ZCZC
BSS-41
AL-ANNIVERSARY-CTG
Historic Rose Garden to be turned into museum-Mosharraf
CHATTOGRAM, June 23, 2019 (BSS)- Awami League Presidium Member and former Minister Engineer Mosharrf Hossain MP today said that the historic Rose Garden, where Awami League (AL) was formed on this day in 1949, will be turned into a government museum.
Mosharrf said people of this country will be able to know the history of Bangladesh AL, then named as East Pakistan AL, its struggle, all movements relating to the oldest political party of this country from the museum.
All procedures have been completed to purchase land from the owners of the then Rose Garden in Old Dhaka, he added.
Mosharrf said AL was founded 70 years back for the wellbeing of the common masses in the country.
The minister said this while addressing a discussion meeting as chief guest in observance of AL 70th founding anniversary at city’s engineer’s institution this evening.
Highlighting the glorious history of AL, founded on June 23 in 1949 at the historic Rose Garden in Old Dhaka, the former minister paid rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who was not only a founder of the AL, but also led the nation to its independence.
Mosharraf said a permanent office of Chattogram city, north and south district chapters of AL will be set up in the city on its own land within next five years.
Participating in the discussion as special guest Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said Bangladesh has now become a middle-income country from a least developed country.
He said the country is marching ahead defying all barriers under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her leadership has been acclaimed by the world leaders.
“From a country of food shortage, Bangladesh now became a food-surplus country, mother and child mortality rate have tremendously reduced and life expectancy has increased to 73 years,” he said adding that the country in now advancing in every sector. But BNP and Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) could not see the progress and prosperity of the country, he added.
Dr Hasan said the government carried out many development works in the country, particularly in economic sector, in the last 10 years. “But, CPD did not see those. It is their failure….we hope that CPD will see the progress and development of the government”, he added.
“We always welcome constructive criticism from all corners and want strong opposition parties,” he said.
Listing out salient features of the government’s achievements in all sectors, the minister said the country has been turned into a food surplus nation from food deficit one after the formation of government by AL in 1996.
“The government has now decided to export 15 lakh metric tons of rice this year,” he added.
Terming Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as a role model of development, Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Jabed said, the development and achievements must not be faded away due to bad manners of a handful of leaders and activists in the name of AL.
Speaking as special guest, Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel said Bangabandhu within three and a half years of independence established all necessary institutions suitable for an independent country and constructed infrastructure along with rebuilding the war-ravaged nation.
Bangabandhu daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has now been taking forward the country, Nowfel added.
Chattogram city units of AL and its front organizations organized the day long programmes in observance of 70th founding anniversary of AL.
Presided over by acting President of Chattogram city AL Mahtab Uddin Chowdhury, the discussion was addressed, among others, by city Mayor and General Secretary of Chittagong city AL A J M Nasir Uddin.
President of Chattogram City Mohila AL president Hasina Mohiuddin, AL leaders Khurshed Alam Sujan, Ibrahim Hossain Chowdhury Babul and Noyom Uddin Chowdhury, among others, were present.
Thousands of jubilant workers and supporters carrying placards, banners, portraits of Bangabandhu and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chanted slogans in favour of peace, progress and against militancy, fundamentalism, communalism , drug abuse and politics of destruction.
Chattogram city and north districts AL also separately organized various programmes to mark the day.
The programmes included bringing out processions, placing wreaths at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and hoisting of the national and party flags and discussion meetings.
BSS/MAM/SKB/KU/2055 HRS