Hasina tells London event Bangladesh needs to quicken development being friendly with neighbours

It is vital for Bangladesh to be on good terms with its neighbours and speed up development efforts, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has told a civic reception in London.

Speaking at the gathering on Sunday evening local time, she highlighted the geo-strategic importance of Bangladesh to hammer her point of being friendly with the nations in close proximity.
 
“The goal is to take the country forward cashing in on the importance of Bangladesh’s geographical position in South Asia.”
 
Hasina called for unified action against poverty which she described as the ‘common enemy’ of the region.
 
“We can’t just think about ourselves but our neighours as well,” she said at the first reception accorded to her outside Bangladesh on the operalisation of Land Boundary Agreement with India and other successes.
 
The UK chapter of Awami League hosted the reception held at The Park Lane Sheraton where British MP Tulip Siddiq, Hasina’s niece, was present.

Hasina gave bouquets and copies of “The Unfinished Memoirs” of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to Ilford South’s Labour MP Mike Gapes, Cardiff Central’s Labour MP Jo Stevens, Ilford North’s Labour MP Wes Streeting, Sutton and Cheam’s Conservative MP Paul Scully. 

She handed bouquet and a copy of the book to Tulip and kissed her on the forehead. The members of British Parliament shared their stories as well. 

Thanking Hasina on behalf of all MPs and his constituency, Gapes remembered his visit to Bangladesh in 1995 with late Peter Shore, who was a Labour MP from east London and Cabinet minister. 

“You were under house arrest at the time. You have come a long way.”

Scully mentioned his stay in Myanmar when his father worked there and said he loved ‘dried fish’. The Conservative MP also lauded Hasina for her efforts to combat adverse effects of climate change.

He ended his speech with ‘Joy Bangla’. 

Streeting followed, expressing his intention to visit Bangladesh. He also ended his speech saying ‘Joy Bangla’. 

Tulip could barely control her emotions, saying not even in her wildest dreamsdid she ever thought of getting flowers from her aunt.

“You have all prayed for me and I could not have become a British MP without your support,” she said addressing the gathered expatriates. 

Tulip took pride in the fact that there were three Bengali MPs now with Rushanara Ali and Rupa Huq being the other two. 

She also revealed her plans to visit Bangladesh in December. “I will go to Sylhet first and then to Dhaka.”

Columnist Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury handed her a citation and put his hand on her head in a gesture of blessing and moral support. 

Thanking him, the prime minister said, “Whenever I see trouble, his writings give me courage.”

She referred to Chowdhury’s writings that were critical of Awami League and said, “Those did hurt at times. But that was good too, because we became more cautious reading them.”

Chowdhury, who was sitting on the stage, was smiling. 

Hasina was overcome with emotion when she told her audience: “I do not deserve so much praise. My identity is that I am the daughter of the father of the nation. My goal is to finish what he started.”

“Bangladesh is moving forward. Many obstacles would surface but we would have to move ahead through them.”

She emphasised the signification of friendly ties with the neighbours. 

“Bangladesh, India, China and Myanmar, we have undertaken a plan for economic development through connectivity.”

The prime minister said Bangladesh had a food surplus of over 30 million metric tonnes and told the gathering it sent 10,000 metric tonnes of rice to Nepal after the earthquake. 

“We told them, if needed we would send them 100,000 metric tonne of rice. We have achieved such capability.”

“We are talking about cooperation between Bhutan, Nepal, India and us.”

She continued that Nepal and Bhutan would be using Bangladesh’s sea ports and that Syedpur airport was going to be developed.

Hasina’s son and ICT Advisor Sajib Ahmed Wazed Ahmed Joy pointed out Bangladesh’s development in all sectors. 

“Our dream is quite big. We are taking the country forward.”