Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday again urged people to vote for Awami League in the next general election to ensure food security.
“The overall condition of the people always improves while Awami League is in power,” she said, addressing a rally, organised by the Lalbagh Thana unit of AL, at Azimpur Girls School and College. Hasina alleged that BNP was hatching conspiracies to create anarchy in the country in the name of waging movements to realise its demand for a non-party caretaker government.
She further said that the only things that the main opposition party was able to give the people of Bangladesh were terrorism, killings and corruption. “They have two qualities – terrorism and killings,” she added.
On the other hand, AL curbed terrorism and killings by controlling law and order when it came to power, Hasina said.
Referring to the ultimatum issued by the BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, the Premier said there was no use in issuing an ultimatum. At the same time, she alleged that BNP was spreading lies about Operation Flash out that was carried out to disperse Hefazat-e-Islam members from the city on May 5-6.
She alleged that BNP-Jamaat and Hefazat wanted to make the country a militant state in the name of religion. “Those who set fire on the holy Quran cannot be the protectors of Islam,” she said.
AL leader Abul Hasnat chaired the rally.
Hasina, who is also the president of the ruling AL, said the country had achieved self-sufficiency in food under her government. “On the contrary, the nation experiences food insecurity when BNP runs the country,” she added.
The PM said the top priority of her government was food security and better living conditions for the people. This was in line with the sacrifices made by AL leaders and workers during the Liberation War for a happy and prosperous country, she added.
“We have a responsibility towards the country to make it developed and prosperous,” she said.
Recalling the massacre of her family, Hasina said, “I lost all my family members. I don’t have any more desire left. I just want to make Bangladesh a prosperous country and that is why you (people) should vote for AL in the next general elections in a bid to fulfil the dream of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.”
The PM also claimed that AL’s return to power would rid the country of corruption, hunger, poverty and militants.
Nationalising Azimpur Girls’ School and College, the Prime Minister said, “Nationalisation of this educational institute gladdens me. It’s a delightful day for me. My old school has become nationalised from today.”
Hasina said the present government was relentlessly trying to usher in development. But BNP is trying to destabilise the country by creating anarchy, she added.
Listing a number of development projects taken by the present government to address the problems of city dwellers, the Prime Minister said her government had been able to resolve the problems of power, gas and water, to a large extent.
Hasina claimed that many projects were implemented during the last five years. A number of flyovers were opened to cure the city of traffic snarls. The much-awaited Hanif Flyover will be opened soon, she added.
Agriculture minister Matia Chowdhury, AL joint general secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif, state minister for law justice and parliamentary affairs Quamrul Islam, AL lawmaker Mostafa Jalal Mahiuddin and AL leader Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, among others, also spoke at the meeting.
Earlier, the Prime minister inaugurated a nine-storey hostel, which was the name of her mother Sheikh Fazilatun Nessa Mujib. She also laid foundation of a series of development projects in Lalbagh area.
-With The Independent input
