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Sheikh Hasina said the government has constructed the Padma Bridge with own financing but BNP leader Begum Khaleda Zia could not appreciate it, rather she commented that the bridge has been made in hodgepodge and asked the people not to use it.
“If they don’t use the bridge, how will they cross the river? Ten they have to board on boat,” she said, adding, “Our boat is large so there is no problem. We would take all but after scanning so that none could drill the boat”.
Sheikh Hasina asked the critics to visit the Padma Bridge starting from Dhaka to Munsiganj site to see the highway whether they feel it is Bangladesh or somewhere else.
Referring to the Dhaka-Chattogram four-lane highway and marine drive in Cox’s Bazar, she said the government has proven it that development is possible if there is any honest endeavor.
President Abdul Hamid came to parliament and witnessed the sitting.
Highlighting her government’s measures to offset the impact of Covid-19 pandemic, the Prime Minister said they have issued 31 health directives and offered Taka 124,053 crore stimulate packages under which people from different walks of live have received financial assistance.
She mentioned that the government had booked the Covid-19 vaccine paying in advance since the beginning of its research so that it could be possible to bring the vaccine in the country whenever it is invented and approved by WHO for use.
The head of the government said many criticisms and mockery were passed but vaccine has arrived in the country and inoculation has already started, and she hoped the critics have already got the answer.
She said no adverse reaction was seen after the primary inoculation and the regular vaccination is going to start in February 7-8 as the vaccine has already reached all districts.
For dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, Bangladesh has received applause internationally but only not heard it from inside the country, she added.
The premier also said that the government has already finalized the vaccination roll out plan and categories of people who would get it. “Those who would receive inoculation have to wear facemasks and maintain all health protocols until the world becomes free from the Coronavirus.”
Regarding the HSC result, she said the result would give some relief to the students who are not able to go to schools and colleges due to the pandemic. School-college would be reopened after further improvement of the coronavirus situation, she added.
During the pandemic, she said, the government continued to distribute text books free of cost among the pre-primary to secondary students along with education stipends to two crore students.
The premier said the government has appointed 2,000 physicians and 6,000 nurses, health workers and laboratory technologists to provide treatment during Covid-19.
Mentioning that 99 percent people of the country are now getting electricity, she said no people would remain homeless in Mujib’s Bangladesh.
To cope up with the challenges of the fourth industrial revolution, Sheikh Hasina said AL’s CRI and Young Bangla alongside the government are providing training to youth population to build up them as skilled manpower.
In her valedictory speech, the premier also briefly highlighted her government’s different development initiatives such as rail, gas and electricity connection through Bangabandhu Bridge over the Jamuna river, new 491km rail track, 428 rail bridges, renovation of 1,181km rail track, development of road communication, 3.76 lakh bridges and culverts and 260 upazila complexes.
BSS/MAK/GA/1715 hrs