PM Hasina orders Chhatra League to work against militancy, terrorism

Awami League chief Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has ordered Bangladesh Chhatra League to campaign against militancy and terrorism, saying these hinder a country’s journey towards progress.

Leaders from all levels of the student affiliate of Awami League met the prime minister on Tuesday after their two-day extended council and workshop.

“We will never harbour terrorism and militancy,” Hasina said at the meeting in Ganabhaban.

“You will not be able to bring good or take a country forward through terrorism and militancy.”

Hasina said, “When we came to power, I said we would not let insurgency take place on Bangladesh’s soil. We have not let it.”

“You will work to build a secular country based on the spirit of the Liberation War,” she said.

She reminded the Chhatra League leaders to develop themselves in light of the organisation’s charter.

The Awami League chief asked the BCL leaders not to give importance to personal greed for power while building their political career.

She also asked them to be strong.

“I could not have taken the decision if I had even a little weakness,” she said referring to her decision to build the Padma Bridge with Bangladesh’s own funds after the World Bank withdrew its pledged fund.

“World Bank never thought that a leader of a country like ours can challenge it,” she said.

The prime minister asked the Chhatra League leaders to launch a campaign for the National Education Policy by highlighting the government’s steps for the development of education sector.

“We want to emerge as a country with a 100 percent literacy rate,” she said.

BCL President Saifur Rahman Sohag and General Secretary SM Jakir Hossain also delivered speeches.