Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said the ongoing anti-narcotics drive would continue to build Bangladesh as a drug-free country.
"Drugs destroy a country, a nation and a family. We will continue the drive, no matter who says what," she said in parliament while participating in general discussions on the national budget for fiscal year 2018-19.
She said her government was carrying out successful drives against terrorism, militancy and drugs as it wanted to build a drug-free country.
"Why will our children be drug addicts? They will pursue education and become worthy citizens. We will do whatever is needed to ensure it. This (drive) will continue," said the prime minister.
Talking about the reforms of the quota system in public recruitment service, she said a committee had been formed with the Cabinet secretary as its head to review the matter.
"The system has been there for a long time. I have already said that there will be no quota system. This cannot be reformed overnight. The committee has been constituted to find a way to scrap the existing system," Hasina said.
Earlier, Leader of the Opposition Raushan Ershad had told the parliament that the freedom fighter quota should be kept intact.
In this regard, the prime minister said the freedom fighters had fought and liberated the country. "We got the country for their contributions."
She also mentioned that students were pursuing their education at a nominal cost in the country compared to other countries of the world.
Responding to a query from Raushan, Hasina said no caretaker government took the initiative to build the Padma Bridge. "In 2001, I had laid the foundation stone of the bridge, but the BNP-led government stopped its work.”
Regarding the increasing cost of the much-hyped project, Hasina said: "If you want quality work, you have to pay more."
She also described elaborately the steps taken by the government for flourishing the capital market.
"The government is doing whatever is needed for the development of the capital market. Because of our action the stock market is now in a good shape," she said.
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