On Monday, ruling Awami League chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina vowed to continue the country's development activities by decentralising power if her party comes to power again.
She said the party believed in equal distribution instead of political development.
If decentralisation could be ensured, then district-wise development would be carried out smoothly, Hasina said while addressing a views exchange meeting with the district council administrators at her official residence Ganabhaban.
She reiterated her firm resolve to conduct the next general elections in line with the constitution and asked party activists to start preparations.
The government in December 2011 appointed administrators to 61 district councils (zilla parishads) with a view to hold elections for local government.
"The central will do the planning, monitoring and disbursement of budget," she said adding that in that case, every work would be outlined.
At the meeting, Panchagarh Administrator Abu Bakar Siddique requested the party president to drive out traitors from the party, but he did not mention any name.
Siddique said some 10 honest and dedicated leaders would be enough to materialise the government's dreams instead of “a bunch of corrupt and traitorous leaders.”
Many other administrators supported Siddique’s statement.
One administrator said if anyone did not work for the party, then the organisation didn’t need them.
Sources said they blamed ruling party lawmakers for not “willing to coordinate with party leaders and activists.” They requested their party chief to change the nomination of “isolated lawmakers.”
However, Hasina did not say anything in response to their demands, instead she asked everyone to remain united and work for the party for the upcoming national elections.
Rejecting the opposition's demand for restoration of caretaker government to oversee the polls, the premier said elections would be held following those in other democratic countries.
Hasina ridiculed BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia for her statement that if voted to power, the latter would run the country according to a “new formula”. She said the opposition leader would indulge in corruption again under different names by “opening a new bhaban."
During the tenure of the BNP-Jamaat government in 2001-2006, Tarique Rahman’s office, Hawa Bhaban was considered to be the alternative powerhouse.
Regarding the government's failure to get the World Bank loan to build the Padma Bridge, Hasina said the construction work had stopped due to an “international conspiracy.”
"But finally, we have again started the construction work of the Padma Bridge with our own resources," she said.
Hasina said more universities would be set up. “We are examining which districts have no universities.”
Senior party leaders including Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Matia Chowdhury, Abdul Latif Siddique, Kazi Zafarullah and Joint General Secretary Dipu Moni were also present at the meeting.
