Cast vote for boat to keep up development spree: PM

Desk Report: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has described "boat" as the "symbol of the people" seeking vote for it saying Awami League's reelection in the next polls was crucial to keep up peace and the current development spree.

"Nobody returns empty handed after voting for 'boat' . . . we delivered more than what we had committed," Sheikh Hasina told a huge public rally organized by district Awami League at Chandpur Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

She said as people's servants her party wanted country's development, not killing and destruction and "we want to make such an arrangement so the people live in peace."

In an apparent reference to BNP she said they did not believe in the country's independence and could not deliver anything for the national development or people's welfare.

The premier said they rewarded Bangabandhu's killers and handed over the national flag to war criminals while "they could not make any development in the past and will not do it also in future". 

"The boat is your symbol which rescues the human beings . . . the boat of Prophet Nooh (AS) saved the mankind along with the animal kingdom and birds while the people of the country earned independence casting vote for the boat," she said.

"Do you want to keep up the continuation of development in the country? If you want it then you will have to give vote to the Awami League," she said while the mammoth crowd raised their hands in a gesture of their supports with huge applause.

The premier said Awami League's reelection for the second consecutive term in 2014 made available to people the fruits of development and the nation could witness the continued development spree with the continuation of the incumbent government.

"We'll celebrate Bangabandhu's birth centenary in 2020 and the golden jubilee of independence in 2021 by establishing a hunger and poverty-free Bangladesh . . . the continuation of the government is crucial to achieve the goal," she said.

AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader, former foreign minister and AL Joint Secretary Dr Dipu Moni and Disaster Management Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya spoke, among others, at the rally chaired by district Awami League president Naziruddin Ahmed._BSS

 

risingbd/Dhaka/April 01, 2018/A K Azad