HPM Sheikh Hasina for continuation of development regardless of the party in power

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today put emphasis on maintaining development spree to make Bangladesh a developed and prosperous country.

“Whichever party comes to power, it should keep up development spree to build Bangladesh a developed and prosperous country,” she said in her introductory speech at the dialogue between the 14-party alliance and 24 political parties that kicked off at Ganabhaban here this evening.

Highlighting her government’s tremendous successes in different fields, the prime minister said the country achieved 7.86 percent GDP growth and reduced inflation to 5.4 percent due to various steps of the government.

“We’ve able to bring down poverty rate to 21 percent from 41 percent and due to these successes, Bangladesh is now a role model of development in the world,” she said.

“This development has been possible as continuation of the government is maintained,” she added.

Sheikh Hasina said her government had declared the Charter for Change before the 2008 general elections. “We’ve been able to implement the charter by making massive socioeconomic development in the country over the last 10 years,” she said.

The prime minister said Bangladesh has graduated to a developing country from a least developed due to various steps of her government.

In this connection, Sheikh Hasina recalled that Bangladesh became a least developed country within three and a half years of the country’s independence due to farsighted leadership of Bangabandhu.

“The country would have been turned into a developing country within 10 years of independence, had Bangabandhu been alive,” she said.

The premier said her government resolved land boundary dispute with India as well as maritime boundary problem with India and Myanmar peacefully and maintaining good relations with them.

Noting her government’s Digital Bangladesh programme, she said the country conquered space by launching Bangabandhu-1 satellite into the orbit.

Sheikh Hasina referred to the brutal repression and torture on the Awami League leaders and workers after the 2001 polls.

“The BNP-Jamaat nexus unleashed terrorism in the country and inflicted torture on the AL leaders and workers from 2001-2005 in the way the Pakistani occupation forces did in 1971,” she said.

Earlier, the dialogue over the next elections between the 14-party and the 24 parties kicked off around 7:30 pm at the Banquet Hall of the Ganabhaban.

The leaders of the 24 parties including National Democratic Alliance President Barrister Nazmul Huda greeted the prime minister when she entered the Banquet Hall about 7:25 pm.