Jabs for 1cr per month

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the Covid-19 vaccination was going on in full swing and a mass vaccination drive was launched to inoculate one crore people per month.

She said the country had to go through a grave crisis in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic and that crisis is yet to be over.

"Amid the crisis, a new variant is spreading fast in various countries of the world. We have to be careful right now and follow the health guidelines. I'm requesting those who haven't yet taken vaccines to get vaccinated quickly."

Hasina was addressing the nation marking the third anniversary of her current government formed following the 11th parliamentary election held on December 30, 2018.

State-owned Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar aired the PM's address simultaneously.

The Awami League president formed the government for the third consecutive term on January 7, 2019 after her party's landslide victory in the national polls.

Hasina said some 12,95,80,000 doses of Covid vaccines have been provided and 7,58,00,000 people have already received the first dose and 5,35,82,000 got the second shot.

"The administration of a booster dose started last month. At present, we have more than 9 crore doses in our hand."

She said all should remain alert so that no one can play with the fate of the people of Bangladesh and stop its remarkable journey to economic development.

Hasina said many people cannot tolerate it as Bangladesh is now moving fast on the development highway. "So, anti-Bangladesh and anti- independence forces, both at home and aboard, are hatching conspiracies to stop this progress."

In her 28-minute speech, the PM said the anti-Bangladesh and anti-liberation forces were trying to confuse people in social media with false, fabricated and imaginary information to misguide the development partners abroad.

"People are the source of power. We believe in the power of people. So, we are with people."

CORRUPTION, MILITANCY

The premier said the government has taken a tough stance against corruption. "The corrupts are not spared and won't be spared either, no matter what their political affiliation and strength are. The Anti-Corruption Commission is discharging its duties independently in this regard. But to eradicate this disease, creating social awareness is needed."

Hasina mentioned that the government has resisted the emergence of militancy with an iron hand. 

The PM said Bangladesh has made marked economic progress in the last 13 years. "In the South Asia, Bangladesh is leading in various socioeconomic indexes, including poverty eradication, development of the health system, reduction of the maternal and child mortality, increase in average life expectancy, women empowerment and literacy."

She mentioned that this has been possible as people reposed trust in them. "You helped us keep up the pace of the development by giving the scope for running the country for three consecutive terms. By continuing this, we are working to build a pro-welfare, developed and prosperous Bangladesh so that Bangladesh could join the line of the developed countries by 2041. For this, you were with us and I do hope you'll be with us in future."

STIMULUS PACKAGES

The premier said the pandemic has created a deep wound in the world economy. "The economies in many countries have been devastated. Our economy also suffered setbacks and it came to a standstill."

But the government with the cooperation of all has managed to overcome that to some extent, Hasina said.  "We're trying to keep the wheel of the economy moving through policy support and various liberal financial stimulus packages."

She said 2022 will be a milestone year for Bangladesh's development in infrastructure. "After a few months, in June, we will open the much-awaited Padma Bridge. We're going to complete it with our own funds defying conspiracies and hurdles."

The PM said the government has adopted a plan to open a 14-km Uttara-Agargaon part of the metro rail in the capital at the end of this year. She mentioned that the country's first-ever tunnel beneath the Karnaphuli river will be completed in October next.

Hasina said as a government of the people her government's duty and responsibility is to develop the livelihood of people. "You'll evaluate what we have done for you in the last 13 years. But I can say it firmly that we've been able to implement the pledges successfully we had made."