Construction of Padma bridge to be halted if AL doesn’t return to power: PM

Awami League president and prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday sought everybody’s vote for her party to ensure a beautiful future for the posterity, keeping up the country’s development spree.

“Every vote and seat are valuable and your one vote will help us form the government . . . shortage of a single seat could bar the reinstallation of our party to the government,” she told a wayside rally at Bhanga intersection in Faridpur Thursday morning.

The premier added: “So cast your vote for ‘boat’ to ensure our victory so we can keep up the continuity of the country’s development”.

AL candidate of Faridpur-4 constituency (Bhanga-Sadarpur-Charbhadrasan) Kazi Zafarrullah also addressed the rally, while Bangabandhu’s younger daughter Sheikh Rehana was present.

Sheikh Hasina was on her way to Dhaka from Tungipara as part of the party’s second day of election campaign.

“If Awami League doesn’t return to power, the construction work of the Padma Bridge Project will be halted. So, a single vote is also valuable for us to continue the uplift works,” she said.

The AL president said, her government in 2001 laid the foundation stone of the bridge. “But, after coming to power, the BNP-Jamaat government stopped the work of the bridge,” she said.

“Many leaders will try to misguide you by speaking about different issues. But, you will have to cast your vote by own and guard the polling centres by creating public opinion,” the AL president told the people at the rally.

Later, the prime minister addressed a rally on the Komarpur Abdul Aziz Institute premises in Faridpur.

On her way to Dhaka, she will also address five more rallies at Rajbari intersection, Manikganj bus stand, Rabeya Medical College and Hospital premises in Dhamrai and Savar bus stand.

Earlier in the day, Sheikh Hasina started her journey around 9:04am by road from Tungipara.

Before starting her journey, she recited from the holy Quran and offered munajat at the shrine of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

On Wednesday, the Awami League president launched her party’s election campaign by placing wreaths at the shrine of Bangabandhu in Tungipara. She also addressed a public rally at Sheikh Lutfar Rahman Government Degree College ground in Kotalipara.

The prime minister said her party deserved votes also for establishing a corruption, militancy and terrorism-free Bangladesh saying “my aim is now to establish a corruption, militancy and terrorism-free Bangladesh and your vote is required to achieve the goal”.

She reminded all Bangladesh’s rating as the most corrupt country for five consecutive years when the BNP-Jamaat government was in power while “now the corruption has come down significantly and for this, we got its recognition”.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangabandhu and Bangamata sacrificed their lives for the betterment of the people and “I’ve also dedicated my life to the welfare of the people . . . if needed, I will shed my blood to establish your rights”.

Spelling out Bangladesh’s stunning successes in different sectors, the AL
president said the country started its journey towards light and none will able to halt this advancement.

“We have sacrificed all things for the young generation,” she said, adding that the continuity of the government is a must for changing their lot and keeping up the country’s development.

The prime minister said if elected again, the Awami League would build a hunger and poverty-free Bangladesh so the future generation gets a better life.

The people raised their hands in favour of boat, when the Awami president sought support from them. “Please promise that you will vote for boat, I’m also giving commitment to establishing a hunger and poverty-free Bangladesh so that your children get a better life,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the nation will celebrate birth centenary of

Bangabandhu in 2020 and golden jubilee of independence in 2021 and these will be celebrated with festivity if Awami League comes to power again.

“So you can understand that how much valuable your vote,” she said.

Vowing that ongoing drive against terrorism, militancy and narcotics will continue, the prime minister said those who have links with drugs must be isolated and called upon people to wage a social campaign to root out these menaces.

The prime minister urged the people, including parents, teachers, guardians and religious leaders, to remain alert so that the children cannot step into wrong paths like terrorism, militancy and drug addiction.

“You’ve to remain always alert about children – where they go and with whom they develop relations,” she said.

“We want our children and youth folk to be groomed with a healthy life so that we can utilise their talents and thoughts,” she added.

About her government’s success in different sectors, including power, the AL president said these successes have been achieved as the government has adopted long-term plans in this regard.

The prime minister said 93 per cent people have been brought under the electricity coverage as the government has been able to raise power generation to 20,000 MW.

“Every house will get electricity, if Awami League stays in power. And like that, we will enlighten the country and society through education,” she said.

Talking about the development of Faridpur, Sheikh Hasina said the district was neglected so much in the past as the successive governments after 1975 did nothing for it.

Those governments were engaged in looting, and corruption was their principle, she said, adding Faridpur was once called “Fakirpur”.

The prime minister said the Awami League governments after assuming office undertook massive development programmes for the neglected southern district.

“The people of the district know well that their socioeconomic development takes place when the Awami League comes to power,” she said.

About the long-standing demand of Faridpur people to turn the district into a division, Sheikh Hasina said a process to this end is underway. “We will consider the matter, if we are reelected,” she said.

The prime minister said her government has undertaken separate development programmes for every area to generate massive employment opportunities.

LGRD and cooperatives minister engineer Mosharraf Hossain, who is the Awami League candidate in Faridpur-3 constituency, also addressed the rally on the Komarpur Abdul Aziz Institute premises in Faridpur.