Govt working towards making Bangladesh economically self-reliant: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the government is working towards make Bangladesh economically self-dependent so that people can live a life of dignity.

"We're a victorious nation in the Liberation War. Why should a victorious nation move around begging to others and bowing its head down to others?..." she said while addressing a function arranged to distribute the Independence Award 2020.

She joined the function held at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city through video conferencing from her official residence Gono Bhaban.

Eight renowned personalities and one organisation received the 'Independence Award 2020,' the highest state honour given in recognition of their remarkable contribution to the nation.

On behalf of the PM, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque handed over the awards to the awardees and their relatives.

Hasina said Bangladesh has become a food-surplus country attaining self-sufficiency in food production. "Alongside ensuring food security, we're now working to ensure nutrition security." She also said the government has been working to fulfil every basic demand stated in the constitution.

Talking about Covid-19 pandemic, she said the government has undertaken efforts to protect people and their livelihoods, and accelerate the pace of economic development.

Hasina urged all to follow the health guidelines to protect themselves, saying that resurgence of Covid-19 infection is being seen in Europe.

She said the government has taken necessary steps to keep every district hospital ready to deal with a possible second wave of Covid-19 in the country.

The PM congratulated the award recipients saying that they have made outstanding contributions to their respective fields, including medical, education and culture.

The award recipients are Jute and Textiles Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi, Commander Abdur Rouf (posthumous), martyred intellectual and novelist Md Anwar Pasha (posthumous) and Azizur Rahman for Independence and Liberation War; Prof Dr Md Obaidul Kabir Chowdhury and Prof Dr AKMA Muqtadir for medical science; Kalipada Das and Ferdousi Mazumder for culture; and Bharateswari Homes, a boarding school for girls in Mirzapur of Tangail, for education.

Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam conducted the function and read out the citations of the Independence Award recipients with their brief life sketches.

Dr AKMA Muqtadir also spoke on the occasion.