The prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday expected constructive opinion and judgment of media about the activities of her government saying wholesale criticism only helps the anti-liberation forces with which her government is confronting at every step.
‘Criticism will help us to stand corrected. But I expect that you will not do anything which will strengthen the hands of the anti-liberation forces who even didn’t want our nation’s freedom,’ she said.
The prime minister said this in her inaugural remarks at a gathering of editors, columnists, writers and participants of television talk-show programmes at Ganabhaban, reports Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha.
Sheikh Hasina invited them to her official residence to exchange greetings on the occasion of Bengali New year 1422.
‘We want to move the country forward. I want your cooperation in this regard, and it’s very important for us. Of course, you will criticize our lapses and flaws. But, it should not be for wielding the anti-liberation force to bark against us,’ she said.
Sheikh Hasina said her government has come to power to serve people, not to make own fortunes. The government has targeted 2021 as it marks the birth centenary of Bangabandhu and Golden Jubilee of the Independence, she said adding ‘By this time we want to make Bangladesh as a middle income country.’
The prime minister said the present government has only three years and nine months time in hand. So time is very short but there are many works to do. All development works should be taken to a particular stage before the next general election slated for 2019, she said.
Sheikh Hasina said her government was confronting so many obstacles created by the anti-liberation forces as it has initiated for trial of the war criminals. She said after brutal killing of Bangabandhu, the country was virtually went under the control of the anti-liberation forces which led the nation to pass a very bad time for 21 years.
‘But, she said, we have to always remember that we are a victorious nation. So we have to go ahead with the spirit of the War of Liberation. We have earned independence through liberation war. So whatever challenge anybody gives us, we will overcome it at any cost to go ahead,’ she said.
Sheikh Hasina said, the works we have started including the trial of the war criminals must be completed. Two verdicts have been implemented and we hope that we would be able to complete the others defying all obstacles, she said.
Information minister Hasanul Haq Inu, Dhaka University vice-chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddiqui, academician Anisuzzaman, litterateur Selina Hossain, daily Samakal editor Golam Sarwar, among others, attended the function while PM’s media adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury gave welcome address.
Terming honesty as the main strength of her government, prime minister Sheikh Hasina said, a vested quarter tried to stain our image over the Padma Bridge issue. We have accepted the challenge and decided to construct the bridge with our own resources.
She said the World Bank suspended financing of the Padma Bridge as they thought that we will not be able to go ahead without their money. But we have proved their perception wrong. The Padma Bridge would be an extraordinary achievement for which people of Bangladesh can feel proud, she said.
Source: New Age