Awami League was founded to serve the people: HPM Sheikh Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday said that the fate of the country’s people will change only if the Bangladesh Awami League remains in power.

‘People’s fate changes only if there is Awami League (in power),’ she said while delivering her address as the chair at a discussion meeting organized by the AL on the occasion of its 74th founding anniversary in the city’s Bangabandhu International Conference Center.

Sheikh Hasina, also the President of the ruling party AL, said, ‘AL was founded by the people, for the people and to serve the people -it is the motto of AL.’

It is a proven fact that the people benefit when AL remains in government, and then the people’s fate also changes, she said, adding: ‘As people have voted for the boat, changes (of fate) of people have been possible today.’

Reiterating her stance to let no one play ducks and drakes with Bangladesh, she said: ‘I know there are many plots, conspiracies.’

AL general secretary and road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader, party’s advisory council member Tofail Ahmed, Presidium members Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Abdur Rahman, joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, organizing secretaries Advocate Afzal Hossain and Shafiul Alam Nadel, health and family welfare secretary Dr Rokeya Sultana, central working committee member Begum Akhter Jahan, Dhaka south city unit President Abu Ahmed Mannafi and Dhaka north city unit President Bazlur Rahman, also spoke.

AL publicity and publication secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap and his deputy Syed Abdul Awal Shameem moderated the discussion.

Bangladesh Awami League was formed on this day in 1949, which later transformed into the biggest political party of the country to lead struggles for freedom, the War of Liberation and all democratic movements.

Sheikh Hasina said Awami League was established to achieve economic, political, social and cultural emancipation of the people of the country. ‘Change would never have happened if AL didn’t come to power. If there is AL in power, people’s fate will change only,’ she said.

The Prime Minister renewed her vows to provide a house to each homeless person, saying, 'No one will be landless in Bangladesh, no one will be homeless.’

In this regard, she also said that her government is providing 30 types of free medicines through community clinics, and even free insulin has now been started. ‘That means, we are fulfilling each basic need of people such as food, clothing, shelter and education.’

The head of government laid emphasis on the continuation of boosting production, saying, ‘We need to increase our capacity economically side by side with the continuation of increasing the literacy enrollment rates.’

Referring to the changed global situation rendered by the Covid-19, Ukraine-Russia war and sanction-counter sanction, she said, ‘(people of the country) are going through a tough time, I know it. We’re trying hard to alleviate the sufferings of the people.’

Sheikh Hasina urged the country’s rich people to look after those who are a little poor around them.

‘None shall live unhealthily. We will provide everyone with a beautiful home and a beautiful life,’ she said, adding that this will be their promise on the founding anniversary of AL.

‘We’ve come a long way in realizing the dream of Father of the Nation and we will realize it,’ referring to the status of a developing nation that is expected to be fully implemented by 2026.

Earlier in the morning, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid tributes to Bangladesh’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing a wreath at the portrait of the Father of the Nation at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi-32 this morning.

After laying the wreath, the prime minister stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of Bangabandhu.

Later, flanked by senior party leaders, Sheikh Hasina, also President of the Awami League, paid tributes to Bangabandhu by placing another wreath at the portrait of the Father of the Nation on behalf of her party.

Sheikh Hasina along with AL general secretary Obaidul Quader inaugurated the day’s programme by hoisting the national and party flags and releasing pigeons and balloons.

The prime minister vowed to build a happy, prosperous and Smart Bangladesh by changing the fate of the countrymen.

‘Let’s take an oath on Awami League’s founding anniversary occasion to build a happy, prosperous and Smart Bangladesh by changing the fate of the countrymen as dreamt by the Father of the Nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,’ she said.

She made the remarks after paying homage to Bangladesh’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

She urged the countrymen and her party leaders and activists to remain alert about the terrorist organisations BNP and Jamaat as they are out to destroy Bangladesh.

‘BNP-Jamaat does not believe in the independence of the country. They will destroy the country. So, I urge you all to remain alert against the parties,’ she said.

Outlining the massive socio-economic development of the country, she said, ‘The fortune of the countrymen is changed whenever Awami League is in power.’

She said the countrymen voted the AL to power by giving their votes to its election symbol ‘Boat’ in the 2008, 2014 and 2018 elections and the AL has made massive developments in Bangladesh in the last 14 and a half years since 2009.

‘During the period of 2009-2023, we have reduced poverty rate to 18 percent from 41 percent while hardcore poverty rate decreased to five percent from over 25 percent,’ she said.

The literacy rate has increased while the mortality rate of the mother and children has decreased and the life expectancy rate of the countrymen has also increased, she said.

She continued that the AL has made the country self-sufficient in food production, reached electricity and healthcare services at every doorstep, ensured socio-economic advancement at the grassroots level, turned the country into a Digital Bangladesh and reached internet connection in the rural areas.

‘The country will be developed further if the Awami League stays in power. The AL will transform the country into a Smart Bangladesh by 2041,’ she said.

Bangladesh has been playing a pivotal role in every sector including agriculture, science and health and thus achieved dignity on the world stage.

‘The world which earlier showed sympathy to Bangladesh, now honours Bangladesh. This honour was achieved by the Awami League,’ she said.

She said Bangladesh has become a role model for development by constructing the Padma Bridge with its own finance.

She said the AL has been struggling for establishing people’s rights since its inception on June 23 in 1949.

‘Awami League is the only party which thinks for the welfare of the people,’ she said.