Hasina emphasises continuation of Awami League in govt for development

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has once again emphasised continuation of the Awami League in government 'for the sake of development'.

"We formed the government again in 2014. The benefits of development reached people's door, and the development is visible now because of our continuation in the government," she said.

The prime minister was speaking at a function arranged to distribute Public Administration Award at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka on Sunday.

With the BNP still questioning the validity of 2014 elections, the prime minister expressed hope that her party will secure people's mandate once again.

The next parliamentary election is slated for late 2-18 or early 2019.

"The people have regained confidence, belief. Everyone will have to make sure that this confidence continues along with democracy and development despite all odds," Sheikh Hasina said.

She once again criticised the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami for violent protests against the 2014 election.

"Again, I would like to thank the officials and employees of the administration, law enforcing agencies, and the three forces for their united effort to maintain democracy. That's how the election was held," the prime minister said.

She said now her government's aim is to maintain the advancement of economic development by tackling 'local and foreign conspiracies'.

"Our aim is very clear - Bangladesh will establish itself as a peaceful country in South Asia. There is no place for local and foreign conspiracies here, for which the nation suffered repeatedly," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the Awami League, after coming to power in 1996, started to work to remove the lack of confidence in people as the politics were riddled with coup and murders which began through the killing of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975.

"But the country moved backwards again in many sectors when the Awami League failed to come to power again in 2001," she said.

"Now Bangladesh is a role model of development in the world following the steps were taken by the government after the Awami League returned to power in 2008," she added.

The prime minister reiterated that the Awami League wanted to celebrate the golden jubilee of independence in 2021 as the ruling party.

Thanking the government officials for implementing development programmes, she said, "We want this to continue." She also urged them to be innovative.

As many as 14 public servants received the Public Administration Award at the programme presided over by Public Administration Minister Syed Ashraful Islam. Cabinet Secretary Shafiul Alam and Public Administration Secretary Mozammel Haque Khan were also present.