Awami League is my family: PM Sheikh Hasina

"So I'm ready to make any sacrifice for the people of Bangladesh and give them a prosperous and happy life as dreamt by Bangabandhu," she said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also the president of Awami League, said this when newly elected presidents and general secretaries of Dhaka North and Dhaka South units of the party called on her at her Gonobhaban residence here on Monday evening.

She urged the Awami League leaders and workers to project successes of the present government before the people and always stand by them to resolve their problems aimed at earning their trust and getting their support in future elections.

"Election will be held and it's a continuous process and you will have to go to people with the party symbol continuously. So it's necessary to gain the trust of the people that the country will progress economically and they will live in peace and prosperity if Awami League remains in power," she said.

Reiterating her government's steadfast stand against militancy and terrorism, the Prime Minister urged the newly elected leaders to play their due role to make people aware of the danger of the menace. She asked them to keep vigil against the militants and terrorists everywhere in the city and inform law enforcement agencies as soon as they find any such element anywhere.

"Leadership is not only for giving speech. You have to perform duties to the people and make the organization strong," she said urging all leaders to work together as tolerance is very important in politics.

President and General Secretary of Dhaka North Unit A K M Rahmatullah, MP, and Sadeq Khan, and President and General Secretary of Dhaka South Unit Abul Hasnat and Shahe Alam Murad greeted the Prime Minister by presenting bouquets.

Party General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, International Affairs Secretary Faruk Khan, Agriculture Affairs Secretary Dr Abdur Razzak, Office Secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap and newly elected presidents and secretaries 49 thana and 13 union committees were also present among others.

Congratulating the new leaders, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Dhaka City has been divided into two parts as per a plan but the committees were constituted after overcoming many ups and downs because of mayhem created by BNP-Jamaat.

Sheikh Hasina urged the new presidents and secretaries to constitute full committees of the city units, thanas and unions through consultation with their predecessors. Strong organizational base is very important in Dhaka as country's main city, she said.

She highly appreciated the leaders and workers of Dhaka city Awami League for their active role in all democratic movements, particularly when the caretaker government barred her from entering the country in 2007.

"Grassroots workers always nourish an ideology, they protect the organization and Awami League is now a strong organization because of their dedicated role during the hard time," she said adding that as political party Awami League has sacrificed most for a nation.

Sheikh Hasina said the Awami League now stands on a firm footing as the party has gone through long struggle and huge sacrifice. Conspiracy hit the party time and again, but none could shake its foundation, she added.

Undoubtedly Awami League is a strong organization. But it needs to be revamped keeping pace with the changing socio-economic scenario, taste, demand and expectation of the people. She hoped that new leaders would be able to build up a new organization to build Bangladesh as a hunger and poverty free country.

Highlighting the country's present economic progress, the Prime Minister said the country had achieved 7 percent economic growth only during the period of Bangabandhu and it's the present Awami League government which could show the same achievement.

Per capita income of the people of every section has been increased while inflation remains under control. The country has achieved food autarky and the country has witnessed a tremendous and visible infrastructural development during the rule of Awami League, she said.

Acknowledging some sufferings of the city people, the Prime Minister said many problems particularly the traffic congestion was caused by increase of personal transports as people can afford those because of the improvement of their economic condition. "But we are not sitting idle, we are making constant effort to resolve the problem and ensure equal development of urban and rural areas," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said peaceful situation is crucial for sustainable development. Bangladesh could surely go to the 7 percent growth trajectory if there was no vandalism and destructive politics. Now Bangladesh is on the road to prosperity and by 2021 the country would be able to achieve middle income status before celebrating its golden jubilee of independence, she said.

Photo: Focus Bangla News