Country will move forward again by combating coronavirus: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today reiterated her firm optimism that the country will advance again and the people will get rid of the ongoing crisis by combating the coronavirus.

"Though the coronavirus has temporarily halted the country's advancement, we hope the people will be free from it and we'll move forward again," she said while inaugurating the distribution and plantation of one crore saplings across the country marking the "Mujib Borsho" (Mujib Year).

Sheikh Hasina also inaugurated the National Tree Plantation Campaign 2020 through the same event -- held at her official Gono Bhaban residence premises -- this morning.

The prime minister said coronavirus is not a problem for Bangladesh alone, it is a worldwide problem. "We pray for all people across the globe so that they get rid of the pandemic," she said.

Talking about her imprisonment day today, Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League president, said today is a special day as the then caretaker government arrested her on this day in 2007 by filing false cases.

"I express my gratitude to the people of Bangladesh, expatriate Bangladeshis and the world leaders, as well as thank millions of leaders and workers of Awami League and its associate bodies for their protest against my imprisonment," she said.

She mentioned that Dhaka city Awami League collected 25 lakh signatures of the people demanding her release and submitted those to the caretaker government.

The premier said the caretaker government was forced to release her on June 11 in 2008 due to the protests of the people and pressure from national and international quarters.

Pointing out that working for the country and the nation is her responsibility, Sheikh Hasina said she learnt it from Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Sheikh Hasina also renewed her pledge to build a hunger-and-poverty-free Bangladesh as dreamt by the Father of the Nation.

Earlier, the prime minister launched the distribution and plantation of one crore saplings across the country by planting three trees -- 'chalta', 'tentul' and 'chhatiyan' -- on the Gono Bhaban premises.

Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Md Shahab Uddin, Prime Minister's Office Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Mian, Environment Secretary Ziaul Hasan and PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim were present on the occasion, among others.