Dhaka – President Abdul Hamid on Wednesday appealed to the parties that boycotted the 10th parliamentary elections to engage in dialogue with the government to help flourish the country’s democracy.
He also appealed to such polls-boycotting parties to help build a consensus by shunning the path of confrontation and anarchy and to extend cooperation in enhancing the image of Bangladesh by leaving the company of communal and terrorist organisations.Making the appeal in his address at the inaugural session of the 10th parliament, the President said: “Please help democracy flourish through dialogue with the government. Please contribute towards the establishment of a tolerant democratic system by removing hatred, violence and confrontation from politics.”
He further said: “The politics of terrorism and hatred carried out in the name of movement for changing the election procedure cannot bring welfare to the country, society and economy. Rather, it plunges the political environment into darkness.”
President Abdul Hamid urged all irrespective of political parties, classes and professions for a collective initiative to forge consensus on fundamental issues.
“Peace and prosperity can’t sustain without national consensus. I would like to make a fervent appeal for a collective initiative to forge a consensus irrespective of political parties, classes and professions on fundamental issues like continuation of democracy, rule of law and sustained socio-economic growth,” he said.
In his 40-minute speech, the President said: “We shall have to advance Bangladesh farther on the path of peace, democracy, development and prosperity… have to extend our vision farther – beyond 2021 and towards 2050 – when we will be able to attain the glory of a developed and accomplished nation across the globe.”
He said: “All of us seek a secure, bustling, happy, beautiful and prosperous Bangladesh for the new generation. Alongside the government, the opposition also has an important role to play in building the country.
“It is saddening to note that the desired cooperation was not extended by all parties in this endeavour. Irresponsible conduct of some opposition political parties has repeatedly obstructed the development march of the nation.”
Mentioning that the brave sons presented an independent country at the cost of millions of life, Abdul Hamid said: “It is our solemn responsibility to expedite the growth of the country and advancement of the nation. The hardworking people of Bangladesh face many problems and hindrances.
“A nation that shed blood for language, sacrifices three million lives for freedom, stains the streets with blood for democracy, crosses difficult terrains with infinite patience, that nation of huge potentials shall surely be able to build a golden Bangla as dreamt by Bangabandhu through concerted and collective efforts…” he added.
The President urged the countrymen to be vigilant and alert so that the progress of democracy, attained at the cost of so many sacrifices, is not thwarted.
He said: “Artificial divisions and apprehensions may be generated from conspiracies to sabotage democracy as well as ill-efforts to hinder the trial of war criminals.”
“The 10th Jatiya Sangsad (parliament),” he said, “constituted through a free and impartial election held on January 5 shall be an ever-vigilant sentinel of democracy, rule of law and constitutional continuity.”
Abdul Hamid said that by re-electing this government, people have given them the mandate for building a Bangladesh in the light of the spirit of Liberation war, free from hunger, poverty, terrorism and communalism.
“I believe that the government will be able to sustain good governance and development in all spheres of national life in accordance with the aspirations of the people.”
He further said: “A fresh spirit has been infused in various spheres of national life after the assumption of offices by the newly formed government. I hope, multidimensional initiatives undertaken by the government in various areas will be further strengthened and expedited.
“I believe the government will maintain peace, discipline and stability in state and social life by eliminating militancy, terrorism and communalism.”
The President called for maintaining the present trend of advancement and prosperity through formulation and implementation of a long-term development strategy,
He said: “Bangladesh will be able to achieve the status of a middle-income country by 2021 where it will be possible to raise our per capita income from the present USD 1044 to USD 1500, rate of growth from the present 6.2 percent to 10 percent, and reduce the poverty rate from the present 26.4 percent to 13 percent.”
Abdul Hamid underscored the need for generating employment opportunities and enhancing civic facilities in the villages to curb the trend of migration from villages to town, saying that upazila headquarters and industrial centers should be swiftly upgraded to modern townships and satellite towns.
He said projects have already been undertaken for setting up of technical schools and vocational training schools in each upazila with the purpose of developing skilled manpower. The Madrasah education should be attuned to the needs of time, he added.
The President said there is a need for establishing an additional government school and college as well as a public or private university in each district. The government should provide encouragements to technological and scientific research.
He observed that “corruption has decreased over the past five years” due to qualitative changes brought in the field of prevention of corruption.
Mentioning that militancy has been dealt with iron hand during the previous five years, he said: “Bangladesh is today the safest and most peaceful habitat in South Asia.”
Abdul Hamid said that the impartial and pragmatic concepts presented by Bangladesh in the areas of bilateral, regional and multilateral diplomacy have been acknowledged and lauded in the international arena.
“Intensive participation of Bangladesh in the deliberations on climate change, international migration and above all post 2015 global development agenda has been widely acclaimed.”
Mentioning that unprecedented success have been achieved in the production of power and gas over the past five years, he said people have found relief from the unbearable pain of load-shedding.
“Bangladesh is advancing fast in building digital Bangladesh,” the President said, adding that Bangladesh is now a leading nation in South Asia on application of information technology in land administration, education, public administration, banking, healthcare services, trade and commerce, and the mass media.
He noted that Bangladesh has achieved unbelievable success in health, nutrition and food security indicators in recent times. Maternal and child mortality rates have gone down.
The President said visible progress has been made in desired economic uplift or growth as well as poverty alleviation through adoption and implementation of different programmes for reforming and developing the banking and financial sector.
“Huge successes have been achieved in enhancing agricultural production and its diversification, in agricultural research and its modernization,” he added. – UNB
