Hasina speaks at Suhrawardy Udyan reception

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has begun delivering a speech at the reception held by the Awami League at Suhrawardy Udyan in her honour.

Her party is celebrating a number of the prime minister’s achievements, including the launch of the Bangabandhu-1 satellite, Bangladesh’s graduation from ‘least developed’ to ‘developing’ country status, her reception of the Global Women’s Leadership Award in Australia and the PhD in Literature she received from the Kazi Nazrul Islam University in India.

Though the event was to start at 3pm, the ruling party’s activists and supporters began to gather at the Suhrawardy Udyan early in the afternoon.

Awami League President Sheikh Hasina came out onto the stage at 3pm to cheers and slogans of support from the crowd.

Awami League Presidium member and Deputy Leader in Parliament Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury moderated the event.

The cultural programme began after Sheikh Hasina took her seat. Singer and MP Momtaz Begum began the event with a song.

Awami League leaders and activists, many in red and green caps and shirts, are taking part in the rally.

Party leaders have said that a 30-minute documentary film on the history and culture of Bangladesh will be shown at the event.

A total of 20,000 seats have been arranged in front of the L-shaped stage, but many others are standing outside the premises.

At least 40 archways decked with photographs of the prime minister and her various achievements have also been erected from the Matsya Bhaban to Ramna VIP gate.

The western side of the stage is also exhibiting drawings depicting the prime minister’s various achievements.