As she addressed officials and employees at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on the last working day of her current tenure, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said she feels proud being the daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, not of being the country's premier.
“I feel proud of being the daughter of the father of the nation, not the prime minister … I don’t think about how I will enjoy the post. Rather, for me it’s a matter of how much I can engage myself in the people’s welfare,” she told officials and employees at the PMO on Thursday afternoon, reported BSS.
Sheikh Hasina said the PMO was a very important place for the government, and reminded public servants of their responsibilities.
“Whether I stay (in power) or not, I appeal to you to discharge your duties with the utmost sincerity as you’re public servants,” she said. “Your salary and allowances come from the taxes paid by the common people. So it’s your responsibility to serve them and their welfare.”
The PM’s Principal Secretary Md Nojibur Rahman moderated the occasion, while the PM’s Political Affairs Adviser HT Imam, Principal Coordinator of the SDG at the PMO Md Abul Kalam Azad, PM’s Military Secretary Major General Mia Mohammad Zainul Abedin, PMO Secretary Sajjadul Hassan, and the PM’s Press Secretary, Ihsanul Karim spoke on the occasion.
Director General (DG) of the PMO, Begum Nasrin Afroz, DG Special Security Force (SSF) Major General Mujibur Rahman, PMO Protocol Officer Khurshid-ul-Alam, and Assistant Director Md Mokbul Hossain also addressed the gathering, among others.
Sheikh Hasina said in an emotionally charged voice: “I don’t think of myself as the premier. I’m a father’s daughter … I perform my responsibilities as a child (of my father).
“I expect from you that you will consider me as a daughter of Bangabandhu and your near and dear one … I feel proud of that, not of being the prime minister,” she added.
Putting emphasis on maintaining the continuity of government, Sheikh Hasina said: “We have completed many development programs as we stayed in government for 10 years at a stretch. Much more is still pending and it depends on the people if they cast their vote for us. Then we will be able to return to power and complete the work.”
