Hasina govt wants ‘improved’ gen elections
Noting that the voting right is the people’s basic right, prime minister Sheikh Hasinaon Monday said her government wants the national election to be improved further in the country.
"The voting right is the basic right of people. We want them [people] to exercise it properly. We want the national election to be improved further in our country," she said asking members of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP to be careful so that people can exercise their constitutional rights.
The prime minister was addressing the 38th national rally of Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) at Ansar-VDP Academy in Shafipur, Gazipur.
"Your (Ansar and VDP) every member will have to be always ready for the arrangement of upcoming election in a fair and peaceful manner," she said.
Mentioning that Ansar and VDP men are the members of a disciplined force, Sheikh Hasina asked them to maintain peace and discipline at any cost as it is their sacred duty.
She directed the Ansar and VDP members to sincerely perform their duty following the chain of command.
Hasina said the Ansar and VDP members have been contributing to the country's socio-economic development working at the grassroots level.
She thanked all members of the Ansar and VDP for playing a strong role in preventing arson attacks on railway and buses by BNP-Jamaat men.
Stating that Bangladesh is now a global role model for its development, Hasina said her government took Bangladesh to the highway of development governing the country from 2009 to till now.
In this connection, she referred to Digital Bangladesh campaign, construction of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, launching Bangabandhu Satellite in March next, construction of Padma Bridge, and increasing the national budget to Tk 4 trillion from only Tk 610 billion in 2009.
Hasina assured that no one will remain homeless and hungry in the country and everybody will get healthcare services and education facilities.
Turning to the Rohingya issue, she said Bangladesh's image has been brightened in the international arena for giving shelter to over 1 million Rohingyas as they fled their home in Rakhine amid persecutions by Myanmar military.
Reiterating that there will be no place for militancy and terrorism on Bangladesh, the prime minister urged all, including guardians, teachers, Imams (Muslim clerics) and leaders of other religions, to remain alert so that the youths cannot be engaged in terrorism, militancy and drug addiction.
On the occasion, an attractive parade of different contingents of Ansar-VDP was arranged with parade commander deputy director Amzad Hossain.
Earlier on her arrival at the parade ground, Sheikh Hasina was received by home affairs minister Asaduzzaman Khan and Ansar and VDP director general Major General Sheikh Pasha Habib Uddin.
The prime minister also handed over medals to total 127 members of Ansar and VDP for their outstanding performance in service.
Of them, Bangladesh Ansar Medals were given to six members, while the president's Ansar Medals to 20, the president's VDP Medals to nine, Bangladesh Ansar Services Medals to 12, the president's Ansar Services Medals to 33, Bangladesh VDP Services medals to 10, the president's VDP Services Medals to 37 members.