UNB, Dashiarchhara :
Terming former enclave dwellers as the sons, citizens and near and dear ones of Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina here on Thursday assured them that her government would do whatever necessary for their overall welfare.
“The night of sorrow is over, and you [ex-enclave dwellers] have marched towards the path enlightened with new sunlight. Your march forward will continue…May your life become beautiful and successful,” she said.
The Prime Minister was addressing a civic gathering at former Indian enclave Dashiarchhara under Fulbari Upazila. It is Sheikh Hasina’s first visit to a former enclave as head of government after the historic enclave swap on the midnight of August 31this year.
Before her address, the Prime Minister created a history by inaugurating 643 power connections to households in Dashiarchhara, the erstwhile largest enclave, to former enclaves in Nilphamari and Panchagarh districts. She also distributed five solar home systems among the residents of Dashiarchhara.
Highlighting various steps of her government for the betterment of the former enclaves dwellers, Hasina said, “You had to pass a long time amid deprivation and pains, but those days are gone as you’re now one of us and our dear ones.”
Sheikh Hasina, also the chief of the ruling Awami League, said her government has taken various steps and is implementing various projects for ensuring the overall development of the enclave dwellers.
“So much time has already elapsed. We’re very much sincere on how to address your long deprivation piled up over the years…we’ve been working tirelessly so that you people get a better life,” she said.
After the assassination of Father of the Nation with most of his family members in 1975, the Prime Minister alleged, military rulers Ziaur Rahman and HM Ershad, and then Khaleda Zia did not take any steps or dared not to discuss with India about the implementation of the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA).
After assuming office in 1996 after long 21 years, Hasina said, it was her government which took initiatives to put an end to the longstanding sufferings of the enclave people through implementing the LBA.
Referring to the exchange of the instruments on LBA during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh in June last, Hasina said it was then ensured that the former enclave dwellers will no more be called or remain as enclave dwellers, rather they are the members of a state.
“Not only in Dashiarchhara, but also all the former enclave dwellers of Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Panchagarh and Nilphamari are no longer enclave dwellers. I have come to Fulbari and you’re a bunch of newly blossomed flowers that we’ve gotten. You’re our people and our part and the 68-year long deprivation has gone,” Hasina told her audience.
The Prime Minister extended again her sincere thanks to the Modi government, each and every member of Indian parliament for casting their votes unanimously in favour of the Bill on LBA as well as the governments of West Bengal, Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya and Manipur.
Listing various measures for the enclave people, she said five temporary police centers have already been set up in the former enclaves to avoid any untoward incident, while work is underway to set up three government primary schools and community clinics at the former enclaves alongside enlisting those people under various projects and social safety nets.
Noting that once Kurigram was regarded as a pocket of ‘Monga’ or ‘Kuiragram’, Hasina said the word ‘Monga’ has disappeared since her previous government assumed office in 2009.
Mentioning that the present power generation capacity of the country now hit 14,000 MW with the country’s 75 percent people brought under power coverage, the Prime Minister said, “Insha Allah that day is not far away when we’ll lit the light in every household.”
The Prime Minister also renewed her firm resolve to build a mid-income country by 2021 and a developed one by 2041. “Each and every people of Bangladesh will get a better life while Bangladesh will move forward to global arena keeping pace with other countries,” she added.
PM’s Power and Energy Adviser Dr Tawfique-e-Elahi Chowdhury, Opposition Chief Whip Md Tajul Islam Chowdhury, PM’s Principal Secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad, local AL leader Golam Rabbani Sarker also spoke on the occasion. Hoimanti Shukla described the feelings on behalf of the former enclave dwellers. Deputy Commissioner Khan Md Nurul Amin gave the address of welcome.
Terming former enclave dwellers as the sons, citizens and near and dear ones of Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina here on Thursday assured them that her government would do whatever necessary for their overall welfare.
“The night of sorrow is over, and you [ex-enclave dwellers] have marched towards the path enlightened with new sunlight. Your march forward will continue…May your life become beautiful and successful,” she said.
The Prime Minister was addressing a civic gathering at former Indian enclave Dashiarchhara under Fulbari Upazila. It is Sheikh Hasina’s first visit to a former enclave as head of government after the historic enclave swap on the midnight of August 31this year.
Before her address, the Prime Minister created a history by inaugurating 643 power connections to households in Dashiarchhara, the erstwhile largest enclave, to former enclaves in Nilphamari and Panchagarh districts. She also distributed five solar home systems among the residents of Dashiarchhara.
Highlighting various steps of her government for the betterment of the former enclaves dwellers, Hasina said, “You had to pass a long time amid deprivation and pains, but those days are gone as you’re now one of us and our dear ones.”
Sheikh Hasina, also the chief of the ruling Awami League, said her government has taken various steps and is implementing various projects for ensuring the overall development of the enclave dwellers.
“So much time has already elapsed. We’re very much sincere on how to address your long deprivation piled up over the years…we’ve been working tirelessly so that you people get a better life,” she said.
After the assassination of Father of the Nation with most of his family members in 1975, the Prime Minister alleged, military rulers Ziaur Rahman and HM Ershad, and then Khaleda Zia did not take any steps or dared not to discuss with India about the implementation of the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA).
After assuming office in 1996 after long 21 years, Hasina said, it was her government which took initiatives to put an end to the longstanding sufferings of the enclave people through implementing the LBA.
Referring to the exchange of the instruments on LBA during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh in June last, Hasina said it was then ensured that the former enclave dwellers will no more be called or remain as enclave dwellers, rather they are the members of a state.
“Not only in Dashiarchhara, but also all the former enclave dwellers of Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Panchagarh and Nilphamari are no longer enclave dwellers. I have come to Fulbari and you’re a bunch of newly blossomed flowers that we’ve gotten. You’re our people and our part and the 68-year long deprivation has gone,” Hasina told her audience.
The Prime Minister extended again her sincere thanks to the Modi government, each and every member of Indian parliament for casting their votes unanimously in favour of the Bill on LBA as well as the governments of West Bengal, Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya and Manipur.
Listing various measures for the enclave people, she said five temporary police centers have already been set up in the former enclaves to avoid any untoward incident, while work is underway to set up three government primary schools and community clinics at the former enclaves alongside enlisting those people under various projects and social safety nets.
Noting that once Kurigram was regarded as a pocket of ‘Monga’ or ‘Kuiragram’, Hasina said the word ‘Monga’ has disappeared since her previous government assumed office in 2009.
Mentioning that the present power generation capacity of the country now hit 14,000 MW with the country’s 75 percent people brought under power coverage, the Prime Minister said, “Insha Allah that day is not far away when we’ll lit the light in every household.”
The Prime Minister also renewed her firm resolve to build a mid-income country by 2021 and a developed one by 2041. “Each and every people of Bangladesh will get a better life while Bangladesh will move forward to global arena keeping pace with other countries,” she added.
PM’s Power and Energy Adviser Dr Tawfique-e-Elahi Chowdhury, Opposition Chief Whip Md Tajul Islam Chowdhury, PM’s Principal Secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad, local AL leader Golam Rabbani Sarker also spoke on the occasion. Hoimanti Shukla described the feelings on behalf of the former enclave dwellers. Deputy Commissioner Khan Md Nurul Amin gave the address of welcome.
