Govt trying best to keep country's economy vibrant: HPM Sheikh Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said her government has been trying its best to keep the country's economy vibrant despite the world is going through an economic recession due to the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war.

"We have been able to transform Bangladesh into a developing country. One day this Bangladesh will be built as a developed and prosperous country," she said addressing a discussion virtually from her official Ganabhaban residence commemorating the death of her former political adviser Dr SA Malek.

Bangabandhu Parishad organised the discussion at Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib Auditorium of Bangladesh National Museum in the capital's Shahbagh.

The prime minister recalled the contribution of SA Malek to spread the ideology of Bangabandhu and the Liberation War spirit in a turbulent period after assassination of the Father of the Nation with most of his family members on 15 August in 1975.

"SA Malek is one of them who played a key role to put forth the ideology of Bangabandhu before the people," she said, adding that Dr Malek had played a great role in making the people familiar with the term of "Second Revolution" given by the Father of the Nation.

Sheikh Hasina, also president of Bangladesh Awami League, said she never thought that she would be the president of the party (Awami League) although she did politics from her school life.

"But, I had to take charge of the Awami League as the party made me its president in my absence through the council of 1981," she said.

Dr Malek and Mohammad Hanif played the most significant role in electing her as president of the Awami League while they made public opinion and took it to the party forum, she said.

The prime minister said she even scolded SA Malek for insisting her to be the president of the Awami League time and again.

Former Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor (VC) and Acting President of the Bangabandhu Parishad Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique presided over the function.

Senior journalist and Bangabandhu Parishad Presidium Member Ajit Kumar Sarker presented a keynote paper titled "Dr SA Malek: Courage Personified and Shaped by Bangabandhu's Ideals" at the function.

Presidium Members Dhaka University VC Professor Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman and former VC of Rajshahi University Prof Dr Md Abdul Khalek and son of SA Malek and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University's physician Sheikh Abdullah Al Mamun spoke, among others, at the discussion.