Govt sincere in taking legal action: PM at JS

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday told parliament that she keeps watch on everything that is happening in the city and the country, although she moves with security protocol.

The premier said this in reply to a supplementary question from BNP MP Harunur Rashid from Chapainawabganj-3.

Harunur, in his query, urged the PM to visit different parts of Dhaka city without security protocol team to know in person what the young generation wants and what they are thinking.

In reply, Sheikh Hasina, also the Leader of the House, said: “Yes, it is right that I move with security protocol…But it’s wrong to say that I don’t know the condition of the city and the country.”

“We keep watch on what is happening [in the country],” she said.

“He [BNP MP Harun] told me I should oversee everything properly. But questions are raised when I give directives; they say, ‘Why does the prime minister have to do everything?’,” she said, adding that she should oversee everything as she took the responsibility of the country.

About the young generation, Hasina said the government is taking proper measures so that youths can lead a healthy life, shunning the path of drugs, violence and militancy.

In reply to a query from Opposition Chief Whip Moshiur Rahman Ranga (Rangpur-1), the premier told parliament that the government always remains sincere in taking legal measures against any activity that hurts religious sentiment and norms.

“Bangladesh is an independent, sovereign and secular country. The Awami League government is determined to uphold the spirit and values of Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity and other religions. The incumbent government always remains sincere in taking legal measures against any activity that hurts religious sentiment and norms,” she said in a scripted answer.

Ranga, in his question, asked the Prime Minister whether it was true that Motijheel Ideal School and College banned girls from wearing scarf in classrooms.

Sheikh Hasina said the education ministry in its investigation did not find authenticity of the allegation of banning wearing scarves by girl students in the classrooms.

“The governing body of the institute also didn’t take any decision over the ban on wearing scarves by girls,” she said.

In reply to a query from ruling Awami League MP Mahmud Us Samad Chowdhury from Sylhet-3, the PM informed the House that her government has taken plan to set up a technical school and college in each upazila.

Noting that the government is now preparing the country’s second perspective plan-2041, Sheikh Hasina said there are two core targets in the plan.

They are: making Bangladesh a developed country with over US$ 12,500 per capita income, and making poverty a matter of the distant past in the Sonar Bangla, she said while answering a question from AL lawmaker M Abdul Latif from Chattogram-11.

Responding to a query from Morshed Alam from Noakhali-2, the Prime Minister informed the House that the government has taken a project titled “Skills for employment investment programme” to create 1 lakh drivers so that they can be employed at home and abroad.

While replying to a query from Jatiya Party MP Fakhrul Imam from Mymensingh-8, Hasina told parliament that the government is intensively monitoring social media round the clock so that no individuals, groups and sections cannot hamper peace and order by spreading rumour and misleading information.