Discharge duties sincerely

Yesterday was the last working day of the current tenure of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. On the occasion, the premier addressed officials and employees of the Prime Minister's Office at the PMO in the afternoon.

“I feel proud to be the daughter of the Father of the Nation… I don't think about how much I will enjoy the post [of prime minister], but rather… how I can engage myself in people's welfare,” she said.

Hasina termed the PMO an important place and reminded the public servants about their responsibilities.

“Whether I stay [in power] or not, you will discharge your duties with utmost sincerity as you're public servants,” she said. “Your salary and allowances come from the taxes paid by people. It's your responsibility to serve them…”

In an emotion-choked voice, she said, “I don't consider myself the premier… I perform my responsibilities as my father's daughter. I got the responsibility of premiership and through it, I got the scope to work for the country's welfare … it's very important to me.”

“We've completed many development works as we stayed in power for 10 years at a stretch. Many are still pending… if people vote for us, we will be able to return to power and complete the work.”

Mentioning the country's socioeconomic development including increasing salary of government employees, she said, “We worked with you over the last 10 years. We are temporary [in office]. But you are permanent. We are elected to power for five years.”

“I'm fortunate that we came to power for the second time. Our development projects are visible now.”

She said her government's aim is to further improve people's living standard. “For this, in our election manifesto, we have declared to build every village as a town.”

“We will construct flats for slum-dwellers so everyone can lead a better life,” she added.

The premier expressed her determination to build Bangladesh in the non-communal spirit where there will be no difference between the rich and poor.

At the end of her speech, the prime minister recited from poet Sukanta Bhattacharya's “Chharpatra”.

She recited, “Choley jabo, tobu aaj jatakkhan dehe achey pran, pranponey prithibir sorabo janjal… e bishwoke shishur basjoggya kore jabo ami” (I'll leave, but I'll clear the odds with all my efforts for as long as I live. I'll make the earth liveable for children).

Later, the premier visited a terracotta mural set up on the wall of the PMO main gate, sculpted by Muhammad Arifuzzaman Nur Nabi.

PM's Principal Secretary Md Nojibur Rahman moderated the event where her Political Affairs Adviser HT Imam, PMO Principal Coordinator on SDG Abul Kalam Azad, Military Secretary Maj Gen Mia Mohammad Zainul Abedin, PMO Secretary Sajjadul Hassan and Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim spoke.

PMO Director General Begum Nasirn Afroz, Special Security Force DG Maj Gen Mujibur Rahman, PMO Protocol Officer Khurshid-ul-Alam and Assistant Director Mokbul Hossain also addressed the event.