Educate yourselves to lead country

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked Bangladesh Chhatra League leaders and workers to pursue education attentively to be able to lead the country.

"You'll have to pursue education in all the disciplines, including science, technology, literature and culture ... nobody can thrive and the country cannot progress without education," she said.

Hasina, president of the Awami League, was addressing a function at the Gono Bhaban where leaders and activists of the BCL, a pro-AL student body, gathered to meet her on the occasion of its 70th founding anniversary.

The PM advised them to take the country forward upholding the main principles of the organisation. "You'll have to advance towards peace and progress by holding the torch of education.

"When you go to your villages, you'll have to encourage illiterate children to learn to read and write... this is my request to you on the occasion of the Chhatra League's founding anniversary," she said.

Hasina also came down heavily on BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia for her comments on the construction of the Padma Bridge.

"Any person who has a little bit of sense and who has some knowledge cannot utter those words. By making this remark, Khaleda Zia has exposed that she has no ability to construct such a bridge," she said.

Earlier at a discussion at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh on Tuesday, Khaleda said the under-construction multipurpose Padma Bridge would be risky to use as it is being built with flaws.

"The Padma Bridge won't be constructed during the Awami League government's tenure. Even if they somehow build the bridge, please don't use it as there will be a huge risk," Khaleda said at the discussion.

Yesterday, the PM said if Khaleda had some knowledge, she would have known how a bridge is constructed.

"Some knowledge that Khaleda Zia possesses is used for making money through embezzlement and theft, and burning and killing people. She can only do these evil deeds," Hasina said.

The PM said the World Bank brought corruption allegations against the government regarding the Padma Bridge construction.

"But we challenged the World Bank's allegations, saying that no graft took place in this regard ... we could do this as we are honest.

"We assumed power not to change our own fate but that of general people."

Hasina said the BNP-Jamaat-e-Islami alliance had established “a reign of terror” during its five-year rule. "They could not do anything for people. They only bettered their own fate while in power."

She further said corruption by Khaleda's two sons was proved at a US Federal Court and a Singapore Court.

"Tarique Zia was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment and fined Tk 20 crore for laundering money. We have brought back the money siphoned off by Koko."

She also mentioned that the BNP chief is being tried over embezzlement of orphans' money.

Referring to the Unesco's recognition of Bangabandhu's historic 7th March Speech, the premier said it has brightened Bangladesh's image globally.

It is the number one speech among the 41 most inspiring speeches in the world. But this historic speech could not be aired or broadcast for a long time due to restrictions, she added.

AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader, among others, was present at the function.

BCL President Saifur Rahman Sohag and General Secretary SM Zakir Hossain also spoke there.