Staff correspondent :

Prime Minister and Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina today said her target is to change the fate of the countrymen.

“My target is to change the fate of the people of Bangladesh,” she said in her introductory speech at Tungipara Upazila AL office while exchanging greetings and views with people of all strata in Tungipara on the occasion of the holy Eid-ul-Azha.

The Prime Minister said the independence of the country was achieved under the leadership of her father, Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Bangabandhu wanted to bring smiles on the faces of the countrymen for which he announced the programme for second revolution, she said.

Expressing her resentment over assassination of the Father of the Nation along with most of his family members on August 15 in 1975 and the killing of four national leaders inside the Dhaka Central Jail in the same year on November 3, she said the objective of killings was to halt the country’s progress.

She continued that Bangabandhu was assassinated at a time when the country was advancing towards economic emancipation.

The premier said her government has made massive development of the country by implementing “My House, My Firm”, Community Clinic, Digital Bangladesh, “My Village, My Town,” and giving cent percent electricity.

Sheikh Hasina, lawmaker from Tungipara-Kotalipara constituency, credited the people of her constituency as they have shouldered the responsibility of hers as she has to give more time to ensure the overall development of Bangladesh.

“Usually, the lawmakers from other constituencies only look after their respective constituencies while I have to work for development in all 300 constituencies. I have been able to do so, as the Kotalipara and Tungipara inhabitants have taken the charge of her constituency,” she said.

The premier said she roamed very parts of the country after returning to the country from her six years of forced exile to change the fortune of the countrymen.

There is no region in Bangladesh that I have not travelled. I made ride on boat, shampan, launch and rickshaw-van to reach the remotest areas of the country,” she said.

She continued: “I have travelled the country in such ways and I took Bangladesh in such a dignified position using experiences that I had achieved roaming around the country.”

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh will start its journey as a developing country in 2026 due to her government’s timely measures.

“If BNP-Jamaat can come to power again, they will play ducks and drakes with the fate of the people of this country and will make damages to this country. So, everyone will have to work together so that they can’t do that,” she said.

She said the Awami League is a party of the soil and the people, and the people are the strength of it, adding the fate of the countrymen changes whenever Awami League assumes power.

The AL chief said her party’s organizational strength will have to be enhanced further.

Citing that many people including 21,000 AL leaders and activists were killed in the hands of BNP terrorists, Sheikh Hasina said the Canadian Federal Court declared BNP as a terrorist organization.

Referring to the country’s foreign policy, Sheikh Hasina she said Bangladesh’s foreign policy is – friendship to all and malice towards none.

“We follow this policy. But we don’t want anyone to create obstacles on our development journey or our progress. We will not allow that,” she said.

Criticising heavily some Bangladeshis who complain against the country to foreigners, she said “Those who have no strength on their own soil, and have no trust and confidence in the people of their own country, can’t do welfare of the countrymen. They can complain (before the foreigners) going abroad and spread different false information to misguide the people.”

The country will be a hunger-poverty-free developed, prosperous Bangladesh as envisioned by the Father of the Nation,” she said.

Referring to nationwide arson violence by the BNP-Jamaat clique during the 2013-2015 period, the premier said those who can burn the people alive and kill people alive, don’t do politics.

“To them, the power is a money-making machine and for playing the ducks and drakes with the fate of the people,” she continued.

She asked the countrymen to remain alert so that none can play the ducks and drakes with the fate of the people of Bangladesh anymore.

Coming down heavily on the critics, she said they are telling lies to malign the AL using televisions, electricity and digital system that was introduced by the AL government.

“But falsehood will not sustain for a long. It may sustain for time-being. The truth finally wins. The trust must win,” she said.

The premier said her government successfully controlled terrorism and militancy in the country.

“Still, some quarters are trying to push such activities. If the people remain cautious, they won’t be able to do it and such engagement of people is most essential in this regard,” she said.

She said the people of the country have already seen the terrorist face of the BNP, as the party has previous record of engaging in terrorist activities since Ziaur Rahman’s regime.

The BNP-Jamaat clique didn’t make any development of the country rather they became the owners of assets and properties through corruption and siphoned money off the country.

They committed many misdeeds like siphoning off money, terrorism, corruption, creating militants, killing the people and preparation of electoral rolls with 1.23 crore fake voters.

This terrorist organization has no right to talk about the people of Bangladesh, she said.

About the leadership of BNP, Sheikh Hasina said she kindly suspended the sentence of Khaleda Zia and allowed her to stay home.

BNP acting chairperson is also a convicted in 10-truck arms haul and August 21 grenade attack cases and others and now he is staying in London as a fugitive convict.

He is now delivering sermons using the social media, she said, asking, “Why doesn’t he come to Bangladesh when he has so much courage?”

“He can’t do it. He can’t show such courage,.” she continued.

She said Tarique Zia fled the country giving undertaking to the caretaker government that he won’t do politics anymore.

The Prime Minister asked all to exercise austerity in the use of electricity and water, plant trees in the rainy season and not to keep an inch of land uncultivated for boosting food production amid the current global situation.

During the view exchange meeting, the Prime Minister wanted to know experiences of local Awami League and associate organisations’ leaders and activists and local representatives about the development of Tungipara.

As Sheikh Hasina expressed her desire to retire on the plea of being aged at the view exchange, the local people requested her to continue as the Prime Minister for the welfare of the country and its people.

They expressed their desire to see Sheikh Hasina as the next Prime Minister and reiterated their strong commitment to work and help; and wished that Sheikh Hasina will be the next Prime Minister of the country.

The AL leaders also expressed their firm commitment to help AL in the next general election.

Sheikh Helal Uddin, MP, and Sheikh Salahuddin Jewel, MP, were present, among others, at the view exchange meeting.

Tunipara Upazila Awami League President Abul Khayer was present on the dais while General Secretary Md Babul Sheikh moderated the function.

Earlier, the Prime Minister reached Kotalipara around 11.27am yesterday (July 1) after crossing the Padma Bridge in her over three-hour car ride from her official Ganabhaban residence as part of her two-day visit to Kotalipara and Tungipara.

Prime Minister’s ICT Affairs Adviser and only son Sajeeb Wazed Joy accompanied her.

The Prime Minister’s presence at Tungipara has added additional joy, enthusiasm and festivity among the local people.

The entire Gopalganj has been decorated with colourful posters, banners and placards to welcome the Premier.

On her arrival at the Kotalipara Upazila Awami League office on Saturday, the premier planted three wood, fruit and herbal saplings of Neem (margosal), Bakul (Spanish Cherry) and mango trees.

She also inaugurated the newly constructed Kotalipara Upazila Awami League office.

Sheikh Hasina, also President of the Awami League (AL), later exchanged greetings with local AL and its associate organisations’ leaders and activists, local representatives and masses of Kotalipara Upazila at the Upazila AL office, on the occasion of the holy Eid-ul-Azha.

After completion of the programmes, the premier went to Tungipara on Saturday afternoon and paid rich tribute and offered Fateha and joined a munajat at the mausoleum of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The premier spent Saturday night at Tungipara.

She reached her official Ganabhaban residence this afternoon here from Tungipara after offering prayer at her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’ grave at Tungipara.

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