Resist militancy, terrorism and drug addiction: HPM Sheikh Hasina

"I call upon the people of all levels of society to put up resistance against terrorism, militancy and drug addiction ... these scourges are not our ways," she told a mammoth public rally at Faridpur on Wednesday afternoon.

Bangladesh Awami League, Faridpur district unit, organized the rally at Rajendra College playground here.

Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League president, said Islam never supports killing of innocent people and choosing the path of committing suicide.

She said those who went to the path of terrorism and militancy are tainting the image of the Muslims worldwide and polluting and defaming Islam. "So it's my appeal to the people of all spheres to take action against the misguided elements so that they shun this evil way," she said.

"Islam is the religion of peace, harmony and brotherhood and it never supports the killing of innocent people and choosing the path of committing suicide," she said.

The premier said parents, guardians, imams, law enforcement agencies and administration will have to stay alert so that children and students don't engage themselves in terrorism, militancy and drug addiction.

"You will have to see whether any student remains absent from school and college ... you will have to watch with whom they make friendship and move," she said.

In this connection, the prime minister said: "We want that children would pursue study and receive higher education ... we're providing scholarship alongside modern and technology-based education for this," she said.

Deputy Leader of the House and Senior Presidium Member of AL Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Commerce Minister and AL Advisory Council Member Tofail Ahmed, LGRD Minister Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, AL Presidium Members Kazi Zafarullah and Faruk Khan, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, among others, spoke at the rally.

Faridpur District AL President Advocate Subal Chandra Saha presided over the rally, while AL Central Joint Secretary Abdur Rahman conducted it.

Earlier, the prime minister opened and laid the foundation stones of 33 development schemes by unveiling their plaques from the meeting venue.

The prime minister again sought vote from the people to reelect the Awami League government to keep up the trend of development.

"Next election would be held in 2019 and I want your commitment and seek your vote for 'boat' (the election symbol of the Awami League) to continue the trend of uplift," she said.

The prime minister said Awami League means development and it always works for changing the lot of the people. "Awami League is a friend of the poor and works for their welfare," she said.

The AL chief said the Padma bank's people of the southern region were always neglected. "But the region witnessed development when the people cast vote for boat," she said, thanking the people for electing Awami League candidates in the 2008 and 2014 general elections.

Sheikh Hasina said the present government freed the nation from stigma by holding trial of war criminals and the killers of Bangabandhu. "None would be able to halt our advancement ... we would make Bangladesh a middle income country by 2021 and a developed one by 2041, Insha Allah," she said.

Pointing to the mayhem and atrocities unleashed by BNP-Jamaat nexus in 2013, 2014 and 2015, the prime minister said hurling petrol bombs is the politics of the BNP-Jamaat evil forces.

"They killed 508 people and injured 3036 others by arson attacks. They also burnt to death 24 members of law enforcement agencies," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the BNP leader had ordered these arson attacks. "Khaleda Zia let loose their terrorists to commit these heinous acts and minor children, pregnant women and schoolteachers were not spared from their crimes," she said.

The prime minister said Khaleda Zia announced at that time she won't return to her residence until the fall of the government. "But she was compelled to go back home by rubbing her nose on the ground when the people put up resistance against their destructive acts," she said.

The prime minister also narrated the BNP-Jamaat atrocities after the 2001 elections, saying that they established a reign of terror during the time.

Reiterating her government's pledge to decentralize power to provide more service for the people, Sheikh Hasina said Bangabandhu had upgraded all subdivisions to districts to decentralize power.

"Following his footprint, we have established Rangpur division by splitting Rajshahi division and set up Mymensingh division by dividing Dhaka division," she said.

"We would establish another division comprising five districts of greater Faridpur by further splitting Dhaka division ... we have such a plan to provide more services and create more employment for the people," she said.

The prime minister also spelled out her government's various successes in agriculture, education, health, food security, women empowerment and digitization.

Earlier, Sheikh Hasina inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of 33 development projects from the meeting venue.

The 20 projects inaugurated by the PM are Faridpur Deputy Commissioner's Office, Faridpur Medical College and Hospital, Palli Kabi Jasimuddin Sangrahashala, Faridpur Institute of Marine Technology, Shishu Academy, Deputy Inspector General's Office of Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, District Muktijoddha Complex Bhaban, Regional Passport Office, Faridpur 50-Megawatt Peaking Power Plant, Government Rajendra College Academic Cum Examination Hall, a 96-meter RCC bridge over Kumar river on Char Kamalapur Kheyaghat-Bilmamudpur School road in Sadar Upazila, Muktijoddha Complex Bhaban at Bhanga Upazila, Upgrading of Madhukhali Upazila Health Complex from 31 to 50 seats, Regional Election Office in Faridpur, BSTI Bhaban, Bhanga Thana Bhaban, Madhukhali Fire Service and Civil Defence Station, Development Project from Sadar Upazila to Rasulpur via Bakhunda GC and Charnikhurdi road, Munshidangi Community Clinic at Dikrichar union under Sadar upazila and 33/11 KV Harukandi Power Sub Station (20/26.66 MVA).

The foundation stones of schemes laid by Sheikh Hasina are Kumar river re-excavation, Technical Training Centre at Alfadanga, Office of Faridpur Superintendant of Police, Police Hospital, Police Officers' Mess, Saltha Technical School and College Academic Cum Administrative Building, Chandrapara Police Investigation Centre, Women Hostel of Government Sarada Sundari Women College, Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, 1500-seat Multipurpose Hall-room (constructed by Zila Parishad), Saltha Fire Service and Civil Defence Station and Sadarpur Fire Service and Civil Defence Station.