PM urges public representatives to win people’s hearts

Risingbd Desk: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged the public representatives to work for the welfare of the people saying that victory in polls is not enough, rather they (public representatives) must win the hearts of the masses.

“Being elected public representatives once means not an end of a chapter, rather they will have to win hearts and minds of the people of their locality,” she said.

The premier added: “So, you’ll have to work for the welfare of the people irrespective of the party affiliations and uphold the trust and confidence that the people reposed on you.”

The prime minister was addressing the oath-taking ceremony of newly- elected mayor and councillors of the Mymensingh City Corporation (MCC) at her office here this morning.

Sheikh Hasina said public representatives will have to work for the development of their respective areas to earn satisfaction of the people.

In this regard, she reminded them about their responsibilities saying the politics for the personal interest never sustains and can’t bring any welfare to the people.

Referring to the steps of her government for decentralisation and strengthening of the local government bodies, the prime minister said new divisions and city corporations have been created in the country to attain the goal.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has been implementing Taka one lakh 73 thousand crore ADP this year and public representatives will have to appropriately spend hard-earned money of the people.

About the national budget to be placed on June 13 next, the prime minister said over Taka five lakh crore budget is being prepared, of which Taka two lakh crore will be spent for implementation of the ADP.

She called upon the public representatives to oversee the development programmes being implemented in their localities to ensure proper use of public money.

Sheikh Hasina said her government wants to ensure that Bangladesh as an independent country can advance in the world stage with its independent existence.

Pointing out her government’s massive uplift efforts, she said all measures have been taken to develop the country from very grassroots level.

“We’re working not only to develop the urban areas, we’re also working to develop the rural areas,” she said.

Earlier, the premier administered the oath of office to MCC Mayor Ekramul Haque Titu, while 44 councillors — 33 male councillors and 11 women councillors — took oath from Local Government Minister Md Tazul Islam.

Local Government Division Senior Secretary SM Golam Faruk conducted the oath-taking ceremony, while Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader was present on the dais.

Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque, Deputy Opposition Leader in Parliament Begum Raushon Ershad and PM’s Adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury were present, among others, at the function.

The first-ever election to the MCC was held on May 5 in a festive mood.

Awami League mayoral contender Ekramul Haque Titu was elected uncontested as there was no rival candidate against him after the withdrawal of candidature by Jatiya Party mayoral contestant Jahangir Ahmed.

Some 242 candidates contested for the general councillor posts in 33 wards, while 70 women candidates vied for 11 reserved women councillor posts in the polls.

The government upgraded Mymensingh to Bangladesh’s 12th city corporation on Oct 15 of last year.

Sheikh Hasina, also the president of Bangladesh Awami League, expressed her profound gratitude to the countrymen for reelecting her party and giving her chance to serve them again.

She said that the aim of the government is to materialize the dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to turn the country into a Sonar Bangla (golden Bengal).

The prime minister said that the government has already announced 2020-21 as “Mujib Barsho” and decided to celebrate the year by reducing poverty further.

She mentioned that the government has adopted Delta Plan 2100 for the future generation of the country and signed an agreement with the Netherlands government to this end.

Sheikh Hasina said that the government is setting up 100 economic zones across the county and already earmarked places for 80 economic zones.

“The aim of this move is to restrict setting up industries indiscriminately on the cropland,” she said.

The AL chief said that after setting up these economic zones, the country will move towards industrialization further with employment generation.

The prime minister said if the country could manage 90 percent of its development budget with internal resources, then there will be mo need for begging for help from others.

“We’ll live with our own dignity and this was the dream of the Father of the Nation … we’ll materialize that dream,” she added.

She said that people under the leadership of Bangabandhu had liberated this country through the liberation war. “So the thinking and spirit of the people of this land should be like that,” she said.

Vowing to build a corruption-free Bangladesh, the premier asked the public representatives to stay alert to terrorism, militancy and drugs as these social menaces destroy a family, society and country.

Source: BSS


risingbd/Dhaka/May 27, 2019/Saif/AI