Work to retain developing country status: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today emphasised strengthening political and organisational power apart from the people's support to retain the recognition of developing country status.

“For retaining the status of developing country, we need political power mostly, we need the organisation and we need the support from the people,” she said.

The prime minister said this while delivering her introductory speech at a joint meeting of Awami League advisory council and Central Working Committee at her official residence Gono Bhaban.

She said the main strength of the government to put Bangladesh in the current position was the people of the country and their support.

“The way Bangladesh is advancing, I think we need to build up the organisation more strongly,” she said.

In this connection, she mentioned that while Awami League was not in power at that time it had a plan as a political party how to advance the country.

“For this, whenever we formed government, we worked hard as per the plan and lift up the country at this place,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina, also the ruling Awami League chief, said her party has plans in this regard.

“We've to take that preparation and be advanced step by step. We've to put back all our hurdles, for we need to make our party strong organisationally, we need to create public opinion,” she said.

The prime minister said all the thinking for the advancement of the country has to be preserved in a coordinated way which will help to take the country forward defying all odds.

She said the government in the last ten years continued the trend of development.  “We never stumbled on our way to development, or we never fell behind. We advanced the country step by step in a steady way. This is the most important thing,” she said.

Coming down heavily on a section of people, the prime minister said these people always see the government's works in a negative way.

“They don't want the continuation of democratic [practices]. Their prices go up when an abnormal situation prevails in the country,” she said.

The AL president said the government never neglects the people. “We want to remain as the companion of the people in their well and woes, and work for their welfare. This is our principle and for that reason, we could advance the country,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina also mentioned that may be Bangladesh cannot be the country like big developed ones, but every people will be able to make their lives a meaningful one. They will be able to get rid of poverty and their lives will be beautiful.

“Their aims will be fulfilled. We want to build the country that way,” she said.



Talking about the recent heavy downpour and the possibility of flood due to that, the prime minister said the government is aware about the situation.

“We're collecting information from different parts of the country. There's no laxity,” she added.

She also said everyone knows about his duties and responsibilities.  Sheikh Hasina asked the AL leaders and activists to remain alert, prepared and active to face possible flood in the country.