I'm always ready to make sacrifice for my countrymen: PM Sheikh Hasina

"I'm dedicating whatever feats or awards I got to the people of the country as they are their real claimers.... In them, I find the love and affection of my lost father, mother and brothers. So I'm always ready to make any sacrifice for them," she said.

The Prime Minister also renewed her firm pledge to build Bangladesh as a hunger and poverty-free country and make it livable for the future generation.

"Bangladesh is a victorious nation which earned independence through the War of Liberation under the stewardship of Bangabandhu. It cannot happen that the country would move bowing its head...our goal is to establish Bangladesh as a dignified nation on the world stage," she told a civic reception.

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) accorded the reception to the Prime Minister for receiving the world's highest environmental accolade "Champions of the Earth" and the International Telecommunication Union's "ICTs in Sustainable Development Award" at the South Plaza of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban here this afternoon.

Eminent academic and Professor Emeritus Rafiqul Islam, LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Engineer Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain and Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokan addressed the gala function, while Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Annisul Haque chaired it.

Earlier on her arrival at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban at 4.25 pm, the Prime Minister was received by LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Engineer Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Annisul Haque and Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokan.

At that time famous Tagore song -- Jadi Tore Dak Shune Keu Na Ashe Tobe Ekla Cholo Re -- was played.

Later, the function commenced with the playing of the national anthem.

Two tiny tots -- a boy and a girl -- jointly read out a citation in honour of the Prime Minister. They later handed over it to Sheikh Hasina.

On the occasion, the two mayors presented a tree to the Prime Minister.

Before the speech of the Prime Minister, a spectacular "Earth Parade" was staged where the performers projected Bangladesh's rich culture and history.

Thousands of people irrespective of class and profession enjoyed the colourful function by sitting under a huge canopy at the JS South Plaza.

Recalling her homecoming on May 17 in 1981 after living six years in exile after the assassination of Bangabandhu in 1975, the Prime Minister said he returned home with a pledge to bring smile on the faces of the poor and suppressed countrymen as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Sheikh Hasina said she learnt a lot from Bangabandhu to love the countrymen. "I got the love of the people in absence of my parents after 1975 and is working for their welfare," she said.

"My only aim is to build Bangladesh as a prosperous and developed country with the spirit of the War of Liberation so that souls of the martyred remain in peace," she said.

She said many conspiracies were hatched with Bangladesh in the past but none could stop its advancement. "We have firm belief that we would certainly be a middle income digital nation by 2021 and front-ranking developed one by 2041," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has taken all necessary measures for the people to improve their living standard by using digital technology.

The Prime Minister said "Digital Bangladesh" is a reality now, and the people across the country are getting 200 types of government services from union digital centers as well as earning money sitting at home.

Putting emphasis on protection of the environment side by side with development of the country, Sheikh Hasin said uplift activities are a must but ecological balance of the country should be maintained while taking major development efforts.

She urged the countrymen to ensure afforestation along with urbanisation to protect country's ecological balance and said her government took necessary steps to protect the environment along with boosting food production for huge population.

"The present government has ensured security of proteins by increasing production of fish, poultry, cattle along with ensuring food security," she mentioned.

The Prime Minister said the living standard of the people should be upgraded through appropriate use of country's limited resources instead of depending on other countries.

In this context, she said Bangladesh is the only country in the world which took climate resilient adaptation measures with its own funds and the world leaders are now praising it.

Mentioning that Bangladesh has earned its independence in exchange for blood of three million martyrs, the Prime Minister said the sacrifice of the martyrs won't go in vain. "We won't let their sacrifice go in vain...Bangladesh must be made a dignified nation on the world stage," she said.

The Prime Minister ended her speech with Tagore's immortal poem "udoyer pothe shuni kar bani, voy nai ore voy nai... nissheshe pran je koribe dan khoy nai tar khoy nai."

Speaking at the function, Prof Rafiqul Islam said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has established Bangladesh in dignified position on the world stage by overcoming all crisis. "She also played a pioneering role in protecting the country from environment disaster," she said.

Mayor Annisul Haque at the function announced that from now on the two city corporations would select a "green person" every year for his or her contribution towards protecting environment.