Dhaka, Dec 21 – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday said they will introduce a subway train service in the capital to end the nagging traffic congestion if Awami League returns to power through the upcoming general election.“We’ve started a (feasibility) study for the underground train service. We’ll introduce the subway train service throughout the city of Dhaka,” she said while addressing an election campaign rally at the Youth Club ground in Gulshan-2.
Dhaka North City unit of Awami League organised the rally as part of the party’s electioneering for the 11th parliamentary elections slated for December 30.
Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League President, said her government constructed flyovers in Dhaka and started work on the Metro Rail and elevated expressway in the city. “We’ve taken multipurpose plans to build a traffic congestion-free Dhaka city.”
She said they will construct flats for low-income people as slum dwellers are leading an inhuman life in the capital. “The government will construct multi-storey buildings for renting flats to them so that they can live there paying rents on daily, weekly or monthly basis.”
“Projects have already been taken. If we can come to power again, we’ll implement the projects so that the low-income people can live in a decent manner,” she added.
Listing different beautification projects, including Hatirjheel one, implemented by her government, the Prime Minister promised that they will create a 100-foot canal along the 300-foot road which will enhance the beauty of the capital city alongside contributing to easing traffic jam.
She also said they will take the city’s electricity lines and power substations underground for the sake of beautification of the capital.
Sheikh Hasina sought votes for AL electoral symbol ‘Boat’ for building the country as Sonar Bangla eradicating poverty and completing the ongoing mega projects, including the Padma Bridge, Nuclear Power Plant and Karnaphuli Tunnel ones.
Blasting BNP for unleashing violence in 2013, 2014 and 2015, she questioned how they who do not consider the people as human being seek votes for ‘Sheaf of Paddy. “Had they minimum sense of humanity, they couldn’t burned people alive through arson attacks,” she added.
The Prime Minister said BNP made the country the world champion five times in corruption. “Both sons of Khaleda Zia syphoned money off the country and their misdeed was detected abroad. However,
Awami League is not committing at least corruption opening a Hawa Bhaban after coming to power,” she said.
Voting for ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ means corruption, bomb attacks, creation of militants, money-laundering and embezzlement of orphan money, she said, adding, “Voting for ‘Boat’ means progress, development, independence, improvement of the people’s fate, and people’s welfare …so my appeal to you is that you’ll make us victorious casting your votes for ‘Boat’ and give us the opportunity to serve you,” she said.
Talking about the Gulshan Holey Artisan attack, Hasina said the government dealt with militants with an iron hand after the attack that killed a number of foreign nationals. “There’s no room for militancy and terrorism on the soil of Bangladesh.”
She urged parents, guardians and teachers to always remain well-informed about their children’s whereabouts and activities. “We’ll have to protect the country from militancy and drugs,” she added.
The AL president introduced her party candidates for eight constituencies under the Dhaka North city and Salma F Rahman, AL contender for Dhaka-1 at the programme.
AL Dhaka North city unit president AKM Rahmatullah presided over the rally while AL presidium members Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim and Advocate Sahara Khatun, Joint General Secretaries Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Abdur Rahman and Organising Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, among others, spoke on the occasion.
The eight AL candidates in Dhaka North city are Sahara Khatun for Dhaka-18, Akbar Hassain Pathan (film actor Faruk) for Dhaka-17, Elias Uddin Mollah for Dhaka-16, Kamal Ahmed Majumder for Dhaka-15, Aslamul Haque for Dhaka-14, Sadek Khan for Dhaka-13, Asaduzzaman Khan (Home Minister) for Dhaka-12 and AKM Rahmatullah for Dhaka-11. – UNB
