Stay Alert against Anarchy Ahead Of Next Election: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked the people to remain vigilant against the anti-liberation clique which has started plotting to seize power through the backdoor ahead of the next general election, reports UNB.

“I would like to urge everyone to keep a watchful eye so that none can snatch away the rights of the people through conspiracy. At the same time everyone should be alert so that none could create anarchy and damage the lives, livelihood and properties of the people in the name of the movement,” she said.

The prime minister was addressing the nation on Friday evening through state-owned Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar, marking the fourth anniversary of her current government formed on January 7, 2019, following the 11th national election held on December 30, 2018.

Sheikh Hasina said the next national election will be held at the end of this year or early next year. But the anti-liberation, power-hungry plunderers of public assets have already been active in creating anarchy.

“Their aim is to create a chaotic situation and seize state power through the backdoor, and impede the progress of democracy too,” she said in her 25-minute speech delivered at 7:30pm.

The prime minister, who is also the president of the ruling Awami League, said the conspirators have employed hired intellectuals and statement-givers at home and abroad with looted money to malign Awami League.

“They are trying to mislead people by spreading libels, false and fake information through social media. Do not be misled by their falsehoods.”

She requested the political parties and institutions that believe in democracy and the rule of law not to allow and fuel any weird idea (mooted by the cliques ahead of the next election) that would undermine the constitutional process.

“We expect a free, fair and impartial election [to be held next time],” she said, adding that this is the first time a law has been enacted in Bangladesh to constitute an Election Commission.

She said the current Election commission has been constituted under that law through a search committee. “The Election Commission was given financial independence. The commission is working independently and will continue to do so in the future. The government will continue providing all assistance to the Election Commission for holding fair and peaceful elections.”

She said Awami League is a party of the people that believes in the peace of the people and the power of the people. “If the people make the party winner by voting for it, Awami League will continue to discharge the national responsibility of building the country. If they do not make it the winner, we will go to the line of the people. But wherever we are, we will serve the people.”

On the occasion of the fourth anniversary of her current regime, the prime minister extended her sincere greetings and congratulations to the citizens at home and abroad. She also wished them a very happy New Year of 2023.

'Bangladesh has progressed a lot'

Focusing on the progress of the country during her government since 2009, Sheikh Hasina said the image of Bangladesh has become brighter in the world arena in the last 14 years.

“Today none treats Bangladesh as a country of floods, droughts and disasters. Bangladesh is now an emerging economy and a role model for development.”

She said Awami League has been in the charge of governing the country for 14 years in a row after the formation of the government in 2009.

“Our country has progressed a lot. But we have to take it forward further. Achieving a developed and prosperous Bangladesh is our goal. After building a Digital Bangladesh, our next goal is to build a Smart Bangladesh,” she said.

The prime minister said the use of robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, genetic engineering, biological technology and digital devices will be ensured in all fields including the industrial, trade-business, health, education and agriculture sectors in a bid to build Smart Bangladesh, having smart government, smart population and smart industrial factories. “Emphasis has been placed on research in all areas.”

She focused her government’s successes on bringing 100 per cent population under electricity coverage, strengthening road and rail connectivity, increasing food production, implementing different large projects, including Padma Bridge, metro rail, Bangabandhu tunnel under the Karnaphuli River, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Dhaka-Mawa-Jajira Expressway, Bangabandhu-1 Satellite, 16km Dhaka Airport-Kutubkhali Elevated Expressway projects, and setting up 100 economic zones.

She said the prices of daily essentials, including fuel, have soared also in Bangladesh as it happened at abnormal rates in the world due to the Russia-Ukraine war following the Covid-19 pandemic, sanctions and counter-sanctions imposed by the Western countries and Russia.

“We are purchasing some commodities at higher prices and distributing those at lower prices to the people with limited income,” she said adding that 10 million families can purchase rice at Tk 30 per kg and edible oil, pulses and sugar at affordable rates through TCB's fair price cards, while five million families can buy rice at Tk 15 per kg in a month.

The prime minister depicted the present scenario of Bangladesh in different social and economic indicators, comparing the situation 16 years ago at the fag end of BNP-Jamaat alliance rule.

She said the per capita income increased to $2,824 now from $543 in FY2005-2006, while the poverty rate declined to 20 per cent from 41.5 per cent, the average life expectancy increased to 73 years from 64.5 years and the literacy rate to 75.2 per cent from 45 per cent.

She said the GDP (gross domestic product) increased to $460.75 billion in FY2021-22 from only $60 billion, the size of the national budget to Tk 6,78,64,000 crore in FY2022-23 from Tk 61,057 crore, the export earnings to $52.08 billion in FY2021-2022 from $10.52 billion, and the remittance inflow went up to $22.07 billion in FY2021-22 from only $4.80 billion.

Sheikh Hasina said the reserves of foreign currencies increased from only $3.5 billion in FY2005-06 to $48 billion in 2021, but declined to $34 billion now due to the global economic downturn and high inflation. Still, Bangladesh has sufficient reserves to meet the five-month export expenditures, she added.

The prime minister said the allocation against the social safety net programmes rose to Tk 1,13,576 crore in the current fiscal year from only Tk 373 crore in FY2005-06, while the subsidy to the agriculture sector went up to Tk 40,000 crore from Tk 592 crore.

She said the electricity generation capacity has increased to 25,826MW now from only 3,600MW at the end of the BNP-Jamaat regime and the population under the electricity coverage to 100 per cent from only 45 per cent in the same period. “We ensured electricity facilities to cent per cent people in 2022. We illuminated all the houses.”

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh is currently the 41st largest economy in the world. Today, Bangladesh has graduated to a developing country from a least developed country, she said.

Noting that Bangladesh has attained a revolutionary development in the communication sector, she said her government constructed and reconstructed hundreds of highways as well as bridges over major rivers, including Padma Bridge, Bangabandhu Jamuna Bridge, Teesta Bridge, Payra Bridge, Second Kanchpur Bridge, Second Meghna Bridge, Second Gomti Bridge in the last 14 years in order to establish an uninterrupted road and rail connectivity.

The prime minister said some 100 bridges were simultaneously opened in a single day in November last, while some 100 roads were inaugurated simultaneously in a day in December last.

“This is a unique achievement in the development history of the country,” she said, adding that some 718 kilometres of highways have been upgraded to four or above lanes in the last 14 years.

“Today, the people have started reaping the benefits of our visionary plans.”

Noting that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman dreamt of building an exploitation- and deprivation-free “Sonar Bangla” (Golden Bengal), she urged all to come forward to realise his dream by building a happy, prosperous and non-communal Bangladesh.

"Let us work to build a smart country and bring smiles to the faces of the common people of this country," she added.