BSS :
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Saturday said the AL should be strengthened to uphold the Liberation War spirit as sustaining this spirit is a must to take Bangladesh to a dignified position.
He said this while addressing a discussion marking the 18th anniversary of Bangabandhu Adarsho Forum joining it virtually from his official residence in city.
Quader, also Road Transport and Bridges Minister, said under the dynamic and courageous leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, different mega projects are being implemented one after another in the country.
The construction work of Padma Bridge remain at the final stage while the country’s first metro-rail has become visible and construction work of Bangabandhu tunnel beneath the Karnaphuli river is progressing fast, he said.
He said works of different projects including Matarbari thermal power plant, Rooppur nuclear power plant, elevated expressway, four-lane highway and bus-rapid transit (BRT) are going ahead.
The country’s per capita income crossed $2200 while foreign exchange reserve crossed $46 billion, he added.
The minister said a quarter cannot witness the huge achievements and development rather a section of ‘intellectual politicians’ suffers from jealousy seeing the development carried out by Sheikh Hasina’s government and they see darkness in broad daylight.
Turning to coronavirus situation, Quader said the world is now fighting with coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and the developed countries are also witnessing severe troubles to face the impact of the pandemic.
He said infection and death rates have risen highly in the country while experts predicted if the current trend continues, the situation may worsen further.
Under the circumstances, protecting life and living of the people is the highest priority of the government.
“Now our highest priority is to constrain the infection rate and protect the distressed and working class people,” he said.
He said the government efforts in this challenging job will be successful at that time when the people will realize the gravity of the crisis and abide by health guidelines and remain conscious at the highest level.
Quader expressed deep shock and sorrow over the causalities from a fire in a factory at Rupganj in Narayanganj and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved families.
He said a probe body has already been formed to look into the incident. As per the probe report, stern actions would be taken against those who will be found guilty in the incident and none would be spared, he added.
Bangabandhu Adarsho Forum President and theater and cultural personality Ataur Rahman chaired the discussion while FBCCI Director Shomi Kaiser, poet Asim Saha and forum’s General Secretary Badal Chowhdury addressed it, among others.
