Will honour people’s trust: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday vowed to reciprocate the trust and confidence the people placed in her party by electing it for a third consecutive term.

“You’ve put your confidence and trust in me, you’ve voted for Awami League. I’ll surely uphold the values of that trust and confidence. We’ll take the country ahead towards further development and prosperity,” she said, after exchanging Eid greetings with a cross section of people at her official residence Gono Bhaban. 

Hasina said Bangladesh is making progress, and it will keep on doing so. “Defying all odds, we’ve been able to establish Bangladesh as a dignified nation in front of the whole world. Let this march towards advancement continue.”

The Awami League president said her government is working to ensure that Bangladesh is always treated with respect.  

The people’s living standard is improving, their income is increasing, and the poverty rate is declining, she said. “We want to establish Bangladesh as a developed and prosperous country as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. We’re working towards that direction.”

The prime minister said the month of August comes with pain and grief.  

Recalling the tragic incidents of August 15, 1975, when she lost her parents and most of the family members, Hasina said, “Keeping pain and grief in the heart and sacrificing everything, I’ve dedicated my life for the wellbeing of the people of Bangladesh and improving their fate.”

She said the souls of her parents will rest in peace if the people live well because “my father dedicated his life for the people of this country.”  

Sheikh Hasina said materialising the dream of her father is her main goal.

On Eid day, Gono Bhaban opened for visitors at 9:30am when people from all walks of life started coming after prayers and waited in a long queue to meet the prime minister.  

At the beginning, senior Awami League leaders and cabinet members greeted her. Then came freedom fighters, MPs, leaders of political parties, representatives of Awami League’s associate bodies, professional and trade bodies, and a cross section of people, including beggars and the destitute.

The prime minister also exchanged greetings with Supreme Court judges, senior civil and military officials and envoys of different countries.