Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed her firm optimism to build Bangladesh as a developed and prosperous country by 2041 and sought cooperation of the people to this end.
“Before the 2008 general elections we had pledged to establish Bangladesh as a middle income country by 2021. And this time, we have promised to turn Bangladesh into a developed and prosperous nation by 2041,” she said.
“I have firm belief that we could achieve the goal to build Bangladesh as a developed and prosperous country in the world Insha Allah and for this, we only want “doa” and cooperation of the countrymen,” she said.
The Prime Minister said this while talking to media after exchanging Eid greetings with different sections of people including party leaders and activists, professionals, judges and diplomats at her official Ganobhaban residence on the Eid-ul-Fitr day here.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh would not remain as a country plugged by hunger and poverty if her government runs the state smoothly. “We want to establish Bangladesh in such a way that the people of the country could move on the world stage by keeping their head high,” she said.
Extending her sincere greetings to the countrymen on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, Sheikh Hasina said her government is taking the country forward.
She said the poverty of the people is declining, while their purchasing capacity is increasing day by day due to various steps of the government.
Besides the capital, the Prime Minister said, the people at district, upazila and union levels did shopping till midnight in the Ramzan month without any trouble. “It has proved that the buying capacity of the people has raised and the people have celebrated the Eid with huge enthusiasm,” she said.
Referring to the government measures for unhindered movement of the home-bound people, Sheikh Hasina mentioned that her government made frantic efforts to ensure a hassle-free journey of the people during the Eid.
The Prime Minister said law and order situation in the country was under control and no untoward incident was happened during the Ramzan by the grace of Allah.
She said the markets and shopping mall remained open till early hours, and the people irrespective of males and females did shopping peacefully.
In this connection, Sheikh Hasina thanked all including the law enforcement agencies to create a beautiful atmosphere for celebration of the Eid.
The Prime Minister said her government has got an opportunity to serve the people after being elected in the voting. “After forming the government through elections, we are serving the people,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said her government has been able to cut poverty rate by one percent in the last six months. “The poverty rate was declined to 25 percent from 31 percent in 2009,” she said.
The Prime Minister said the aim of her government is to ensure a beautiful life of the people by improving their living standard. “We are striving with a goal to ensure better life of the people by freeing the country from the curse of poverty,” she said.
The gate of the Ganobhaban was opened for visitors at 9. 30 am when people from all walks of life started coming after their Eid prayers and waited in a long queue to meet the Prime Minister. On the occasion the big lawn of Gonobhaban was tastefully 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 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 resolve those problems.
Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, AL Presidium Members Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim and Advocate Sahara Khatun, General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, Law Minister Anisul Haque, Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu, AL Joint Secretary and former minister Dr Dipu Moni, central leader Dr Abdur Rzzak, MP, City AL General Secretary and Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya were present on the occasion, among others.
Later, the Prime Minister exchanged Eid greetings with judges of the Supreme Court, senior civil and military officials and diplomats at a separate programme on Gonobhaban lawn. Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain, Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, chiefs of the three services, ambassadors and high commissioners of different Muslim countries, America, Europe and SAARC countries joined the function.
PM’s Principal Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikdar, Press Secretary AKM Shameem Chowdhury and Special Assistant Mahbubul Hoque Shakil were also present on the occasion.
The Prime Minister entertained the guests and common people with sweetmeats, fruits, samosa, kebab, “semai” and tea.
