None would be allowed to play with people's fate: PM

Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina on Monday said the only goal of her party is to ensure that none can play ducks and drakes with the fate of the people of Bangladesh.

She said this while addressing the first meeting of the newly elected Presidium of Awami League at her official residence Ganabhaban in Dhaka following the party's 22nd council on December 24.  

Mentioning that the people of Bangladesh have suffered a lot and they will not have to suffer anymore in future, she said, "Our only goal is that people of the country would get a beautiful, developed and prosperous life and we want to do it."

Awami League's council has been done and the remaining part of the committee will be filled up as per the party's constitution, she said, adding that "this organisation [Awami League] is our big strength and we have to keep it in our mind."

Sheikh Hasina, who has been reelected as AL president for the 10th consecutive time, said that "If the organisation remains strong, we will be able to earn people's confidence and trust. Then, it will not be a tough job to run a government and carry out the development of the country."  

She continued, "It is the reality and we will continue our work with this reality."

"Our goal is to build 'Smart Bangladesh' by 2041," Sheikh Hasina said, referring to the fact that Bangladesh has become a digitised country.

"In smart Bangladesh, the entire people will be smart, e-people. We want to do it," she said, adding, "We will pull Bangladesh ahead using digital devices."

Highlighting the development of the country during the tenure of Awami League government, the prime minister said that they have launched satellites and entered into the satellite era, while the metro rail, which is an electric train, would be opened on December 28. "But, this would not have happened if Awami League was not in power."

Mentioning that a tunnel under the Karnaphuli River is being constructed, she said the biggest challenge for the government was to build the Padma Bridge.

"We took that challenge and announced that we would do it with our own finance. We have done the construction of Padma Bridge with our own finance. We did not take money from anyone, we have achieved that ability."

Referring to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, Sheikh Hasina said, "If these shocks would not have come at the international level, we could have progressed much further in Bangladesh today."

She said Bangladesh did not move forward a single step even after 1975 to 1996, adding that Bangladesh's people were repressed and deprived as they had no voting rights, no food, no clothes, no education, no medical treatment and no development of roads and others.

The country witnessed distortion of history including the banning of the historical March 7 Speech and the name of Bangabandhu and the country was governed in a mysterious way.

"The people of the country have been able to know the real history of Bangladesh and War of Liberation when Awami League assumed power," she said.

"Joy Bangla slogan has returned today and the March 7 Speech of Bangabandhu, which was banned during the tenure of Ziaur Rahman and other governments, has been declared as the part of world heritage of UNESCO."

She said, "All were confined in the darkness and Awami League has brought them into the light."

The head of the government said the development of the country, which has been materialised so far, has been attained with the hand of Awami League from 1996 to 2001 and from 2009 to 2022.

"Today, we have achieved the status of a developing nation and we have to go ahead further. We are moving ahead with that plan."

She also mentioned that they are providing land and houses to homeless people and will give to everyone. "None will remain homeless in the country."  

The prime minister said five fundamental rights — food, clothes, housing, education and medical treatment, which have been mentioned in the constitution, have been ensured by the government and it is taking more measures to ensure a developed life for the people.

"Now, the world sees Bangladesh with dignity and Bangalees receive respect wherever they go and it has been possible due to Awami League," she added.