Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday sought the cooperation of all in continuing the trend of development in the country.
“I seek cooperation and blessings from people so that the trend of development we’ve started in the country could be maintained,” she said.
The Prime Minister said this while talking to journalists after exchange of eid greetings with the people of all strata, including party leaders and activists, professionals, judges and foreign diplomats at her official residence Ganabhaban.She also sought cooperation in establishing Bangladesh on the world stage as a prideful country so that the Bangalees could move ahead with their heads high. “I seek that blessings from you all.”
Sheikh Hasina said BNP-Jamaat had engaged their all-out strength during their 93-day hartal and blockade. “It’s true the country had suffered for that, but they couldn’t cause that much losses for which the country might have gone backward.”
But she admitted that the BNP-Jamaat caused losses to lives as they burnt people to death. “There is nothing dirtier or more heinous act like burning people to death. But the BNP-Jamaat committed such brutal acts,” she said.
The Prime Minister said the BNP-Jamaat had pushed the public life to uncertainty by unleashing destructive acts in the name of the movement.
Terming people as their main strength, Sheikh Hasina expressed her firm stance that no one would be able to harm the country if the people remain with the government.
Briefly describing government’s steps taken to ensure smooth and comfortable journeys for homebound people to celebrate Eid, she said the people could have gone home more comfortably had the BNP-Jamaat not unleashed mayhem during their movement.
Hasina also praised the role of the Railways Minister Mazibul Hoque and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader for their tireless efforts in this regard. “Our Railways Minister fell sick due to this hard work and got admitted to hospital.”
The Prime Minister said the government has taken all-out measures so that the people could celebrate their Eid by going home.
She, however, said roads have got damaged during monsoon and increased movement of the growing number of vehicles.
Sheikh Hasina said the people of the country have celebrated Eid in a festive mood and peacefully and safely this year. “They took Sehri after shopping till 1-2 am; and by the grace of Allah no accident happened.”
The Prime Minister said law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies worked sincerely and smoothly to this end. “For this I extend my sincere thanks to them,” she said.
The gate of the Ganobhaban was opened for visitors at 9. 30 am when people from all walks of life started arriving after their eid prayers and waited in a long queue to meet the Prime Minister. On the occasion, the big lawn of Ganabhaban was nicely decorated.
At the beginning, senior Awami League leaders and cabinet members greeted the Prime Minister by presenting her with bouquets.
Later, the Prime Minister, flanked by her son Sajib Wazed Joy, his wife Christine Overmire and PM’s daughter Saima Hossain Putul, senior party leaders, and cabinet members, exchanged greetings with the commoners.
Leaders of different political parties, parliament members, freedom fighters, leaders of associate bodies of Awami League, different professional and trade bodies as well as a cross-section of people, including beggars, destitute, male and females exchanged Eid greetings with the Prime Minister.
Like previous years, some of the visitors took the programme as an opportunity to draw attention of the top executive of the country to their woes and sufferings and sought her intervention and support to have those problems resolved.
AL Presidium Members Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Advocate Sahara Khatun and Satish Chandra Roy, General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, Law Minister Anisul Haque, Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Science and Technology Minister Architect Yeafesh Osman and PM’s Advisors HT Imam and Dr Moshiur Rahman, AL Joint Secretaries Mahbu-ul Alam Hanif, Dr Dipu Moni and Jahangir Kabir Nanak, central leaders Muhammad Faruk Khan, MP, and Dr Abdur Rzzak, MP were, among others, present on the occasion.
The Prime Minister exchanged eid greetings with judges of the Supreme Court, senior civil and military officials and diplomats at a separate programme on the Ganabhaban lawn.
Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, the chiefs of the three services, ambassadors and high commissioners of different Muslim countries, America, Europe and Saarc countries joined the function.- UNB
