AL to continue dev journey if voted to power, says Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also president of Awami League yesterday said if her party is voted to power in the next election, it will continue the country's development journey and serve the people.

The premier said this while Vice Minister of the International Department of the central committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Chen Zhou, called on her at the Gono Bhaban yesterday.

PM's speechwriter M Nazrul Islam briefed reporters after the meeting.

In the last 14 years, Bangladesh has transformed socioeconomically and people are enjoying the benefits of that, said Hasina.

While talking about the Russia-Ukraine war, sanctions and counter-sanctions, she reiterated that Bangladesh does not want conflict and that this war needs to be stopped.

Hasina welcomed the Chinese cooperation in Bangladesh's journey towards advancement and hoped that China would extend its assistance towards a developed and prosperous Bangladesh by 2041.In this connection, she recalled the Chinese cooperation in building various mega-projects such as the Padma Bridge, and the Karnaphuli Tunnel -- the first of its kind in South Asia.

Hasina sought Chinese investment in Bangladesh, particularly in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpanagar in Chattogram's Mirsharai.

The visiting Chinese vice minister said his country will provide all required assistance to Bangladesh to materialise its aspiration of becoming a developed country by 2041.

He also said China supports Bangladesh's foreign policy of "friendship to all, malice to none."

"Bangladesh's foreign policy is an effective means to ensure peaceful coexistence of the countries in the region," said the vice-minister.

He said the relationship between China and Bangladesh has been elevated to a strategic partnership during the visit of his country's president in 2016.

All the commitments made by the president during his Bangladesh visit are being implemented gradually, he added.