Information Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud on Friday said the government does not consider political parties and opinion when providing public and private assistance to the marginalized people under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
"The government has been providing assistance to those who are truly sick and distressed. I am also providing assistance from my personal voluntary funds without considering the party and opinion. This is the policy of our party. As a result, the fate of common people in our country has improved gradually," he added.
The minister was virtually addressing a function arranged to distribute loans and grants among distressed, cancer affected people and sports materials to 10 sporting clubs at the Rangunia Upazila Parishad conference room on Friday.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Iftekhar Yunus presided over the meeting, while Upazila Parishad Chairman Muktijoddha Swajan Kumar Talukder, Upazila AL leaders Engineer Shamsul Alam Talukder, Muhammad Hasan, Akhtar Hossain Khan, Emrul Karim Rashed, Jasim Uddin Talukder and Rangunia Upazila Press Club General Secretary Jigarul Islam Jigar, among others, spoke.
Dr Hasan Mahmud said that the present government, led by Sheikh Hasina, has taken various steps for welfare of the people. Under the initiatives, the premier has been providing assistance to those who are suffering from various complicated diseases including cancer through the Ministry of Social Welfare, he added.
"Such assistance wasn't given by any government in the past. None helped so many people before. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has also taken various steps for development of sports and games," the minister added.
Dr Hasan said that the achievement of Test status in cricket arena in Bangladesh came through the hands of Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina.
"Our youth cricket team has become the world champion. Our women's football team has beaten many more teams including Pakistan. Our cricket team has also beaten all the cricketing power teams in the world," he said.
A total of Tk10 lakh from the own funds of the information minister were handed over as financial assistance to 26 cancer patients, interest free loans from the Department of Social welfare Ministry to 79 people, and sports and games materials to 10 sporting clubs in the upazila.