BNP resorting to falsehood about haor’s flood water: HPM Sheikh Hasina

"Fishes and other aquatic animals usually die when any area is affected by flood, flash flood or tidal surges and we're taking information why fishes and aquatic animals are dying in haor areas. But there are some people or "gyanpapi" who are habituated to spread propaganda on any issue" she said.

The premier said that people spread propaganda whether they are aware or don't aware about it. "They would continue to spread propaganda intentionally as it's their character," she said.

The prime minister said this while delivering her introductory speech at a meeting of the Awami League nomination board of local government election at her Ganabhaban residence on Monday evening.

Sheikh Hasina said the BNP is spreading propaganda that fishes and other aquatic animals are dying in flash flood-hit haor areas due to uranium that comes from India.

But the government, she said, sent Atomic Energy Commission experts to that area and the experts said they didn't find uranium in the haor water. Despite that the BNP is spreading propaganda through press conference, the premier said.

"What type of proof they have, I will tell them to come up with proof ... it's scientific issue and it will have to be proved scientifically and at laboratory," she said.

The premier added: "If you can prove this at lab then people will believe, otherwise people won't accept it ... they (BNP) are spreading propaganda about the matter unnecessarily."

Sheikh Hasina said that it is true that dams of haor have been cracked due to heavy rain and flash flood.

"We did not see such bad condition after forming government in 2009, but natural calamities can occur any time," she said.

She also mentioned that the government is not sitting idle with closed eyes.

The relief and disaster management ministry and all departments under it as well as the local administration are very active, the prime minister said.

"We have allocated 30 kg foodgrains and Taka 500 for each family every day so that they don't suffer," she said.

Ruling out signing agreement with Hefajat, the prime minister said the government didn't ink any deal with them. "There is no question of signing agreement with Hefazat," Sheikh Hasina said.

The prime minister said her government has given recognition to Qaumi madrasa education to make the country's education system inclusive and integrate the 14 lakh Qaumi madrasa students into mainstream of the education.

She said many people are spreading various propaganda about the issue but it has no justification. "It's my question to those who are spreading propaganda about the issue that what is the offence of 14 lakh Qaumi madrasa student and why would keep them away," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said, "As we were voted to power and I became the prime minister it is our responsibility to change the lot of every human being and we are performing that responsibility... there is no scope to create controversy about it

"The government has been working on making time-befitting the syllabus of Qaumi Madrasa education through coordination of its six education boards since 2009," she said.

The premier mentioned that the government is trying to bring the Qawmi education under a system.

She said that there are six separate boards for Qawmi madrasa and there syllabus is different and nobody looked after in the past that what education they are pursuing and what they are doing," she said.

She said 14 lakh students are studying in 75,000 madrasas under six Qawmi madrassa boards. "But nobody says what they are learning ... they are learning Arabic, Urdu and Persia, while some madrasas are providing computer science education to them," the prime minister said.

"That's why the government has taken initiatives to integrate Qawmi Madrasa education into the mainstream of the education. We took this steps so that they get quality education and standard jobs," she said.

While talking about the local government, the prime minister said the government has taken initiatives to strengthen democracy from grassroots level.

"We have implemented many programmes to reach the government services to the people's doorsteps ... the people of owner of the republic and we've ensured that ownership," she said.

The prime minister said the election is being held in the local government bodies with party symbols to strengthen the local government bodies. The elections were held in free, fair and neutral manner and many of our candidates were defeated in that elections, she said.

She also talked about special provision of the Early Marriage Prevention Law, saying this provision has been kept for considering the reality of the country. This provision also exists in USA, Britain and Australia, the premier said.

Sheikh Hasina also highlighted her government's success in socioeconomic development of the country. She said the government has been formulating budget to strengthen the rural economy.

"We have maintained GDP growth over seven precent in last seven years, and brought down inflation to five percent despite hike of the government salary," the prime minister said.