No conspiracy can deter development, says PM
Hasina returns from the Netherlands
UNB
Renewing her allegation that the BNP-Jamaat clique is behind the recent killings, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said Bangladesh is now unstoppable in its development drive and no conspiracy can deter it, reports UNB. Bangladesh is becoming an indomitable power and its ongoing development cannot be stopped any conspiracy or destructive move. The country will become a middle-income one, stamping out hunger and poverty much before 2021, she said.
The prime minister was addressing a community reception accorded to her by Bangladeshi diaspora at Kurhaus Hotel here on Thursday night, the last day of her three-day official visit to the Netherlands. Hasina said, Bangladesh is progressively moving forward in all sectors and no one can ignore it now. No conspiracy will work to skid the country off its aspired goal of achieving economic prosperity and social development.
Mentioning the destructive politics of BNP-Jamaat clique over the years, she said Khaleda Zia has again bogged down in her conspiratorial politics and her every step is aimed at tarnishing Bangladeshs image. Theyre behind the recent killings, anarchy and subversive activities. Hasina urged the Bangladeshi expatriates and foreign entrepreneurs to come up with their investments in Bangladeshs various sectors, and brighten the countrys image.
Referring to the political situation following 1/11 changeover in 2007, the PM said the then caretaker government denied her entering the country from London.
At that time expatriate Bangladeshi nationals came forward in her support and they, putting their lives at risk, accompanied her in her journey to Bangladesh.
Terming the Netherlands as a good friend of Bangladesh, Hasina said the country was always beside Bangladesh during its needs. So, she paid the first-ever officials visit to the Netherlands to boost the ties.
The Prime Minister said Bangladesh would have been a developed nation much ago had Bangabandhu been alive.
Hasina said the people of Bangladesh had to suffer for long 21 years and they received real taste of development in 1996 when the Awami League government came to power with public mandate. But, their happiness could not sustain more than five years as BNP and Jamaat came to power again in 2001. Their repression and intimidation continued till 2006.
She said the 2008 election was a turning point for Bangladesh history when people gave mandate to Awami League again to constitute the government. With this change, the country got back the momentum of development in every sector.
Hasina lambasted BNP for scrapping a deal with a Netherlands company to procure computers for government offices. Bangladesh government had come up with the deal during its 1996-2001 tenure to procure computers from Dutch computer manufacturer Tulip Computers NV. As the Tulip coincided with the name of Tulip Siddiqui, one of her niece of Sheikh Hasina, now a British parliament member, BNP government, after assuming office in 2001, scrapped the deal on the plea that the Tulip Computer is owned by Tulip Siddiqui. The unscrupulous decision of the BNP government caused a loss of Tk 32 crore to the national exchequer that came as a fine for breach of the contact, the prime minister said. The prime minister arrived in the capital yesterday afternoon completing her three-day successful tour to the Netherlands, reports UNB. A VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the Prime Minister and her entourage landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) around 5:40 pm. Members of the Cabinet and high civil and military officials received the Prime Minister at the airport.
