DHAKA, Dec 22, 2019 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today asked the Awami League (AL) leaders and workers to work for keeping up the confidence and trust of the people and supplement the government’s strides to build a poverty-free Bangladesh.
“It’s seen that if anybody gets elected as a parliament member, he or she cannot succeed in the next elections as he or she cannot keep up the people’s confidence and trust,” she said.
The premier added: “So, bearing this in mind you’ll have to always stay beside the people of your locality and work for their welfare.”
Sheikh Hasina, also the AL president, said this while exchanging views with party councillors of different cities and districts at Ganabhaban here this evening.
At the function, the councillors, who came to the capital to join the party council, greeted Sheikh Hasina on her reelection as the AL president for the 9th consecutive time through the AL’s 21st National Council held on December 20-21.
“If you think, you were made an MP for this time only and that’s why you will sit idle after making whatever you can and will be victorious again by earning huge money … that will not happen,” she said.
In this connection, the premier mentioned the comment of Tarique Zia in which he (Tarique) said proudly that none will be able to remove the BNP from power if he can make Taka 2000 crore.
“But BNP could not stay in power after making thousands of crores of taka. The party could not remain in power as they were indulged in unbridled corruption, terrorism and militancy and unleashed inhuman torture and repression on the opposition leaders and workers,” she said.
The prime minister directed the party leaders and workers to go to the people of their respective areas and work for their wellbeing.
“If you want to be engaged in the organisation, become a leader or contest the election, you’ve to go to the people at first and do whatever you can for them … the people will give all scopes and you don’t need to approach to them and want anything,” she said.
Highly praising the role of the grassroots leaders and workers of the AL in strengthening the party, Sheikh Hasina said they always take right decision in every crucial moment. “They were always beside me,” she said.
The AL president said the party is strengthened if its grassroots level is well-organised. “So, we have strengthened the party from the grassroots,” she said.
Highlighting her government’s success in developing the country, Sheikh Hasina said the party leaders and workers will have to highlight this success before the people properly.
“You’ll also have to stay beside the common people and maintain good relations to retain their trust and confidence upon the party,” she said.
Referring to her government’s determination to ensure housing for all, the premier instructed the party leaders and workers to find out if there is any homeless person in their own areas.
In this context, she directed them to provide lists of the homeless saying steps will be taken from the party to ensure accommodation for the homeless.
The prime minister said the government has brought down poverty rate to 20 percent and is working restlessly to cut the rate further.
Talking about BNP’s debacle in the last general elections, the AL president said the party suffered crushing defeat in the polls as it did nomination trade instead of sincerely taking part in it.
“The party didn’t give nominations to the prospective candidates. Rather their leaders were indulged in nomination trade from Gulshan, Naya Paltan and London and such misdeeds of the leaders pushed the BNP towards debacle in the polls,” she said.
Mentioning the BNP-Jamaat atrocities and mayhem after the 2001 polls, she said the people of the country did not forget the BNP-Jamaat nexus’s atrocities as well as terrorism, militancy, corruption and money laundering.
Sheikh Hasina also called upon the AL leaders and workers including councillors and delegates to work together to further strengthen the party.