Rural people is getting priority in development and it will continue: HPM Sheikh Hasina

"We have to keep in mind that the countrymen have kept confidence and trust in us and we are running the country for two consecutive tenures. We were also in power for five years at previous time. The whole world described the socioeconomic development that took place in Bangladesh as stunning," she said.

The premier said the country's development would be from the grassroots level. "Our uplift would be made from the grassroots stage ... the rural people are now getting more priority in development and it would continue," she said.

Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League president, was delivering her introductory speech at the adjourned joint meeting of Awami League Advisory Council and Central Working Committee at her official Ganabhaban residence here on Wednesday evening.

The prime minister said the politics is not for self, it's for the country and the people and their welfare.

"We want that there won't be a single person to remain homeless, hungry, illiterate and to suffer without (medical) treatment. We want to establish Bangladesh in such a way that it would advance on the world stage by keeping its head high," she said.

Highlighting Bangladesh's stunning success in socioeconomic development, the Awami League president said Bangladesh is now a role model of development in the entire world.

"We would take the country forward further and establish Bangladesh as a hunger and poverty free Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Bangabandhu," she said.

She said the country is witnessing development as the Awami League has sincerity towards the people. "Our goal is to do work for the people," she said.

Coming down heavily on the military dictators who ruled the country after the assassination of Bangabandhu, Sheikh Hasina said they did not take any initiative for the development and changing the lot of the people.

"Rather they were busy in making their own uplift ... they were engaged in changing their own fortune through looting and corruption," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the elements who grabbed power illegally after the assassination of Bangabandhu considered enjoyment of power as the biggest thing. "They were bloated into banana tree by amassing money and wealth through graft," she said.

The prime minister said, on the other hand, AL did not commit such misdeeds, rather it worked for the welfare of the people.

She said her government want to build Bangladesh as a peaceful nation in the world where there won't be any room for terrorism and militancy.

Putting emphasis on more public involvement in stamping out terrorism and militancy, the premier said evil activities like terrorism, militancy and drug addiction will have to be resisted by taking with the people.

"The peace and security for the people will have to be ensured by putting up a united resistance against evil activities like terrorism, militancy and drug addiction," she said.

Pointing out public mobilisation against terrorism and militancy, Sheikh Hasina said an awareness has been built up against these social vices.

"We have been able to contain militancy as we succeeded in creating awareness against militancy and it will have to be kept ongoing," she said.

Referring to unleashing mayhem and rampage by the BNP-Jamaat nexus before and after the last general elections as well as in 2015, Sheikh Hasina categorically said those killed people by arson attacks, pampered war criminals and committed corruption must be brought to justice.

Responding to the allegation of BNP high ups that government filed false cases against them, the premier clearly said that there was no false case filed against them.

"They killed hundreds of innocent people through arson attacks, they created anarchic situation across the country in the name of resisting elections, they vandalized schools, killed presiding officer and engineer and the trial of those who are involved in such killings must take place on the soil of Bangladesh,' she said.

In this connection she mentioned committing such crimes also is terrorism. "The trial of the BNP-Jamaat elements who are involved in must be held ... no false case was lodged against them," she added.

The Prime Minister also mentioned that these cases will continue in the courts.

She also said the trial of those who made war criminals ministers, handed over the national flag to them that was earned in exchange of the blood of millions, allowed them to do politics in Bangladesh must take place in the country one day. "This must be done," she added.

Replying to the BNP's claim that there is no democracy in the country, Sheikh Hasina said that it was very unfortunate to hear the word democracy from BNP men whose party took birth illegally through capturing power.

"Some people are very much vocal regarding democracy, who are they, their party was established after grabbing state power illegally, they contaminated the election process of the country ... it gives smile on my face whenever I hear the word democracy from them," she said.

Photo: Saiful Kallol