Said 'no' to Bill Clinton's request for gas sale: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said she would not hand over the country's assets to others for greed of power.
She was addressing a darbar of the Special Security Force (SSF) marking its 31st founding anniversary at the Prime Minister's Office.
Referring to formation of the government after the 2001 parliamentary elections, she said there was a notion that Bangladesh was floating on natural gas and it would have to be sold.
Several US companies had invested in Bangladesh for exploration of gas and they wanted to sell gas to India who also wanted to buy it, Hasina said.
“But I didn't give opinion for selling gas. I wanted to sell gas after keeping a reserve for 50 years. I can't sell gas before this period as the people have a right to use it.”
According to the PM, then US president Bill Clinton had requested her in this regard. “But I gave the same reply to him as the demand of the people would have to be met first.”
She said she had received the same proposal from the USA while visiting the country and had given the same reply.
“I'm the daughter of the Father of the Nation. I'll utter the same words what I said earlier. I can't hand over the assets of the country to others for greed of power.”
The premier directed SSF members to develop it as an ideal force with regards to discipline, loyalty and professionalism and hoped the force would be more efficient in discharging its duties.
The SSF would have to understand the importance of attaining higher discipline, honesty, responsibility and human qualities, she said.
SSF Director General Maj Gen Md Shafiqur Rahman, PM's Security Adviser Maj Gen Tarique Ahmed Siddique (retd), Principal Secretary Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury and chiefs of the three armed forces were present, among others.
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