President believes govt to maintain peace overcoming challenges

President Abdul Hamid today said he firmly believes that the government will maintain peace, discipline and stability in the state and society overcoming all challenges.

“The present government has been running the affairs of state taking the challenge of continuing the progress of democracy and achieving socioeconomic targets,” he said while addressing the ninth session of the current parliament.

Presided by Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, the session began at 4:30pm. Leader of the House Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Leader of the Opposition Raushan Ershad were present.

In his 36-minute speech, the president said the government has been making tireless efforts to consolidate the processes of good governance attaching the highest priority to the growth of democracy, establishment of the rule of law and achievement of socioeconomic enrichment.

Mentioning that the government is determined to eliminate terrorism and militancy from the country, he said the government is making all-out efforts to fulfill this determination.

“The Bengali nation has to once again forge an unwavering unity to uphold the glorious independence earned in exchange for the blood of three million martyrs, sustain the spirit of the War of Liberation, consolidate democracy and the rule of law and create a golden Bengal as dreamt by Bangabandhu through establishing a society free from exploitation,” he said.

The president highlighted the present government's activities and successes in different areas, including economy, investment and trade, food and agriculture, environment and climate, local government institution, health, education, power, tourism, good governance, foreign relations and women child development.

He also focused on the government’s action to tackle human trafficking and to eliminate terrorism and militancy from the country.

Mentioning that Jatiya Sangsad is the epicentre of all development activities of the country, President Hamid observed that the government of the day is endeavouring to establish Bangladesh as a developed and enlightened country in a democratic structure eradicating vengeance, bloodshed and confrontation from politics.

Alongside the party in power, the opposition parties have to play a constructive role in deepening transparency, accountability, tolerance, human rights and the rule of law and materialising the dream and desire of the nation’s advancement, he said.

Abdul Hamid went on saying, “I urge all, including those in the treasury and in the opposition, to play an appropriate and effective role in the Jatiya Sangsad which is the seat of fulfilling the expectations of people.”

About Padma Bridge construction, Abdul Hamid said the government has attached the highest priority to building the Padma Bridge for establishing a proper and coordinated communication network among all regions of the country.

About local government institutions, the president said the government has taken various steps to establish local government institutions as a strong and developed service organisation.

About marine resources, he said Bangladesh has already been included as a pilot country in blue economy adding that short, mid-term and long term plan have been taken for the sustainable management of marine fisheries resources and these plans will be implemented gradually.