We Want to Begin a Politics to Bring Welfare for People: PM

Terming BNP's boycotting the general election of 2014 as a wrong political decision, Bangladesh premier said the BNP leader herself responsible for it, none should be blamed.

"BNP is out of Jatiya Sangsad because of the wrong political decision of its chairperson. Now she should reorganize her party, look for the party's future and let people know what she wants to do for the country's socioeconomic development," the Prime Minister said.

Addressing the nation over radio and television this evening marking completion of one-year of January 5, 2014 general election, the Premier urged the BNP leader to shun politics of subversive activities and return to the path of peace.

"The path you are following will not bring any benefit for the people. Instead you will lose public faith and confidence," Sheikh Hasina told Begum Zia.

The Prime Minister called upon the BNP leader to stop killing, hurling bombs and grenades, setting fire and causing damage to the life and property of the people asking her as to why people will pay "for your wicked politics".

In her 25-minute speech, the Prime Minister said 2014 will remain as a glorious year in the nation's history in terms of the country's overall development, continuation of constitutional and democratic rule and rekindling people with the spirit of the War of Liberation.

She said the people of Bangladesh are living in a well-off condition and peaceful situation. BNP and its lackeys are trying to create anarchy and instability again when the country with the united efforts of all is proceeding fast towards the development highway.

"They are trying to spread out their conspiracy with the evil force which have no faith to the very existence of Bangladesh and out to protect the war criminals," she said.

Recalling the horrific situation created by BNP-Jamaat's unruly activists before January 5, 2014, Sheikh Hasina said BNP-Jamaat alliance resorted to a reign of terror across the country to foil the election and protect the war criminals.

They set fire to hundreds of vehicles, destroyed thousands others and cut down thousands of roadside trees. Hundreds of people lost their lives and sustained injuries in their violent assaults, torching and crude and petrol bomb attacks while as many as 20 members of the law-enforcement agencies and armed forces were killed, she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the government pinned on holding the election under the constitutional framework as there was no provision of unelected government in the constitution.

She said prior to the January 5, 2014 election her government made a frantic stride to sit for dialogue and was ready to give maximum concession. But the BNP-Jamaat alliance was out to create an anarchic situation to capture power through backdoor," she said.

The Prime Minister said the people didn't step into their trap and took part in the general election to continue the country's democratic system.

She said many innocent transport drivers, passengers of public transports, presiding and polling officers, police, BGB, Ansar and armed forces members and even schoolchildren fell prey to their violence and many injured persons are now living a miserable life.

Sheikh Hasina extended her gratitude to the victims of the BNP-Jamaat atrocities, saying their support helped complete the projects and programmes initiated by her government and undertake new ones for the country's development. The countrymen would resist all anarchic and militant activities together in the coming days, she hoped.

Highlighting the successes achieved during the tenure of her government, Prime minister Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh is now one of the five fast growing nations in the world. It's now a role model of development before the world.

She said around five crore people graduated them from low-income group to medium-income group during her present tenure in office. Poverty rate reduced to 24 percent from 41.5 percent of the BNP regime while extreme poverty rate now reduced to 11 percent from 24.2 percent in 2006.

Sheikh Hasina said the income capacity of people has been increased during her government's tenure along with creation of employment opportunities. Around one crore people found jobs in the private and public sectors at home and about 2.5 million people went abroad with overseas jobs.

The Premier said the country's foreign exchange reserves were US$3.48 billion in 2005-2006 fiscal which now rose to US$ 22.39 billion. The volume of remittance sent by expatriate nationals also increased by three times and rose to US$ 14.23 billion in 2013-2014 fiscal against US$4.80 billion in 2006.

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in September 2014 was US$ 6.83 billion, six times higher than previous record; she said, adding that country's total export was US$ 30.19 billion in 2014 which was US$ 10.53 billion in 2005-2006 fiscal year.

Sheikh Hasina also pointed out her government's success in augmenting the power generation and gas exploration to meet the energy crisis. She also highlighted the major projects including flyovers, elevated expressway and Padma Multipurpose Bridge taken by her government.

She said BNP-Jamaat made Bangladesh as a food-deficit country. Awami League made the country again self-sufficient in food production after coming to power in 2009.

The Prime Minister said her government has provided around Taka 40,278 crore as subsidies for irrigation, fertilizers and electricity supply. Bangladesh is now the fourth largest sweet water fish producing country in the world, she said.

Pointing out her party's announcement to make Bangladesh as a middle-income country by 2021, the Prime Minister hoped the country would be able to achieve the goal much before if the present pace of development continues.

In this regard, Sheikh Hasina sought cooperation of all to materialize the target of the election manifesto and build a poverty- and hunger-free country.