We don't want any bloodshed

Seeking vote for the Awami League in the next general election for the continuation of development, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said her party does not want to see any bloodshed in the country.

"We don't want to see any bloodshed in Bangladesh. Bangladesh will be a developed and prosperous country ... it'll march forward," she said.

The PM was speaking at a public rally at Jessore Eidgah Maidan. Before that, she laid the foundation stones of 27 development projects.

Chaired by district AL President Shahidul Islam Milon, the rally was addressed, among others, by AL Presidium Member Pijush Kanti Bhattacharya, Dipu Moni and Kazi Nabil Ahmed, MP.

Hasina, also the ruling AL president, said the way the voters gave their mandates in favour of AL-nominated candidates in the last general election; the same way they should choose them in the next national election.

"Please, give the chance to serve you again by casting your votes for the AL candidates as you did in the past."

Criticising the BNP-Jamaat, the premier said whenever the AL comes to power, people enjoy peace and security. "We want peace and development in the country and that is our prime task."

The government has relentlessly been working in a planned way to ensure all the opportunities for every citizen of the country, the PM said.

Coming down heavily on the BNP-led government for its misrule, the PM said those who had taken the country back in all major sectors in the past could give nothing to the nation in the future.

She also alleged that their job was only to loot public money and burn men in front of their wives and daughters in front of their mothers.

Hasina said those who committed such crimes could not do anything for the development of the country and the welfare of its people.

Elaborating the various development projects she inaugurated yesterday, she said these are her gifts for the people of Jessore. "The people of the entire country will get the benefits of development as long as her party is in power."

The government is setting up 100 economic zones in the country where there would be huge investments, strengthening the national economy, the PM said.

Referring to the allegation of corruption in the Padma bridge project, she said the World Bank could not prove the allegation and her government was implementing this mega project with the country's own fund.

The work on railway lines over the Padma bridge is also progressing well, which will go to Mongla port via Khulna as well as go to Jessore via Abhaynagar, Hasina mentioned.

About the roads which were damaged in different parts of the country due to heavy rainfall this year, the PM said her government had already approved various projects to solve the problem.

Hasina also highlighted her government's successes in various sectors, including health, education, ICT and infrastructure, in the last couple of years.

The 27 development projects include Academic Building of Jessore Medical College, Waterlogging Removal Project of the Kobadak river (first phase), 500-seat Shaheed Mashiur Rahman Auditorium-slash-Multipurpose Hall, Public Library (third phase) Development Project, Jessore Police Super Building, Jessore Police Hospital, Sheikh Russel's sculpture, Jhikargachha Upazila Muktijoddha Complex, and Waterlogging Removal and Sustainable Water Management Development Project of the Bhairab river.