Anti-graft drive to continue: PM
Pledging to keep up the ongoing anti-graft campaign, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged the Anti-Corruption Commission to intensify its drives to bring all those involved in acquiring illegal wealth to justice.
“The ongoing drive against the corrupt elements will continue… I would like to warn everybody again that the corrupt, whoever they may be and however powerful they are, will not be spared,” she said.
The PM was addressing the nation, marking the first anniversary of her government.
She said the anti-graft campaign was required so that none could snatch the people’s rights. She asked the corrupt to rectify themselves immediately for their own good.
“I work for the people and I won’t hesitate to take any step to protect their interests.”
State-run BTV and other TV channels and Bangladesh Betar broadcast her address simultaneously.
The premier said that her government was spearheading a motivational campaign against corruption as people’s participation was a must to check graft. She said the social menace would automatically be reduced if people could be sensitised.
She said harsh drives were simultaneously underway to bring the corrupt to book. Initiatives have also been taken to widen the use of ICT to stamp out corruption in various sectors, she added.
Hasina said the ongoing drives against militancy, terrorism, and narcotics would continue, and the police and other law enforcement agencies achieved significant success in containing militancy.
In her 30-minute speech, she called upon the people to take a fresh vow to establish a non-communal “Sonar Bangladesh” free from hunger, poverty and illiteracy in the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
She said the government wanted to establish a peaceful society where there would be no hatred and conflict and the people of all religions, castes, and creeds would live in peace.
The PM’s address also touched on issues ranging from militancy and drugs to foreign relations, particularly with neighbours, the Rohingya crisis, BNP-Jamaat politics, poverty and social safety net, and campus situation.
“Religious leaders, along with the imams of mosques, have been imparted with training so that none can derail the youth through misinterpretation of the holy Islam,” she said.
Hasina said 650 model mosques were being built across the country under government initiative.
She said being a democratic political party, Awami League is always respectful to the constitution.
“We believe in the rule of law and we also believe that the people’s mandate is the only way to bring about any change in state power,” the PM said, adding that her government always welcomed any peaceful democratic movement.
She, however, said the government would not tolerate destructive activities over illogical demands and warned that recurrence of burning people to death and arson attacks carried out in the past by the BNP-Jamaat would never be allowed again on the soil of Bangladesh.
“We have taken every measures necessary to make parliament effective and the participation of the lawmakers from both the treasury and opposition benches makes the Jatiya Sangsad vibrant.”
The premier said the government activities were centered on the interests of the common people. She said she had full confidence in them.
Hasina said the hard-working common people of the country are always satisfied with little and the Father of the Nation sought throughout his life to establish their rights and bring a smile to their faces.
“Being his daughter, my only aim is to bring a smile to their face . . . keep faith in me and I want to be one of you.”
She said one year has passed after the formation of her government following the 11th parliamentary election and the government tried its best to give the people the highest services.
“We don’t claim cent percent success in all the sectors. But we can firmly say that there were no lapses in our endeavours. We will step forward learning from the previous mistakes and experiences.”
She said her government was entrusted with the task of running the country for consecutive terms since 2009 and they were running the government with a specific target.
“The target is to ensure economic emancipation for the people and establish the basic rights of all alongside improving their living standards.”
The premier said some “undesirable incidents” took place in one or two educational institutions last year. “But we want to say firmly that we didn’t spare anyone involved in the activities. Administrative and legal actions were taken against those involved in the incidents.”
She said some quarters, however, tried to gain benefit by creating anarchy and spreading rumours, but the government had taken prompt remedial measures against the misdeeds.
The PM urged all to always remain alert to such rumours.
She said, “Some valuable lives were lost in the disease despite all kinds of measures. I express deep sympathy to the bereaved families.”
The premier ordered the authorities concerned to take all-out measures to check spread of the aedes mosquitoes beforehand to prevent recurrence of the disease.
She also highlighted her government’s successes in different sectors, including agriculture, health, education, communication, aviation, ICT, women empowerment, tourism, power, sanitation, and sports.
Mentioning that Bangladesh’s economy was now on a strong foundation, she said small shocks could not be a barrier to the way of progress.
Hasina said Bangladesh has become one of the five countries in the world in the economic advancement index.
She said the government has formulated a 100-year “Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100” to attain the desired goal of facing the adverse impact of climate change.
The 7th five-year plan is being implemented incorporating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into it, while the work on formulating the 8th five-year plan has also started, the PM added.
She said there is a huge difference between today’s Bangladesh and its position 10 years back. “The living standards of the people have improved significantly and their purchasing capacity has increased to a great extent.”
On the relations with neighbouring countries, the PM said Bangladesh believes in moving ahead by maintaining good relations with its neghbouring countries and the world.
Hasina said Bangladesh wants to resolve bilateral disputes through dialogues. “This is not our weakness, rather a strategy. For that reason, we didn’t step into the trap despite the provocation from the Myanmar side.”
She said a case has been lodged with the International Court of Justice. “We hope that we will get a formula for permanently resolving the [Rohingya] issue”.
Referring to the celebration of the birth centenary of Father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the PM said the grand opening of the year-long programme would be held on March 17.
“We have already declared 2020-2021 as the ‘Mujib Borsho’. The programmes of the golden jubilee of the independence and birth centenary of the Father of the Nation will continue simultaneously.”
She said the celebration was not only a formality, its target was to infuse new strength into the national life and advance another step forward on the way to materialise the dream of the Father of the Nation.
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