Govt to fight in Canada court: PM

Risingbd Desk: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said her government would fight in the Canadian court for deportation of Noor Chowdhury, a self-confessed and convicted killer of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

In this regard, she sought the support and cooperation of the expatriate nationals in Canada, saying Noor Chowdhury, who directly shot dead the Father of the Nation, is now clandestinely living in Canada.

“We want to execute the sentences of the convicted killers as they are ‘curses’ for Bangladesh,” she said while addressing a reception accorded to her by Canada chapter of Awami League here on Sunday afternoon local time.

Sheikh Hasina said steps would also be taken for deportation of all fugitive killers including Rashed Chowdhury living in the USA and Rashid and Dalim living in Pakistan.

She said fortunes started flashing on the faces of the people of Bangladesh through the trial of Bangabandhu killers and anti-liberation forces ousted from state power.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, joint secretary of Awami League Mahbubul Alam Hanif, women leader Hasina Akhter Janu, Ontario Awami League leaders Abdus Salam, Erthad Juberi Selim, president of Canada Awami League Golam Mohammad Mahmud Mia and its general secretary Azizur Rahman Prince also spoke on the occasion held at Metro Convention Center here.

Sheikh Hasina said the post 1975 rulers not only thwart country’s democratic system but also destroyed its economy, spirit of the liberation war and all prides of the nation.

The prime minister said Bangladesh must continue its democratic process and pace of development. Expatriate nationals and their relatives in the country have to remain vigil so that upcoming election can be held properly to continue the country’s development, she said.

The premier said Awami League has played the catalytic role in purifying the country’s democratic system which Ziaur Rahman manipulated in the name of so called ‘multi-party democracy’ under the purview of ‘curfew democracy’.

BNP didn’t take part in the last general election and it was their self-styled decision. But, why people would pay for their wrong decision and why innocent people would be burnt alive to fulfill their political vengeance, she asked.

Sheikh Hasina said her party had floated the Charter of Changes in 2008 general election. In 2014, her party focused on continuation of the development. Now Awami League has made up a new vision to make Bangladesh as a middle income country by 2021 and a developed one in South Asia by 2041, she said.

The prime minister said her government is not working for development of a particular group of people, but progress of all people particularly in rural area. And people are now enjoying its benefits, she said.

Sheikh Hasina said Awami League, as a political party, has a long cherished goal for development of the country and that plan has been designed long before.

The prime minister said all development plans of her government as well as annual budget are designed according to party’s election manifesto, which is not seen in case of other political parties.

“So now we can claim that we have done much more than our target and it is reflected in almost every sector,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said every part of the country would be brought under full electricity coverage very soon. Electricity generation has risen to 18,300 MW in last nine years from only 1600 MW in 2008, she said.

The premier said 100 industrial zones are being established across the county while plots are being allocated for expatriates to set up their industries. Moreover, many special benefits and facilities for women entrepreneurs are being provided, she also said.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh was liberated in nine months under the leadership of Bangabandhu. The country would have been a developed one within five to seven years if Bangabandhu was alive, she said.

The prime minister said over the last nine years Bangladesh has achieved tremendous successes in socioeconomic sector. Economic growth has shot up, per capita income has increased, but inflation rates have remained under control, she said.

Pointing out the successful launching of satellite Bangabandhu-1 to the orbit, the prime minister said Bangladesh’s position is now stretches from ocean to space.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh put itself as a dignified nation in the world as the country is now constructing the Padma Bridge at its own cost. Survey is being conducted for construction of underground rail in Dhaka, she added.

Criticising BNP for its destructive politics, the prime minister said BNP never sees the development works implemented by Awami League government. But they enjoy the benefits of every development. They (BNP) have taken money in the name of orphans, but orphans didn’t get any money, she said.

Describing the conviction of Khaleda Zia in corruption case as a court affair, the premier said the government has nothing to do with this case as her learned lawyers could not prove her client innocents in the court.

Saying that her party has no political vengeance on BNP, the prime minister added the government, if it wanted, would have arrested Khaleda Zia when her party resorted to a reign of terror all over the country in the name of movement in 2013, 2014 and 2015._BSS.


risingbd/Dhaka/Jun 11, 2018/Nasim