A pro-Awami League group of citizens on Friday proposed that a title, Deshratna or ‘Jewel of the nation’, should be used before the name of prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
The proposal was made to use such attribution mandatory, at a civic reception at Suhrawardy Uddyan in Dhaka.
“From today onwards, ‘Deshratna’ has to be used compulsorily before the name of prime minister Sheikh Hasina. I am giving her the title on behalf of the people present here,” said Nagarik Committee president and writer Syed Shamsul Haque.
The people present, mostly AL activists and pro-AL citizens, welcomed the proposal with applause. Also, the ruling party’s front organisations earlier used Deshratna before the name of Sheikh Hasina, the AL president, in their posters and banners.
Friday’s reception was accorded to premier Hasina for sealing the Land Boundary Agreement deal with India, which was recently ratified by Indian parliament, and also for her achievements in national life.
Former captain of Bangladesh cricket team Akram Khan highlighted different activities of Sheikh Hasina in the field of sports and said the modernisation of the sports infrastructure took place with the help of the prime minister.
He said Bangaldesh managed to whitewash New Zealand and Pakistan, thanks to prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s help and support.
President of Sommilito Sangskritik Jot Nasir Uddin Yusuf said there was culture of fear and anxiety when Sheikh Hasina was on exile. “She returned home after overcoming it and brought culture of bravery with her. She created culture of justice by changing the culture of injustice,” he said.
Bangladesh Bank governor Atiur Rahman, widow of a martyr Shyamoli Nasreen Chowdhury, educationist Anupam Sen, and economist Kazi Khalikuzzaman also spoke on the occasion.
Source: Prothom Alo
