JATIYA SANGSAD, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged the people to stand in unison against the arson terrorists and decide whether they want a developed Bangladesh or a destroyed country.
"I want to know from the countrymen which Bangladesh they want - debris of destruction or a developed Bangladesh," she said while addressing the 25th and last session of the 11th Parliament.
The Prime Minister asked the countrymen whether they want to continue upgrading their living standard or not.
"If they want so, they have to send the Awami League to power again as it will be possible for the party. You have voted for the ‘Boat’ and only the symbol ‘Boat’ can ensure (your) developed life," she said, adding the BNP-Jamaat clique can only give destruction.
"They don't want the (country's) independence and the welfare of the people. This is the reality," she said.
She said her party will try their best to work for the people standing beside them.
The Premier said they will build a developed, prosperous and Smart Bangladesh by 2041.
"We want the country's advancement to be continued," she said.
She sought cooperation from the countrymen so that none can play ducks and drakes with their fate, urging the people to stand against the arsonists together.
"I call upon the countrymen to help the law enforcers to capture those who were involved in arson and criminal acts," she said.
She also asked the people to burn the hands which are out to torch vehicles.
"You have to do it collectively. It will be possible to reduce the criminal acts in such ways. There is nothing to fear because their number is very few," she said.
Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury chaired the session.
The Prime Minister said after seeing the video documentary on the mayhem carried out by the BNP on October 28 and 29 in the name movement to dislodge the Awami League government, she became emotional.
She said, during October 28 rampage, the BNP-Jamaat clique torched 77 vehicles including ambulances, killed a police constable by beating and chopping, injured scores of police and journalists alongside attacking hospitals that included Police Hospital in Rajarbagh where they set fire to three ambulances and 11 police motorbikes.
They also launched attacks of the residents of the Chief Justice and other judges, she added.
"What horrible scenes these are! It seems like they are not only burning people to death, but also want to destroy the country. --- the nation had witnessed their terrible face on October 28," said the Leader of the House.
The premier repeated her question which Bangladesh the countrymen want, saying: "Who will take side of this terrorists, militants and inhuman people? And who are talking about sitting with the beasts for talks?"
She said the animals have their own principal, but they (the BNP-Jamaat clique) have no principal.
"They have no humanity and they don't know anything except stealing, looting, corruption and criminal acts," she said.
The Premier went on saying that their leader military dictator Zia was involved in killing her parents and brothers while Khaleda and Tarique Zia had attempted time and again on her life and killed 21,000 leaders and activists of the Awami League.
She said there has been a conspiracy to kill her even abroad.
“Still I am being attacked time and again. Even attempt has been made (to kill me) not only inside the country but also in foreign land. …. Attempt has been made to kill me by hiring killers when I go abroad. It was done by Khaleda Zia’s son who stays in London and their terrorists,” she said.
"In which situation they want to take the country. The country is marching ahead as the democratic process has been continued since 2009. So, they are out to destroy that," she said.
The Prime Minister said they has been able to transform Bangladesh into a developing nation through the tireless efforts made by her government in the last 15 years.
"When the country is progressing ahead, the destruction is being carried out through attacking houses of the justices, police personnel, journalists and hospitals and ambulances," she said.
The BNP-Jamaat clique is saying they would stop holding the next general elections.
"They carried out the mayhem on October 28 to hinder holding the next election, dislodge me from the power. They also demanded my resignation," she said.
On the one hand, she said, they are taking the country towards prosperity, on the other hand, the BNP-Jamaat alliance are taking the country towards destruction through arson terrorism and conflicts.
Briefly describing her government’s measures for making Bangladesh a developing nation, the Premier said, "We are advancing economically. We have been able to transform the country into a developing nation by attaining development in the country's socio-economic and infrastructure sectors."
During her speech in the parliament, she also put forth a comparative statics about the development programmes carried out by the Awami League and BNP governments.
The Prime Minister said that economic growth is now 7.25 percent though the world is going through an economic meltdown due to wars and the Covid-19 pandemics while the economic growth during the last BNP regime was 5.40 percent.
The per capita income is now 2793 US dollars which was only 453 US dollars during the BNP regime, she said.
The Prime Minister said the present government has given budget of Taka 761885 crore which was of only 61000 crore during the period of BNP.
The foreign reserve was only 0.44 billion dollars during BNP regime which is now over 30 billion, she said, calling upon the countrymen not to worry over the reserve as it is usually to decline and rise.
About the electricity, she said electricity has reached every house across the country as per the government pledge.
She continued that the electricity production during the BNP regime was only 4300MW which has now increased o 28562MW.
The Prime Minister said the 11th Parliament had held 25 sessions in which 165 laws were enacted.
She said the parliament also held several special sessions marking the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, golden jubilee of the country's independence and 50 years of the parliament.
"We had been able to conduct the 11th Parliament successfully " she said, thanking all the members of parliament for this.
The premier also expressed her deep condolence at the deaths of lawmakers of this Parliament.
Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha