Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the win of the Awami League-led Grand Alliance in the 11th national election is another victory for the people of the country in December --the month of victory.
The prime minister came up with the remarks when political leaders as well as senior officials of civil and military administration greeted her at her office in the capital, marking reelection of her party with absolute majority in the national election.
Sheikh Hasina said the victory is nothing for her for personal gains, rather it is a great responsibility towards the country and its people.
The prime minister said she thinks her reelection is a great opportunity to serve the country and materialise the dreams of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman through completing his unfinished tasks.
She also extended her greetings to the country's people on the occasion of the New Year.
The leaders and officials greeted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by presenting her bouquets.
The political leaders and government officials include Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Prime Minister's Advisers Dr Toufique-e Elahi Chowdhury and Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Najma Rahman, Prime Minister's Principal Secretary, Cabinet Secretary, Public Administration Secretary, the chiefs of the three services, the IGP, Prime Minister's Press Secretary and BGB and Rab Director Generals.
Prime minister's younger sister Sheikh Rehana and prime minister's daughter Saima Wazed Hossain were present on the occasion.
This is another victory in the month of victory: PM
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Related News
A three-member BNP delegation, led by its Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, yesterday met US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R Miller and discussed various issues relating to Sunday's national election.
The one and a half hours meeting that began at 10:00am was held at the US envoy's residence.
The two other BNP team members are BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Executive Committee member Tabith Awal.
There was no briefing from either side about the meeting.
A BNP leader close to Fakhrul said the BNP delegation informed the US envoy about their party's observations over the election and various “irregularities”.
He said the BNP team also provided Miller with documents, including paper cuttings and video clips, on “election irregularities and vote fraud”.
The BNP and its alliance partners faced a serious debacle in Sunday's general election as they got only seven seats out of 298.
The Jatiya Party does not want to sit on the opposition bench in parliament.
Its MPs, in a parliamentary party meeting yesterday, unanimously decided to be a part of the Awami League-led new government.
“Since we participated in the election under the banner of the Awami League-led grand alliance, we want to join the government. Who will sit on the opposition bench is not our concern," JP Co-chairman GM Quader told journalists after the meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
They sat for the meeting immediately after taking oath as members of the 11th parliament.
"We doubt if people will accept us as the opposition if we quit the grand alliance now to play the role of the opposition," Quader said, adding, "We don't want to sit on the opposition bench … This is a practical problem for us.”
During the election, the leaders and activists of the JP worked with AL men and they now want to work together with the ruling party for the country's development, he said.
"A delegation of the party [JP] will meet Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina to convey our decision to her. If she has any suggestions for us, we will discuss them in our party forum," Quader said.
At the meeting, he said, his party's lawmakers opined that they want to work with the leader of the grand alliance to take the country forward.
The complication emerged due to the poor performance of the BNP-led alliance in the election, Quader said, adding, "We did not predict such a poor performance by the BNP.”
The way people voted indicated that they did not want to see the opposition in parliament, Quader claimed.
After the meeting, JP Secretary General Mashiur Rahman Ranga told reporters that people were happy with the government and they did not want a major opposition in parliament.
"We want to stay with the new government. However, grand alliance chief Sheikh Hasina will make the final decision in this regard. We will abide by her decision," Ranga said.
In the December 30 polls, the AL-led grand alliance secured 288 seats. JP, a key component of the alliance, bagged 22 seats. The BNP-led Jatiya Oikyafront managed to win only seven seats. Independent candidates won three.
Election in Gaibandha-3 was rescheduled for January 27 following the death of a candidate and re-polling will take place in three centres in Brahmanbaria-2 on January 9.
The Jatiya Oikyafront has announced that its MPs-elect will not take oath as the alliance rejected the polls results alleging that the election was rigged by the ruling party.
Against this backdrop, it was assumed that the JP may sit on the opposition bench, like in the current parliament.
The JP became the main opposition in the current parliament formed after the 2014 election, which the BNP-led alliance had boycotted. The JP won 34 seats and its senior leader Raushan Ershad was recognised as the leader of the opposition with the status of a minister. Three JP MPs were also made ministers.
Their dual role has been criticised. The party could not play its due role as the main opposition in parliament in the last five years.
Meanwhile, JP Chairman HM Ershad could not take his oath as MP yesterday due to his illness, said GM Quader, Ershad's younger brother.
He was then scheduled to take the oath separately at 3:00pm yesterday. But later, he informed Quader that he was feeling ill and would not be able to do so.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today greeted Emmanuel Macron on his re-election as the President of the French Republic.
In a message to Macron, she said, "It is indeed an immense pleasure to convey my warmest congratulations on your victory in the recently held Presidential Elections."
"Your re-election manifests the trust and confidence of the great French people that are reposed in you and your initiatives and commitments to ensure their welfare and prosperity," the Bangladesh premier said, adding: "The election, as you said, was a referendum for the European Union, secularism, and fraternity."
Sheikh Hasina told Macron that she firmly believes the French people have given him the mandate to carry on with his values and vision.
"I trust, under your able stewardship, France will continue to serve as an essential player on the global stage beyond its role within the European Union," she said.
The Bangladesh PM recalled the celebration of 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and expressed commitments to deepen and strengthen cooperation in diverse areas of shared interest.
"We count on France being on our side in our efforts to enhance trade, connectivity, and security cooperation with the European Union," she said.
The prime minister added that she looks forward to working closely with him in advancing the countries' shared priorities of combating climate change, preventing violent extremism, promoting regular migration, and ensuring gender equality.
She fondly recalled her visit to France in November last year and expressed deep gratitude for extending the gracious hospitality to her and her delegation.
Sheikh Hasina renewed her invitation to the reelected President of France to Bangladesh at his early convenience.
"I take this opportunity to recall your promise to visit Bangladesh if re-elected. Our Hon'ble President and I look forward to receiving you and your lady wife in Dhaka at your earliest convenience," she wrote.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been ranked 43rd on Forbes' list of the most powerful women in the world.
MacKenzie Scott, Kamala Harris and Christine Lagarde have been ranked first, second and third respectively.
Queen Elizabeth II is ranked 70th.
The American business magazine says Sheikh Hasina Wazed, the longest-serving prime minister in the history of Bangladesh, is currently serving her fourth term.
She won the fourth term, which is also her third consecutive term, after her party, Bangladesh Awami League, won 288 of the 300 parliamentary seats.
"During what she believes will be her final term, Hasina plans to focus on issues such as food security and access to education and healthcare," the magazine adds.
It also mentions that an ongoing struggle for Hasina has been establishing a firm democracy in Bangladesh
Every year, Forbes releases a list of 100 powerful women of the world. This year, the 18th annual list of powerful women included 40 CEOs, the most since 2015, who, according to the magazine, "oversee a record $3.3 trillion in revenue." The list also included 19 world leaders, and an immunologist.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today called upon all, including the leaders and activists of Awami League and its associate bodies, to plant at least three saplings to make Bangladesh a much greener country.
The Prime Minister made the call while inaugurating Bangladesh Krishok League's three-month-long tree plantation campaign at her official residence Gono Bhaban.
The government wants to ensure overall economic development of the country while protecting its environment and surroundings, Hasina said.
Hoping to see a livelier and much better environment in the country, she mentioned that the government is implementing various programmes to this end.
The Prime Minister said forestation in Bangladesh has gone up to 22 percent from a mere 7 percent due to massive afforestation across the country under her governance.
Hasina said such steps will help improve the country's environment. Alongside expanding afforestation, this is how Bangladesh will be able to set an example in the world.
About the plantation campaign, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh Awami League decided in 1983 to observe countrywide tree plantation campaigns on the 1st day of Asharh every year before proceeding with afforestation programmes.
She requested the leaders, workers, and well-wishers of Awami League and its associate bodies as well as those who believe in Bangabandhu's ideology to plant at least one fruit, one wood, and one medicinal sapling.
Leave your comments