DHAKA: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged the expatriate Bangladeshis to put all-out efforts in mounting country’s image and dignity before the world community.
In this connection, she also called upon them to contribute more for strengthening the economy of Bangladesh upholding the spirit of the war of liberation and values of independence.
The Prime Minister made the call while addressing a civic reception accorded to her by the expatriate Bangladeshi citizens in Italy organized by Awami League Italy unit at hotel Milanofirori in Milan on Friday evening.
Sheikh Hasina said, expatriate Bangladeshis have been contributing a lot in many ways for the development and welfare of the country and said, the remittances they send are keeping the wheel of economy active.
Recalling their role in various struggles and democratic movements as well as in achieving independence, she said, their immense contribution ensured establishing of rights of the people in the country.
The Prime Minister said, the moment Bangladesh fell into any disastrous situation, the expatriate Bangladeshis played very strong role to restore the democratic process of the country.
In this connection, she also mentioned their role in developing public opinion abroad protesting the assassination of the Father of the Nation in August 15, and the move of the military backed care taker government that created obstacles to her returning to the country.
The Prime Minister in her speech heavily criticized BNP-Jamat government for its involvement in unbridled corruption, money laundering, terrorism and militancy as well as creation of Bangla Bhai and mentioned that BNP-Jamat took the country towards obliteration whenever they came to power.
Many popular Awami Leaders including Shah AMS Kibria, Ahsan Ullah Master and Ivy Rahman were killed by the grenade attacks due to their greediness to power, she said.
Referring to BNP-Jamat’s destructive activities to foil 5th January election, she said, they killed people including police, members of BGB and the Army, uprooted railway fish-plates, set fire on buses and trains, burnt holy Quran and mosque creating anarchy in the country.
Sheikh Hasina said, the defeated forces turned the dignified nation in to a nation of killers by rewarding the assassins of the Father of the nation in many ways and rehabilitated them in politics.
In this regard, she mentioned that military dictator Zia and subsequently Ershad and Khaleda Zia made the killers MP, Leader of opposition in Jatiya Sansgsad as well as gave them posting in foreign missions.
Sheikh Hasina said, her government made the nation free from a big stigma through executing killers of Bangabandhu while verdicts of the war crime tribunals is being implemented.
Awami League President also described her government’s unprecedented successes during last five years and 8 months saying it set a vision for establishing the country as a middle income one by 2021.
The Prime Minister mentioned that her government has been able to settle the long standing dispute over maritime boundary with India and Myanmar peacefully creating huge opportunities of extracting sea resources which could contribute to country’s economic development.
Sheikh Hasina also elaborated various measures implemented for the development of education, health care, power and energy, communication, Agriculture, social safety and ICT sectors.
She expressed the hope that Bangladesh would be a middle income country by 2021 and a developed one by the year 2041 with the coordinated efforts of all including expatriate Bangladeshis.
With Awami League Italy Unit President Idris Faraezi in the Chair, the function was also addressed by All European Awami League President Anil Das Gupta, General Secretary M A Gani, UK Awami League President Sultan Sharif while Foreign Minister AH Mahmod Ali, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap were present.
Huge number of expatriate Bangladeshis including Awami League leaders and workers from different parts of Italy and from European countries like Spain, UK, France, Sweden as well as from the USA attended the reception.
Awami League Italy Unit President Idris Faraezi in the Chair, the function was also addressed among others by All European Awami League President Anil Das Gupta, General Secretary M A Gani, UK Awami League President Sultan Sharif as well as Italy Awami League leaders including Abdul Mannan, Mujibur Rahman, Akram Hossain, Shahdat Hossain, Jahangir Alam, and Jasim Uddin.
BDST: 0800 HRS, OCT 18, 2014
