Terming the people as the main strength, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today expressed her firm resolve that none would be able to harm the country if the people remain with the government. "The people are the main strength. None would be able to harm the Bangladesh if the people stay with us Insah Allah...I can say that none has such strength and power to harm the country," she said.
The Prime Minister said this while talking to journalist after exchanging Eid greetings with the people of all strata including party leaders and activists, professionals, judges and foreign diplomats at her official Ganobhaban residence on Saturday.
Sheikh Hasina said BNP-Jamaat had engaged their all out strength during their 93-day hartal and blockades. "It's true that they incurred loss of the country. But they could not cause such losses for which the country will go backward," she said.
"Yes the BNP-Jamaat caused losses of the people. They have burnt the people to death. There is nothing a dirty and heinous act like burning the people to death. But BNP-Jamaat committed such brutal act," she said.
The Prime Minister said the BNP-Jamaat have pushed the life of huge number of people into uncertainty by unleashing destructive acts in the name of the movement.
"A huge number of people have lost their near and dear ones due to their mindless atrocities that continued for over three months. It's very regretful," she said.
Spelling out her government's steps to ensure smooth and comfortable journey for the home-bound people to celebrate Eid, Sheikh Hasina said the people could have gone to home more comfortably, had the BNP-Jamaat not unleashed mayhem during their movement.
"The BNP-Jamaat carried out destructive acts for 93 days and torched and vandalised over 2000 vehicles. They burnt new rail bogeys and engines. Even the launches were not spared from their destruction," she said.
The Prime Minister said the people could have gone home more comfortably had all buses and rails been operational. "Despite that we made frantic efforts so that people could go home without hassles," she said, praising the role of the road transport and bridges minister and railway minister in this regard.
The Prime Minister said the government has taken allout measures so that the people could celebrate their Eid by going home. "The people have been able to go home smoothly and there was no activities of the "Malam Party" as we have curbed them," she said.
She said roads are damaged during the monsoon, while the number of vehicles have been increased in the country. "The purchasing capacity of the people has been raised as they became economically solvent. As a result more vehicles are plying on the road," she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the people of the country celebrated Eid in a festive mood and peacefully and safely this year. "They took Sehri after shopping till 1/2 am and by the grace of Allah no accident happened," she said.
The Prime Minister said the law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies worked sincerely and smoothly to this end. "For this I extend my sincere thanks to them," she added.
Sheikh Hasina said the people of the country purchased massively on the occasion of this year's Eid-ul-Fitr. "It happened not only Dhaka, also throughout the country," she said.
The Prime Minister said it proved that the economic solvency of the people has increased to a great extent. "We want that their economic solvency further be enhanced."
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh has achieved its independence under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. "The great leader dreamt of establishing a hunger and poverty-free developed and prosperous Bangladesh," she said.
She said Bangladesh Awami League has been working tirelessly to materialise his dream. "Whenever Awami League comes to power, it works for the welfare of the people and it has been proved results could be yielded if there is intention," she said.
The Prime Minister said Bangladesh has now been placed as a role model on the world stage due to its stunning socioeconomic development. "The country has demonstrated its efficiency in containing terrorism and militancy," she said.
Sheikh Hasina sought doa and blessings from the countrymen and almighty Allah so that the country's march towards development will continue. "I seek doa and blessings from all so that Bangladesh could move on the world stage by keeping its head high," she said.
The gate of the Ganobhaban opened for visitors at 9.30 am when people from all walks of life started coming after their Eid prayers and waited in a long queue to meet the Prime Minister. On the occasion the big lawn of Gonobhaban was tastefully decorated. At the beginning, senior Awami League leaders and cabinet members greeted the Prime Minister by presenting her with bouquets.
Later, the Prime Minister, flanked by her son Sajib Wazed Joy and daughter Saima Hossain Putul, senior party leaders, and cabinet members, exchanged greetings with the commoners.
Leaders of different political parties, parliament members, freedom fighters, leaders of associate bodies of Awami League, different professional and trade bodies as well as a cross section of people including beggars, destitute, male and females exchanged Eid greetings with the Prime Minister.
Like previous years, some of the visitors took the programme as an opportunity to draw attention of the top executive of the country to their woes and sufferings and sought her intervention and support to resolve those problems.
AL Presidium Members Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Advocate Sahara Khatun and Satish Chandra Roy, General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, Law Minister Anisul Haque, Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Science and Technology Minister Architect Yeafesh Osman and PM's Advisors HT Imam and Dr Moshiur Rahman, AL Joint Secretaries Mahbu-ul Alam Hanif, Dr Dipu Moni and Jahangir Kabir Nanak, central leaders Muhammad Faruk Khan, MP, and Dr Abdur Rzzak, MP, were present on the occasion, among others.
The Prime Minister exchanged Eid greetings with judges of the Supreme Court, senior civil and military officials and diplomats at a separate programme on Gonobhaban lawn.
Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, chiefs of the three services, ambassadors and high commissioners of different Muslim countries, America, Europe and SAARC countries joined the function.
BSS/RI