Dhaka, May 1 (UNB) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said the country will be run democratically and nothing undemocratic will be allowed.

“We do believe in constitutional power…the country belongs to people and it’ll be run democratically …nothing undemocratic will be allowed,” the Prime Minister warned.

She was addressing a workers’ rally organised by Jatiya Sramik League on the playground of Telephone Shilpasangstha at Tongi in the afternoon, marking the May Day.

Speaking as the chief guest, Sheikh Hasina said the government is working sincerely so that the people of the country can live with dignity and lead a better life.

“This country doesn’t want alms… we’ll have to stand on our own feet with our own efforts. Bangladesh must be built as a self-reliant and prosperous country. With this goal in mind, we’ll observe the Golden Jubilee’ of the country’s independence in 2021,” she said.

Taking a shot at BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, the premier said the black money she (Khaleda) had whitened paying fine belongs to the people of the country, including farmers and workers.

“You (Khaleda) misappropriated the money of orphans. Those who stole the money of orphans will be punished both in this world and hereafter.”

Accusing the BNP-Jamaat coalition government of making the country a haven of terrorism and militancy during its rule, the Prime Minister warned that all sorts of terrorism will be dealt with a strong hand to ensure the security of people. “Nobody will be allowed to play with the fate of the country’s people.”

The Prime Minister said killing and ballot snatching were the common features in elections during the previous BNP-Jamaat government. “Some 5,175 different elections were held under the present government. All the polls were held in a free, fair and creditable manner as people cast their votes without trouble,” she said.

Hasina said the opposition leader has vowed that all the works of her government would be scrapped if BNP comes to power in the next general election. “We have also won the maritime boundary case over Myanmar and increased wages of RMG workers. Will she scrap those works?”

Referring to the violence during the recent countrywide shutdowns enforced by the BNP, she said killing people is the nature of BNP’s politics. “They killed a bus driver when he was asleep in his vehicle. A total of 17 workers were killed during their regime. Their hands are stained with the blood of farmers, workers and students.”

When Awami League assumes power, it gives something to people. Despite the global economic meltdown, we distributed rice among the poor at fair prices and the open market sale (OMS) so that they could afford to buy food,” she said.

Hasina said the ongoing examinations of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) have got delayed due the BNP’s hartal. “What’s your problem with the education…don’t you want the students to continue their education?”
About missing BNP organising secretary M Ilias Ali, she said he had also disappeared last year. “But five people were killed over the

BNP’s recent hartal. “You (Khaleda) can wage a movement… but don’t burn people alive, please.”

Listing the steps taken by her government for the welfare of the downtrodden, the Prime Minister said now farmers can open a bank account at Tk 10. “We’ve also raised the minimum wage of RMG worker to Tk 3,000, are providing allowances to widows, elderly people and freedom fighters apart from distributing textbooks free of cost.”
She said her government formed the Education Assistance Fund so that poor students can avail of assistance from it for their higher education.

About the employment generation, Hasina said the government has already reopened eight jute mills out of 18 laid-off mills, and the remaining ones will be reopened soon.

She said the government has also taken initiatives to set up special economic zones in seven divisions of the country. “We’ve created jobs 68 lakh jobs, including 4.5 lakh in the public sector, during the last three years.”
The Prime Minister announced that the Telephone Shilpasangstha ground will be upgraded to a stadium while Tongi municipality to a city corporation.

LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, State Minister for LGRD Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Adv Rahmat Ali, MP, Jahid Hasan Russel, MP, Gazipur District AL president Mozammel Haque, MP, and Tongi mayor Adv Azmatullah Khan, among others, spoke at the rally.