“Yunus got highest opportunities from AL govt but betrayed Bangladesh”

Lambasting Dr Muhammad Yunus, PM Sheikh Hasina once again said the World Bank's funding to the Padma multipurpose bridge project was stopped due to a person who got the highest opportunities from the Awami League government but betrayed the people of Bangladesh.

The premier said this while inaugurating a recently completed housing project 'Palli Janopad' in Rangpur and newly constructed 'Bangabandhu Academy for Poverty Alleviation and Rural Development (BAPARD)' at Kotalipara in Gopalganj through a video conference from her official residence Gono Bhaban.

At the event, she said the country's southern region will no longer remain neglected after the much-awaited Padma Bridge opens on June 25.

"I think people of the southern region will have no more troubles... Their financial condition will improve. They will have a better life as their socio-economic condition will develop," she said.

The southern region has always been neglected, but it would not remain ignored anymore as the Padma Bridge would help develop industries there, she said, adding that her government has already brought the area under the electricity network and is improving internal road connectivity further.

"We, the people of the southern region or the banks of Padma River, have always been neglected and poverty has been a regular feature in our lives. But it (poverty) will not remain anymore," said Hasina.

Sheikh Hasina asked people of the country to celebrate its grand inauguration as the construction of the 6.15 km double-deck road-rail bridge over the mighty river was a matter of a big challenge for Bangladesh.

"Celebrate it not only on the banks of Padma, but also throughout Bangladesh. I want the festival to be held in every district because it was a big challenge for us," she said.

The PM said many people earlier thought that the government couldn't construct a bridge over the mighty Padma River.

LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Tajul Islam, State Minister Swapan Bhattacharjee and Secretary of Rural Development and Co-operative Division Mashiur Rahman spoke at the function, joining it from Gopalganj.

Like BARD in Cumilla and RDA in Bogura, the two new multistoried institutes will carry out experiments and develop model programmes for rural development and poverty alleviation.