Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that international tenders for Padma Bridge would be floated by the end of the current month and work on the bridge would start soon using government’s own resources. “If we are elected in the next poll, we will complete the twin-track rail-and-road bridge at the shortest possible time,” she told a views-exchange meeting of Shariatpur District Awami League’s grassroots-level leaders at Ganobhaban on Saturday.
In proposed national budget for fiscal 2013-14, Finance Minister AMA Muhit proposed an amount of Tk 6,825 crore for the construction of the multipurpose ambitious bridge project. Earlier, the World Bank cancelled funding for the bridge for an alleged “conspiracy of corruption.”
Sheikh Hasina said the World Bank not just cancelled funding for the Padma Bridge during the tenure of her government. The global lending agency also took similar measures against six projects during the tenure of the previous government of Bangladesh Nationalist Party as well, she added.
Sheikh Hasina, who is also the chief of ruling Awami League, took a swipe at those who criticized the just proposed national budget for fiscal 2013-14 and said that “our budget must be ambitious as our government has taken up various ambitious schemes for the development of our country.”
She said: “We want our people to stand on their own feet and our nation to become self-depended in all fields and thus a self-respecting country in the eyes of the world, wisely utilizing all of our available resources.”
The prime minister reminded the local leaders of Awami League that a deep-rooted conspiracy is on in the country and the conspirators are extremely powerful and urged them to remain united in the face of any kind of provocation for the greater interest of democracy and the nation.
Sheikh Hasina reaffirmed that the next general election would be held under the parliamentary system of government for continuation of democracy in the country without any interruption.
“Power would be transferred from the one government to the next only through a democratic process in Bangladesh – not through any other means.”
The prime minister said her government is trying its best to hold a free and fair general election in the country as it believes in the power of people and their right to vote. We have already held as many as 5,645 elections since we took over power but none could raise any complaint, she claimed.
Sheikh Hasina said the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) proposed for discussions on their demand for a poll-time interim government in the Parliament a few days ago but it abruptly withdrew its proposal demonstrating that it was not interested at all in talks anymore.
In this connection, Sheikh Hasina said that she extended an invitation to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia for a political dialogue but the opposition leader issued her a 48-hour ultimatum that interestingly coincided with a massive gathering of Hefazat-e-Islam supported by her party BNP.
The prime minister said that the residents of the entire capital were terrified at the daylong rally that took place in the city’s busiest commercial district of Motijheel. Many of those who attended it cut trees, destroyed city’s street railings and even burned the holy Quran, she added.
Sheikh Hasina said that the only goal of the opposition BNP is to stop the trial of the war criminals but it would never succeed, regardless of how it tries to achieve its goal. The trial of the war criminals will be completed as it was one of our principal electoral promises we made to the nation, she said.
UNB adds, “They (intellectuals) say the government will have to depend on revenue collection to implement the budget. Of course, we’ve to depend on the revenue collection to build the country,” she said, adding: “Shall we move from door to door with beggars’ bowl in hand?”
Hasina said this type of people could get some benefits if the country remained dependent on begging. “They can hatch consultancies; they can earn money through various wrongdoings. They can get a job showing Bangladesh a poor country. It seems it is their main agenda.”
The Prime Minister said only for the time-befitting steps of the government, the country won the maritime boundary case with Myanmar.
“There is another dispute with India and the verdict of the dispute will be given in 2014. Only if the Awami League government returns to power, we’ll be able to win that case and retain our rights.” She said it is only almighty Allah who can give power and take it away. “If Allah wishes to feed our people properly, I’m sure He will give us another opportunity to be in power again.”
Without mentioning any name, Hasina said the government would punish the culprits who abused a picture of the changing of ‘gilaf’ of holy Kaba Sharif.
She requested the Awami League leaders and activists to strengthen the party at the grassroots level so that the party could return to power through the next general election.
-With The Independent input
