PM: Vote for AL to make Bangladesh prosperous

Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina on Friday urged the people to re-elect Awami League in the next general election, in order to make Bangladesh a prosperous and developed country that is free from hunger and poverty.

“I seek your votes for the boat to make the country a developed and prosperous one which will be free from hunger and poverty, and to celebrate the golden jubilee of our independence in a grand manner as dreamt by the Father of the Nation,” she said addressing a public rally at the Circuit House grounds in Mymensingh, reports UNB.

The rally was organized by the Mymensingh district and city units of the Awami League, to mark the inauguration of 101 development projects and the laying of foundation stones for 94 others by the prime minister. The projects are situated in various areas of four districts under Mymensingh division.

Mymensingh district Awami League President Advocate Jahirul Haque Khoka chaired the program.

Addressing the rally, the prime minister said she had no personal desire other than to serve the people of the country. “It is my duty to serve you (the people) and for that I seek your votes in the upcoming election. Please raise your hands and promise that you will make Awami League victorious, like on previous occasions.”

Awami League does not torture anybody when in power

Criticizing terrorism, militancy and corruption during the five-year tenure of the BNP-Jamaat government, Sheikh Hasina said the Awami League does not inflict torture on anybody when in power.

“BNP-Jamaat cadres tortured and raped many women of the Mymensingh district in the way the Pakistani occupation forces did in 1971,” she said, according to BSS.

The prime minister also mentioned that the BNP killed about 500 people and burnt 3,900 others through arson attacks to foil the general election in 2014. “They also torched thousands of vehicles, launches and trains in the name of their so-called movement.”

Sheikh Hasina added that the government had taken numerous development projects as the ruling party wanted to improve the quality of life of all citizens of Bangladesh. “We have taken up the Ashrayan Program, and are constructing cluster villages for rehabilitation of the homeless.”

She further said the party planned to reduce the poverty rate by 5-6% in the near future, and needed the cooperation of the people in this regard.

The prime minister also said the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway had been upgraded to a four-lane expressway under her government’s tenure, and urged the people to vote for Awami League to maintain the trend of development.

Briefly describing various development projects taken by the government for the people’s welfare, the prime minister said development would be inclusive of all communities. “No members of society will be left out of development.”

She added that the government had taken the Delta Plan 2100 to turn Bangladesh into a developed country, and Awami League needed to stay in power to execute the plan.

Awami League presidium members Matia Chowdhury and Dr Abdur Razzak, General Secretary Obaidul Quader, and Joint Secretary Dr Dipu Moni also spoke at the rally. Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and Jatiya Party Senior Co-Chairman Raushon Ershad was in attendance at the inauguration and foundation stone-laying program.

The development projects

Of the 101 development projects, 31 are in Mymensingh, 19 in Netrakona, six in Jamalpur, and 45 in Sherpur.

Among the projects for which foundation stones were laid, 44 are in Mymensingh, 17 in Netrakona, and 14 in Sherpur.

The mega projects include a proposed modern divisional city, offices of the divisional commissioner and range DIG, a divisional circuit house, the Mymensingh Secondary and Higher Education Board, Mymensingh FM Radio, Mymensingh Women Polytechnic Institute, Sheikh Hasina University in Netrakona, Netrakona Medical College, Netrakona Stadium, Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Science and Technology University in Jamalpur, Sheikh Hasina Composite Jute Textile Mill, Sheikh Hasina Textile Engineering College, Sheikh Russel Textile Institute, Bangabandhu Novo Theatre, a new embankment to protect the city from river erosion of the Brahmaputra, a divisional stadium, and construction of a bridge over the Brahmaputra River in Kewtakhali.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared Mymensingh as the eight administrative division of the country on October 13, 2015.