Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said that nothing could be gained by threatening to oust her government and imposing sanctions or visa restrictions.
“Let me tell you clearly, this is our soil, we liberated the country under the leadership of the Father of the Nation, you cannot achieve anything by threatening us. People of Bangladesh know how to realize their rights,” she said.
The prime minister made the statement while speaking at a civic rally in Dhaka’s Agargaon after the inauguration of the Dhaka Elevated Expressway.
She said that there are many people who became nervous seeing the opposition’s anti-government movement or imposition of sanctions and visa sanction threats.
“There are many who do not see democracy in the country, they wanted to salvage democracy,” she said without mentioning any name.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina without mentioning the name of BNP said that this party was born by violating the nation’s constitution.
“What will the democracy get from the party formed by that kind of people? They do not know how to ensure democracy…”
“There will be no outcome by injecting fear. The people of Bangladesh will march towards the flow of development without any hindrance and overcome such fear,” she said.
She said that boat, the electoral symbol of the Awami League, always moved forward by facing odds.
“The symbol ‘boat’ gave independence, economic development, a digital Bangladesh, and the symbol boat will present a Smart Bangladesh,” she said.
The prime minister said that between 1975 and 1996 and again between 2001 and 2008 the country had plunged into darkness.
“Today the country is not in that era of darkness anymore. Bangladesh has started its journey towards light,” she said.
She said that the only task of her is to change the fate of Bangladesh’s people. “The pledges we have given, one by one we have fulfilled all of them.”
Sheikh Hasina said that since 2009 the government has ensured democracy and voting rights.
“By this, we came to power by the votes of people and ensured a stable and democratic environment in the country, that’s the reason behind the unprecedented development of Bangladesh,” she said.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and Bridges Division Secretary Md Monjur Hossain also spoke on the occasion.
A video documentary on the expressway was screened during the program.