Staff correspondent :

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that the successful participation of women in every sector has led to a renaissance in the progress of women in Bangladesh.
He said, ‘There is no scope for neglecting women because women are advancing in every sector even at the rural level.’
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said this in a meeting with Bangladesh Awami League party nominees for the reserved women’s seat in the 12th National Parliament at her official residence Ganabhaban this morning.
The Prime Minister said that 1553 women have applied for 48 reserved seats in Parliament.
He said, ‘This has proved that there has been a renaissance in women’s development in Bangladesh.’
The Prime Minister said that finding 48 women out of hundreds is a difficult task for them.
However, he urged to work with motherly love for the country and the people without being disappointed if he did not get the nomination.
He said, I myself want to build the country with maternal love.
The Prime Minister said that the consciousness that has come among women today and that women’s leadership should start from the grassroots in the local government, we have made arrangements. I have arranged 60% jobs for women in primary schools. Women are also advancing in sports.
The Prime Minister said that Bibi Khadija (ra) was the first woman to embrace Islam and girls should also remember that they belong to the mother’s race. So we are aware enough that there is no opportunity to neglect girls. Today, women are not backward even at our village level. We are making all kinds of measures to improve the quality of life of women including training by Digital Bangladesh. Because we want to improve our country, it will only be possible if men and women work together.
He told the aspirants that many of those who applied knew they might not get it. But to make my existence known, that I am. We are worthy, we can. Yes I believe it myself everyone is worthy, no one is unworthy. I would still say if anyone is still lagging behind it is the responsibility of this political leadership to pull them up. And only these sisters of ours can do it, we will not leave anyone behind. I will move forward with everyone.
Referring to her return to the country in 1981 after the death of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and her family in 1975, Sheikh Hasina said, “I found rows of graves on my return.” Touching the soil of that grave, I vowed that freedom cannot fail. I will not let this freedom fail. My journey was not so easy. Various conspiracies and conspiracies were going on, and there are still conspiracies and conspiracies. Awami League president said, I said in this huge public meeting on Manik Mia Avenue that the people of Bangladesh are my family. The people of this Bangladesh are my people. The way my father sacrificed his life to change their fate. As my mother, my brothers gave their lives, I will pour my blood to change the fate of these people.
Referring to the obstacles in his way, he said, his only strength is the support of people and the inspiration of people. That is why it is for people to do their work. They even thought that Russell was killed so that no one of Bangabandhu’s blood could come to power. I don’t know if God kept me alive, I have faced death many times, sometimes bullets, sometimes bombs, sometimes grenade attacks, I had to face all these things. My party leaders and workers have repeatedly protected me by forming human shields. Many have given their lives. I always remember them.
General Secretary of Awami League and Minister of Road Transport and Bridges Obaidul Quader was present on the stage. Dr. publicity and publication secretary of the party. Abdus Sobhan conducted the rose ceremony.The Prime Minister said, no one could have imagined that today’s Bangladesh, Awami League will come to power again and again after going through so many ups and downs. Awami League is in power after repeatedly winning the elections from 96 to 2001 and then 2008. When he formed the government in 2009, there was a battered economy, a battered society and chaos. Overcoming them is the path of our development.
Awami League president said, we have proved that any desired goal can be achieved if we proceed with specific ideal goals. Today’s Bangladesh is a changing Bangladesh. Today’s Bangladesh has got the status of a developing country. By changing the negative perception that the world had about Bangladesh at one time, today I can claim that Bangladesh has occupied a prestigious seat in the world today.
Highlighting his government’s initiative to empower women, the prime minister said to the aspirants that our women have many responsibilities. I know I can nominate only 48 people out of so many people. But the desire to lead those who are where they are, should not be lost even if they do not get the nomination.
He said, it must be retained. By holding on to it, one must keep one’s own place. One thing to remember is that no one makes a place but a place has to be taken. The place has to be taken and the organization has to be created in such a way, to stand by the people, to work for the people, to gain the trust and confidence of the people. We have to go to the grassroots and earn their trust and confidence. So that in future we can field more women candidates in direct elections.
The head of government said that the most noticeable thing in this election is that women voted the most. They voted in long queues. Once upon a time this was not the case. Today, people are voting for Awami League, the reason for this change is to win people’s hearts by working. Therefore, if you want to lead, you should not sit and wait for who will make what. The organization should be built in its own way by doing its own work in its own capacity.
The Prime Minister said that the father of the nation gave us the status of a less developed country by building a war-torn country, from where we got the status of a developing country. The operation of which will start from the year 2026. We have a lot of work to do in that regard. We have announced that we will build a smart Bangladesh within 41 years. Smart Bangladesh means our skilled manpower will be developed, it is equal for both men and women, we will make our youth society that way through training, we will have a smart government, the economy will be smart, we will build our society as smart. That is, Bangladesh or the people of Bangladesh will not be left behind in any case. In all cases there will be pioneers.
The Prime Minister mentioned the steps taken by his government to successfully deal with Covid-19 and keep the country’s economy moving by providing free vaccines and testing and giving cash and incentives to people of all professions. So that many developed countries have also suffered. Thousands, millions of people died in those countries. But Bangladesh has managed to deal with it successfully despite being a small landlocked country with a large population, he said.
At this time, he mentioned the various steps taken by his government to create women entrepreneurs, including the Awami League’s tree planting program launched in 1985 and the establishment of rural savings banks, and said that many families have now stood on their own feet with these opportunities. Our maternal mortality rate has decreased, child mortality rate has decreased, we have ensured food security, we have created the awareness of people about nutrition today. Now there is no famine or famine in Bangladesh but people get food security.
He reiterated his call to increase overall food production by bringing every inch of land under cultivation in the country.
He said, we are working in every field for the development of a society. We have provided free primary education to higher education. Providing free books and greatly expanded the education system to create an educated nation. Because if you want to build a smart Bangladesh, you need an educated nation.
He congratulated those who came to the Ganabhaban and said, “Today, the garden of my Ganabhaban is decorated with flowers.”