictators seized the state power illegally.
She said Bangladesh has been witnessing a stable democratic journey till now as AL formed the government in 2009 after winning the 2008 election.
"The country has witnessed unprecedented development due to the establishment of the democracy," she said, adding, "We're taking forward the country overcoming all hurdles both locally and globally such as arson terrorism inside the country."
Sheikh Hasina, also the elder daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, said "My father has brought the independence of the country and we can't let the independence fail. The benefits of this independence have to reach all people of the country, and my struggle is for this."
The PM listened to the AL leaders along with its front and associate bodies. They said Bangladesh will march ahead towards implementing "Sonar Bangla" as envisioned by Father of the Nation under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Leaders from AL, Chhatra League, Jubo League, Mohila League, Swechchhasebak League and other associate bodies unanimously asked the AL President and Prime Minister to strengthen their organisations by holding conferences and forming new committees.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen also spoke.
Bangladesh High Commissioner in London Saida Muna Tasneem was on the dais. AL leaders from different European countries were also present.
