Awami League has its roots in people, none could destroy it: HPM Sheikh Hasina

Pointing out her government's vision to build a middle income country by 2021 and a developed one by 2041, she said each and every party worker should work honestly with the ideology of Bangabandhu to build up the organization and build up their own life.

Sheikh Hasina, also the President of Bangladesh Awami League, said this in a discussion organized by the party at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre here marking its 67th founding anniversary.

On this day in 1949, Awami League, country's oldest political party, was founded on June 23, 1949 at the historic Dhaka's Rose Garden with Moulana Bhasani as the president, Shamsul Haque as general secretary and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as joint secretary.

Sheikh Hasina said the Awami League is the main player behind every achievement of Bangladesh and its people including the dignity of the mother language and national freedom.

Since its inception the Awami League has remained in constant struggle to establish the rights of the people, she said adding that the party in fact came into being to change the lot of the depressed and oppressed people and the countrymen have got something whenever the party came to power.

Awami League advisory council members Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed and Professor Anupam Sen, presidium members Matia Chowdhury and Mohammad Nasim, Joint General Secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif and Jahangir Kabir Nanak, and Organizing Secretary Ahmed Hossain took part in the discussion.

Publicity Secretary of the party Dr Hasan Mahmud and Deputy Publicity Secretary Asim Kumar Ukil conducted the meeting.

Recalling the long history of the party, the Prime Minister said Awami League had to sustain through struggles. The party had to face four military dictators as well as against the evil force out to distort country's history and destroy democracy.

Sheikh Hasina said Awami League restored the people's right to vote and bread and in the country's history, Awami League leaders and workers have sacrificed most for realizing rights of the people.

She said all military dictators including Iskandar Mirza, Ayub Khan, Ziaur Rahman and Ershad and even Khaleda Zia tried to split Awami League. Pakistani rulers had hatched conspiracy against Bangabandhu after launching of the historic six-point demand.

Bangabandhu was arrested repeatedly and legal suits were filed against him in every district where he addressed a meeting on six-point demand. After 1957 conference, she said Moulana Bhasani left Awami League. At that time Bangabandhu relinquished his ministerial job to organize the party, which is a great lesson for party leaders, she said.

The Prime Minister said Bangabandhu had to overcome many huddles to organize the Awami League and he visited every nook and corner of Bangladesh to organize the party.

The non-cooperation movement called by Bangabandhu against the Pakistani regime was an unprecedented political event and manifestation of his ability to mobilize people, Sheikh Hasina said.

Under the platform of Awami League, the Prime Minister said, Bangabandhu mobilized public opinion, build up the organization, inspired people with the spirit of independence and make them prepared slowly for war of liberation.

After the killing of Bangabandhu, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh Awami League had to face a grave situation as the rulers started killing its leaders and workers to destroy the party and kept them in jail year after year.

"They tried to destroy Awami League, but failed because of roots of the party in people," Sheikh Hasina said adding that the grassroots leaders of the party always have taken the right decision, helping the party to survive.

The Prime Minister said the Awami League is following the ideology and guidelines given by Bangabandhu. So the more they tried to split the party, the more the party gained strength, she said.

Sheikh Hasina said Awami League steadily carried forward the movement for establishing the rights of the people. Once, the country was made into a nation of beggars, destroying the spirit of independence. Awami League salvaged the country from that situation, she said.

The Prime Minister said Awami League was always on the path of an ideology and policy. That's why none could foil the ultimate victory of the party. Awami League came to power after 21 years and took the country to the path of prosperity.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangabandhu had taken a five-year plan for country's development. In pursuance of economic policy, the present government has undertaken a five-year development plan for country's economic development.

She said people are enjoying benefit of her government's economic policy. Poverty has reduced to 22.4 percent and per capita income of people has increased.

The Prime Minister urged the leaders of the party and front organizations to work for the party and nation selflessly. A self-centered leader can give nothing to the people, she said.

Photo: Saiful Kallol