A European Parliamentary delegation paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official Ganabhaban residence, informed Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim to reporters at a press briefing on Saturday evening, reports BSS.
He said a six member delegation team led by European MP Giuseppe Fernandino, met with the prime minister.
He said: “The delegation members were impressed with the history of Bangladesh and family of the prime minister.
“They informed the prime minister about their visit to the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in the capital.”
Sheikh Hasina response was: “The flourishing of democracy was disrupted after the assassination of The Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975 and the country was put under the military rule for a long time.”
She further said: “The military rulers misguided the young generation at that time by giving them arms and money.”
The prime minister said Bangabandhu had a dream of turning Bangladesh into a hunger and povertyfree country.
“Throughout his life, Bangabandhu struggled for the welfare of the people of Bangladesh,” she said.
“We’re working relentlessly to materialize Bangabandhu’s dream,” the prime minister also said.
The delegation members praised Bangladesh’s impressive socioeconomic development particularly in women empowerment under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina and wanted to know from her about the country’s success in this regard.
Sheikh Hasina apprised the team members of the various measuresher government has taken towards women development and empowerment.
She said: “We’re providing stipends to students through their mothers’mobile phones, and 60% primary teachers that are being recruited are women.”
On the issue of terrorism, the prime minister said her government has contained this social menace with iron hands.
Sheikh Hasina said her government has involved the cross section of people including teachers, students, religious leaders and public representatives to create awareness against terrorism.
The prime minister said her government would work hard to fulfill basic needs of the people including food, housing, clothes and medicare.
She said her government has emphasized on conducting research to boost food production in the country.
Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Md Nojibur Rahman, Prime Minister’s Office Secretary Sajjadul Hassan and Awami League’s Publicity and Publication Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud, MP, among others,were present at the time.