PM strikes defiant tone in face of US pressure

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday that it doesn't matter at all if someone does not go to the USA by crossing the Atlantic Ocean on a 20-hour plane journey.

"There are other oceans and other continents in the world; we will make friends with those continents crossing the other oceans. Our economy will be stronger, more developed, and more vibrant," she said firmly.

The Prime Minister said this while attending a programme organised to inaugurate the office building of the Dhaka District Awami League in the city's Tejgaon area.

She said that Bangladesh will run on its own, and the government will build the country.

"We will not be dependent on others. Who will not give us visa, who will impose sanctions on us...there is no use thinking of that," she said.

Hasina, however, advised the USA to look at the party "that rigged votes" and "played with the fate of the people,"  referring to the BNP.

She mentioned that the Canadian High Court had declared the BNP 'a terrorist party'.

"The USA did not issue a visa to Tarique Zia for terrorism and corruption," she added.

Hasina, also the chief of the ruling Awami League, said that her party knows very well what is best for the welfare and benefit of the people of Bangladesh.

"Keeping that in mind, we always work and put the country in the developing country status. The country will be a developed country by 2041. We also formed Delta Plan 2100 for future generations," she said.

She said that she has confidence and faith in the people of the country.

"They know that only by casting their vote for Boat (the electoral symbol of the Awami League) will their fate be changed," she said.

She also told the Awami League leaders and workers that people will pay you back if you sacrifice for them.

"You have to remember that. You have to strengthen the organisation so that no evil force can play duck and drake with the fate of the people of Bangladesh. It is our responsibility to save the people of the country from the clutches of the evil force," she said.

The Prime Minister said that she feels regret while the BNP, involved with arson terrorism, grenade attacks and terrorism activities, sermonises regarding democracy.

Regarding the criticism about the budget for 2023-24 fiscal year, she said that the government has placed the budget confident of implementing it.

"They are repeating their same old songs, which they usually utter during every budget period," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said that the government has been able to achieve remarkable development in Bangladesh.

"This happened as in the 2008, 2014 and 2018 elections, the people of the country voted the Awami League to power. There is a stable and democratic environment prevailing in the country, which has resulted in this unprecedented economic development," she said.

She mentioned that if stability was not maintained and the Awami League was not in power, "this sort of development" would not have been possible in the country.

"This is the ground reality, no one would work for the people of the country," the PM said.

Earlier, upon arriving at the venue, the Prime Minister unveiled the plaque of Dhaka District Awami League office. She also visited various parts of the office.

On the occasion of the inauguration of the newly constructed building of Dhaka District Awami League by the Prime Minister, party leaders and activists were seen waiting to welcome her with a procession on both sides of the road from her official residence, Ganobhaban, to the office building (Tejgaon).

Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader, PM’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, Awami League  Presidium member Advocate Quamrul Islam, Awami League organising secretary Mirza Azam, Home Minister Asaduzzman Khan, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry Nasrul Hamid, State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Ministry Dr M Enamur Rahman and Dhaka district Awami League president Benjir Ahmed also spoke. Its General Secretary Paniruzzaman Tarun conducted the programme.