Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Sunday urged the countrymen to re-elect the Awami League-led Grand Alliance government in the next term for the continuation of development activities initiated by the government.
"We have to implement the development activities taken up by the incumbent government. And for that, it is necessary to let the government continue in office," she told a programme after inaugurating the 3.1km Kuril flyover at Kuril intersection.
Earlier, she inaugurated the Purbachal-Balu Bridge over the Balu River in Rupganj. She termed the bridge her Eid gift for the locals. The 108m long four-lane bridge was constructed by Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) at a cost of Tk320m.
On the other hand, the flyover was constructed at a cost of Tk3.03bn. It was financed by Rajuk in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and Public Works. Project Builders and China Major Bridge Engineering jointly built the 8.9m wide and 14.6m high flyover. It comprises four sections, providing uninterrupted connection among Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Nikunja, Banani, Rampura and Purbachal.
Post and Telecommunications Minister Sahara Khatun, Housing and Public Works State Minister Abdul Mannan, local lawmaker AKM Rahmatullah and Rajuk Chairman Nurul Huda also addressed the programme with Housing and Public Works Secretary Shawkat Hossain in the chair.
In her addresses, the premier asked the people of the country whether they wanted to go back to the era of darkness, corruption, looting and terrorism or move forward towards the light and development. "We have nothing to say if people choose terrorists and corrupt people and reject those who are honest and patriotic," Hasina, also the Awami League president, said. She, however, pledged to accept the verdict of the voters saying: "People are the owners of their votes. We will go by the verdict of the people, whoever they elect."
Referring to the remarks of BNP chief Khaleda Zia of running the country with a new approach, Hasina alleged: "She said she will run the country in a new manner. This means she will invent a new style of corruption."
Criticising the previous BNP-led government, the premier said there was no development in the country as the then government carried out corruption as their policy. "Going backward in every sector, the country was known as the country of militants, violence and corruption," she said, adding that the country became champion in corruption five times.
Regarding the power sector scenario, Hasina issued a note of warning to the officials concerned saying stern action would be taken for power outage during sehri, iftar and prayer time.
Hasina said that some officials were responsible for cutting the power during the prayer and iftar times, but the government had been monitoring the matter on a regular basis.
She urged the countrymen to inform the government immediately after such power outages. "Many problems, including the power crisis, have been solved during the month of Ramadan. There is no reason for power outage."
Claiming that the power division had been directed to allow two hours of load shedding per day, the premier said: "If two hours of load shedding do not happen, people will forget that once the country was starved for power."
Hasina inaugurated the construction work of the Kuril flyover on May 2, 2010 and its construction work began in June. The cost of the project was then estimated to be Tk1.54bn. but later the cost estimate soared to Tk3.06bn, even though the cost stood at Tk3.03bn.
After inaugurating the Purbachal-Balu Bridge, the prime minister said using the bridge, the people of the area could easily travel to Dhaka within 15 minutes, whereas before it took three to four hours.
Hasina said with the construction of the 300m wide Kuril-Purbachal Link Road and the opening of the Balu Bridge to traffic, the living standard of the people was increased manifold.
