“We want to free Bangladesh from poverty. I request you all to make a list of poor and homeless people in your respective areas. We’ll build houses for them for free. They’re our citizens,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina, also the President of the ruling Awami League, said this while addressing the inaugural session of its 20th council at Suhrawardy Udyan.
Hasina said, “AL is an organisation of people. It’s our duty to ensure the welfare of people. There’ll be no poverty if we can ensure the welfare of people. It’s our commitment that there’ll be no poverty in the country.”
“We’ve brought the poverty rate down to 22.4 percent from 97 percent. Now ultra-poor people account for 12 percent… the per capita income will keep rising and Bangladesh will be free from poverty,” she added.
On the dedication of AL leaders and activists in its long journey, the party chief said, “Awami League faced adverse situations time and again. But, its grassroots leaders kept the organisation vibrant with their sacrifices and ignoring odds.”
Reaffirming her zero tolerance policy against terrorism, she said, “We’ve taken all measures against it. No one would be able to use the country’s land for terrorist acts. We wouldn’t let allow anyone to use our land to wage attack on any neighbouring countries.”
The Prime Minister went on saying “Our decision is that there’ll be no place for terrorism and militancy in Bangladesh. We’ll establish Bangladesh as a peaceful country in South Asia.” In her 40-minute speech, the Prime Minister highlighted the country’s development activities in various sectors, including health, education, ICT, health, agriculture, taken for the welfare of people.
“Our target is to strengthen the economy. We’ve taken massive activities to promote and help flourish the private sector. We’ve taken steps to build 100 economic zones for local and foreign investors for creating huge jobs,” she added.
About foreign policy, she said, “We want to maintain good relations with all… enmity to no one. We believe in this policy. In the light of the policy we want to maintain friendly relations at bilateral, regional and international levels.”
Hasina said, the government will ensure development communication system in every mode saying, “We’ll develop our air routes in such a way Bangladesh will be the first hub…the people of the East will go to the West, while western people go to the East.”
Earlier, the 20th council of the ruling Awami League started with the singing of national anthem around 10.07 am.
Sheikh Hasina arrived at the centre stage at 10:05 am and announced the inauguration at 10:13am after the presentation of the national anthem.
The announcement was followed by a cultural programme began with the presentation of this council’s theme song by a youthful ensemble.
Office secretary Abdul Mannan Khan read out a condolence motion which was followed by one-minute silence.
AL general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam presented the Report of General Secretary.
In his speech, Syed Ashraf said their party is now much stronger than any other time as conspiracies to annihilate it have gone in vain.
“Conspiracies had been hatched to annihilate Awami League. Thousands of its leaders were killed. But the efforts to destroy Awami League have failed. It had not been possible in the past to annihilate it and neither it would be possible in the future,” he said.
Awami League presidium member and convener of Reception Sub-committee Mohammad Nasim, former Chief Minister of Assam Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, former Chief Minister of Mizoram Zoramthanga, Communist Party of India (Marxist) Politburo Member Biman Basu, Education Minister of West Bengal and All India Trinamool Congress leader Partha Chaterjee, Italy’s Democratic Party leader Ugo Papi, Bhutanese Minister of Information and Communications Dina Nath Dungyel, Canadian Conservative Party leader Deepak Obhrai, Labour Party of Australia leader Hugh McDermott, Nepal Communist Party leader Dr Ram Sharma Mahat, Russian leader Sergey Zheleleznyak, Indian National Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Vice-President Vinay Prabhakar Sahasrabuddhe, among others, spoke at the council.
A total of 6,570 councilors and 6,570 delegates took part in the council. Leaders of other political parties and representatives of various professions also joined the inaugural session of the council.
Jatiya Party leaders Anisul Islam Mahmud and Ziauddin Bablu, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh (BDB) President Dr AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, Communist Party of Bangladesh President Mujahidul Islam Selim, Workers Party of Bangladesh President Rashed Khan Menon, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President Hasanul Haque Inu, 32-party alliance leader Barrister Nazmul Huda, Jasad (Rab) president ASM Abdur Rab, among others, were present as the representatives of different political parties at the AL council.
