Bangladesh will progress: Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina says the party that failed to stop the last national elections is now trying to singe the country in frustration for its failure.

"Bangladesh's progress will continue. Bangladesh is moving forward and it will go much further," she told an expatriate Bangladeshis' gathering in London on Tuesday.

Hasina asked expatriates to be aware of a 'certain quarter', which is conspiring against the country.

"Strikes, murders, arsons in buses and trains, burning of Quran, felling off trees, digging roads -- the BNP-Jamaat did it all to stop the polls," she told the discussion at the Hilton Hotel.

Hasina said that more than 500 schools were burnt down between May, 2013 and Jan, 2014. "Not only that, a presiding officer was killed by them. But the polls were held, 40 percent people cast votes. I thank the people of Bangladesh for that."

A straight second term in office will enable the government to complete its unfinished tasks, she said.

"We have got a chance to fully implement the ongoing development projects. The BNP-Jamaat govt messed it up all when they were last in power."

Hasina said that her government is in touch with the global community in a 'big way'.

"I have already spoken with the British government. They have assured me they will address the visa issue. I have met the British Prime Minister and he said that they would continue their cooperation with Bangladesh," she said.

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Terming expatriates as the 'main powerhouse' of Bangladesh's economy, the prime minister said that her government is working to turn Bangladesh in to a mid-income country.

Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz, PM's Press Secretary AKM Shamim Chowdhury and her Special Assistant Mahbul Haque Shakil also attended the gathering.