‘Various political incidents constantly shaking us all’
Emphasising that tolerance is the key to flourishing democracy, President Abdul Hamid on Wednesday said all political parties need to work together for the greater development of the country as well as the nation.
“Having differences of opinion among political parties in a democratic country is quite natural, but we’ve to work together for the greater welfare of the country as well as the nation,” he told a reception in Itna upazila.
A mass reception celebration committee organised the programme at Itna College ground in honour of President Abdul Hamid as the country’s celebrated son hails from Kishoreganj.
President Abdul Hamid’s wife Rashida Khanom was also present.
The President said the key to flourishing democracy is to show tolerance to different opinions, mutual respect as well as to strengthen the democratic institutions. “Our responsibility is to expedite the advancement of democracy and make it more meaningful by exercising democratic rules and norms.”
Observing that he was elected President of the country at a difficult time, Hamid said, “Various political incidents are constantly shaking us all. Pray for me so that I can perform my duties and responsibilities bestowed upon me properly with dignity at this difficult time of the country.”
Hamid went on: “I’ve little hesitation to tell you that I have never consciously felicitated any injustice … I was always concerned about the people of my area and tried to work for them. You’re my last resort. I want to spend the rest of life with you…I want to see a happy, prosperous and golden Bangladesh of Bangabandhu” he said.
Observing that the people of the other parts of the country have no clear idea about haor area, the President said, “I’ve tried to make the area familiar to all… On various occasions in the past I brought foreign delegations, ministers, high government officials to the area with a view to giving them idea about the area. I put in my all-out efforts to have the haor area in development plan in a different manner for its geographical reason.”
Mentioning that many works have been done in many sectors, including communications systems, while many more underway in the haor area, the President said, “It indeed becomes a tough job to implement larger development plants in the haor areas due to its geographical location. Despite that, we should continue the efforts. I’m an optimistic person and never give up hope. No doubt, there’ll be gradual infrastructural development in this haor area.
Making a flashback, the President said, “Appearing before you today, many things of the past are crossing through my mind. I was born in this haor area… I and the people of the haor area connected with the umbilical cord. I have passed by a long part of life in this haor area …I had roamed thorugh all villages and unions of Itna, Mithamoin and Astragram. I had tried to be there with the people of the haor area in their well and woes.”
Hamid continued: “The waves of haor still shake my existence. I become nostalgic when I think how many villages were destroyed and how many created in the haor.”
The President urged the well-off section of the haor area to extend their helping hands for the common people, especially the neglected and deprived ones.
“Kishoreganj, surrounded by Haor and River, is geographically backward. So, we all have to cope with the nature. Everyone of the district has to contribute from one’s respective position,” he added.
Expressing gratitude to the organisers of the reception, Abdul Hamid said, “I’ll be with you and work for the country as long as I’m live. Personally, I have no desire to get anything as your love and affection is the best gift for me.”
Mentioning that his door was always open when he was the deputy speaker, deputy leader of the opposition and the Speaker, Abdul Hamid said, “As President my activities are now strictly disciplined. It’s not possible for me to meet anyone anytime as in the past if I wish to. Even then, I’ll advise you to communicate with me if anyone needs to meet me. I’ll try to meet you managing time.”
Afzal Hossain, MP and Rezwan Ahmed Towfiq MP, among others, spoke at the function held with Mass Reception Celebration Committee convener Samoresh Roy in the chair.
Source: UNB Connect
