Staff correspondent :

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged the public representatives of the local government bodies to move forward gaining the trust and confidence of the grassroots people and raise voice against drugs, terrorism, militancy.

“You’re elected by the votes of the people at the grassroots level, you’re the people’s servants. It is the duty of yours, mine and all to work for the welfare of the people. And by fulfilling this duty properly, you will gain the trust and confidence of the people and move forward,” she said.

She was addressing a programme arranged on the premises of her official residence Ganabhaban, marking the National Local Government Day-2023. The day was celebrated in the country for the first time this year.

The premier also said, “You (public representatives) will have to stand against drug abuse, terrorism and militancy. You will have to pay special attention so that none can engage in drug abuse, terrorism and militancy.”

Over 9,000 public representatives of the country’s 5,474 local government bodies -12 city corporations, 61 zilla parishads, 329 municipalities, 495 upazila parishads and 4,577 union parishads – are took part in the celebration event organized by the Local Government Division.

At the meeting of representatives of the local government of five levels across the country, Sheikh Hasina said, “As people have voted you once, you have to earn the trust and confidence of the people so they can vote you again.”

Mentioning that today’s development of the country is the result of long suffering, she said: “(You have to be aware so that) none can destroy it any more. Because, the far the country was taken ahead from 1996 to 2001, the BNP-Jamaat alliance pushed it back.”

Referring to the construction of 560 model mosques by the government, the prime minister said that they are also providing money for renovating temples and other places of worship of different religions.

“The government will do whatever is necessary for the development of mosques, temples, churches and pagodas,” she said.

Mentioning the incidents like BNP’s arson and burning of places of worship, she called upon the public representatives to look into these matters and said, “We’ve made this country independent together. This country is a country of non-communal spirit and will continue to be so.”

Sheikh Hasina also asked the public representatives to pay attention to the community clinics so it can render proper services.

She laid emphasis on creating awareness so that the overseas job seekers are not deceived by the middlemen, rather they can avail loans from the banks particularly Probashi Kallyan Bank which offers them loans without collaterals.

The Prime Minister also urged the public representatives to work for food production and encourage the people not to leave a single inch of land uncultivated.

“We’ll have to take the country forward using whatever resources we have. I would like to request everyone to work accordingly,” she said.

The head of government said that her government has been able to work for the development of the country and continue the democratic trend, maintaining a stable situation after forming the government for three consecutive terms since 2009. “This is why we’ve been able to develop the country up to the village-level,” she added.

Stating that still there are earthen roads in many villages, she said if her party gets the scope to serve the people again, they will develop these roads as well. “Every village will be developed like a town,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina, also the President of ruling Awami League, asked the public representatives to win the trust and confidence of the people by serving them properly.

“You should go forward gaining the trust and confidence of the people by working for and serving them. You will have to gain the trust and confidence so that the people will again vote for you,” she said.

“The progress of Bangladesh, what was obtained from 2009 to 2023, should be continued,” she said, expressing her firm conviction to take the country to a more dignified position on the global stage by building “Smart Bangladesh” and implementing the SDGs 2030.

The Prime Minister asked all to show a positive attitude towards the recently introduced universal pension scheme.

Observing that now there is a nuisance of mosquitoes and outbreak of dengue, she called upon everyone to be conscious and use the mosquito net alongside keeping their houses and surroundings clean.

“Everyone has one’s duty here. It needs to use mosquito nets and be conscious in order to stay protected from mosquito,” she said, adding that it is not possible to kill all mosquitoes.

Talking about the rise in the fund allocation for the Local Development Division, she said the AL government allocated Taka 46,703 crore for it in fiscal year 2023-24, which was only Taka 5,799 crore during the BNP’s regime in 2006.

Mentioning that the country has 1.6 lakh metric tons of foodgrains in stock, the Prime Minister reiterated the call to all to be economical in the use of electricity.

Regarding the subsidy in power generation, she said that now here only the rich people are enjoying the full benefits of the subsidy and that is why she has ordered to provide a safeguard in the use of electricity for the common people.

“I’ve already directed that we will have a protection system for the common people for their use of electricity,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said when the use of extra electricity goes up to a certain level, the price will also increase. “We will do it slowly and then we will be able to protect those who spend less. Those who use more will pay more,” she added.

LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam presided over the event, while State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Swapan Bhattacharjee and Local Government Secretary Muhammad Ibrahim spoke on the occasion.

Besides, mayors of five city corporations –Dhaka south, Rajshahi, Narayanganj, Khulna and Sylhet; chairmen of two Zila Parishads –Chattogram and Pirojpur; chairmen of four Upazila Parishads –Dumki of Patuakhali and Raozan of Chattogram, Guimara of Khagrachhari and Rangpur Sadar; mayors of two municipalities –Nilphamari sadar and Nator Sadar; two councilors from Dhaka south and north city corporations; two members from Brahmanbaria and Gopalganj zila parishads; two vice chairmen from Juri Upazila (Moulvibazar) and Mohammadpur Upazila (Magura); chairmen of eight union parishads –Noajishpur Union (Raozan Upazila, Chattogram), Patgati at Tungipara in Golapganj, Bagadi in Chandpur Sadar, Borokashia Birampur at Mohonganj Upazila in Netrokona, Sonabaria at Kalaroa in Satkhira, Telegati at Morrelganj in Bagerhat, Lalabazar at Dakkhin Surma in Sylhet and Paratali Union at Raipura in Narsingdi, among local public representatives, also spoke at the event.

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