Bengalis cannot be suppressed when united, says Joy

Bengalis are an irrepressible force when united, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed Joy has said.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 20 Oct 2015, 05:05 PM
Updated : 20 Oct 2015, 06:58 PM

It had not been possible to suppress them in the past and would not be possible to do so in future, he added. 
 
The present Bangladesh government led by the Awami League knew how to take the nation forward by foiling all conspiracies, said the prime minister’s son. 
 
He was speaking at an interactive programme held at the Krishibid Institution in Dhaka on Tuesday. 
 
Young people asked Joy several questions on varied issues at the event titled: Let’s Talk.
 
He replied to each query in his characteristic candid manner, trying to satisfy the inquisitiveness of young minds.
 
Taking a question on conspiracies against the government’s achievements, he said: “Yes, there are conspiracies; conspiracies are on. 
 
“There were conspiracies before 1971. And they are on again from 2008 onwards. One attempt is being made after another.
 
“There are many, not only in the country but abroad as well, who do not want Bangladesh to stand on its feet and progress in its own way.

“There are countries that want Bangladesh to do as they order. Some countries want that we cease to be the non-communal country we currently are.”
He said some people and certain countries wanted Bangladesh to become a communal Caliphate.

Such conspirators were within the country, Joy observed.

“There are many who want to be in power but cannot win any seat with people’s vote. So, they are always engaged in hatching conspiracies in their craving for power.” 

“But we know how to combat conspiracies. When the Bengali nation moves as one, no one has been able to keep us suppressed. They tried it in 1971.

“Many powerful countries tried to block our independence but failed,” he said, claiming the government was capable of foiling plots.

He appealed to the people and the young generation, in particular, to be conscious of the plots being hatched and to thwart them.

He claimed the withdrawal of the World Bank funding for the Padma River bridge project was the result of a one ‘great’ person’s machination.

Joy, however, chose not to disclose the person’s identity.

“There was a conspiracy with the Padma Bridge. I have come to know where it was [hatched]. It was an international plot. One regrets saying that a 'great' person of this country was behind it.”

Joy also spoke, in the nearly two-hour programme hosted by the Centre for Research and Information, on the fulfilment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), the preparations being made for the achievement of the UN’s recently adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and the progress made in education, health, infrastructure and other sectors. 

When asked about the level of preparation to achieve the SDGs after all the kudos of attaining the MDGs, Joy said, “Our preparations are enormous.

“Bangladesh is the only country to have reached all the MDG targets in time.”

The advantage gained in MDGs would make the attainment of the SDGs relatively easier, he felt.

“There is no shortage of food in Bangladesh. No one had died of hunger in the past six years.”

The Awami League government had already initiated steps to raise the standard of education by effecting changes in the curriculum, he said in reference to the SDG stress on quality education. 

 “We are stressing problem-solving instead of rote learning. It is known as critical learning, a curriculum in vogue in the developed world.”

He also touched on loan assistance for small entrepreneurs and agricultural subsidy.

When asked about the importance of research, Joy said the government was trying to bridge the research gap currently seen in the country.

Joy was also asked about the issue of child marriage. He blamed illiteracy for the social ailment and pointed to government efforts to promote female literacy.

About the proposed Rampal power plant, he said the project would be executed by keeping environmental concerns in mind.

On teachers’ pay scale, he said the pay structure had been prepared by balancing all aspects.

To a question on combating crime, he said it was “not possible” to root out crime fully in the country of 160 million people.

“Not many people know that the crime rate in Bangladesh is the same or a little less than that of the US,” he added.