Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today termed the slogan, "Who are you? Who am I? Razakar. Razakar" chanted by the anti-quota protesters as "very regrettable".

"They don't feel ashamed to call themselves Razakars.

"They don't know how the Pakistani occupation forces and Razakar Bahini had resorted to torture in the country -- they didn't see the inhuman torture and bodies lying on the roads. So, they don't feel ashamed to call themselves Razakar," she said.

The premier said this while addressing the signing ceremony of Annual Performance Agreements (APAs) for the 2024-25 fiscal year at her office.

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She continued: "Our only target is to establish the spirit of the Liberation War. Lakhs of martyrs shed blood as lakhs of our mothers and sisters were violated. We won't forget their contribution. We have to keep it in mind."

The prime minister said her government had taken legal action against the war criminals who were involved in mass killing, looting, violation of women, forming Razakar Bahini and Peace Committee and giving the Bahinis firearms.

"Many of them were hanged following the trials and thus the repressed people got justice," she said.

The premier said it was the most unfortunate to hear the slogan from the girls that they are Razakars despite the fact that the women were badly violated by the Razakars during the War of Liberation in 1971.

"Which spirit do they believe? What education have they got? What have they learnt?" she questioned.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked the Rapid Action Battalion to be more vigilant against the unscrupulous businesses and help stabilise the prices of essentials during Ramadan.

"Holy Ramadan is coming. It is very unfortunate that some dishonest businesspeople become greedier instead of restraining their greed in this month," she said while addressing the 20th founding anniversary of Rab at its headquarters in the capital's Kurmitola.

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She mentioned that these people hoard essential items for Ramadan, hike their prices, and play various types of tricks. "Proper steps must be taken against them."

The PM also directed the Rab personnel to intensify their drive against bank note counterfeiters ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr. "I'm asking you to continue the drive."

Talking about the economic advancement during the Awami League government, the premier said it will grow further when the law and order will be under control and all law enforcement agencies will be vigilant.

"I know that there are some problems, we have to solve those ourselves."

She mentioned that Ukraine-Russia war along with sanctions and counter sanctions and the Covid-19 pandemic caused inflation across the globe.

"As a result, the prices of items we import from the international market have increased. Transport costs have also gone up."

In this connection, Hasina reiterated her call to create self-dependency through producing the items in the country.

"That's why I have urged all to utilise every inch of land and increase food production," she said.

The PM added that for more investment in the special economic zones, security and skilled workforce will be needed. "So, we have to build a modern technology-based skilled manpower and work with that in mind."

On her arrival at the venue, the premier was given a guard of honour.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and Rab Director General M Khurshid Hossain also spoke at the event where a documentary on recent activities of Rab was screened.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today stressed on extracting marine resources from Bangladesh's vast maritime zones maintaining friendly relations with the neighbouring countries to tap potential of the "Blue Economy" for the country's socio-economic advancement.

"We have to explore the marine resources from the maritime areas we achieved. I believe the announcement of the blue economy will be implemented. We have to use the vast marine resources for the socio-economic development of Bangladesh," she said.

Hasina made the remarks at a function marking the golden jubilee of enacting the law titled "The Territorial Waters and Maritime Zones Act, 1974" at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in Dhaka this morning.

"We will have to be cautious in extracting our marine resources and in continuing business and trade using seaways maintaining our foreign policy -- Friendship to all, malice to none."

She said conflicting situations are being seen in many areas across the globe. But there is no conflict in this region, she said.

"This zone is very safe as there is no mess with each other here," she added.

The prime minister said the Bay of Bengal is a part of the Indian Ocean and it is a very important marine route as international business and trade have been continuing on it since ancient times.

"All our countries have been doing trade and commerce equally using the seaway. International commerce is also going on. No conflict has ever been seen. I want such peaceful situation always," she said.

The prime minister reiterated that Bangladesh always believes in peace, and said, "We don't want war; we want peace. Peace shows the path of development and progress and helps the nation march forward."

She said, "We will never engage in war. But, we have to have capability to protect our sovereignty."

She later visited different stalls of the maritime stakeholders at the BICC.

State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury spoke at the function.

Secretary (Maritime Affairs Unit) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rear Admiral (Retd) Md Khurshed Alam presented the keynote speech and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Nazmul Hassan gave the welcome address.

An documentary to mark the celebration of golden jubilee of adopting "The Territorial Waters and Maritime Zones Act, 1974" was screened at the function.