Photo-collected.
Dhaka/

President of Awami League and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, “My goal was to deliver the benefits of independence from home to home.” I have confirmed it.

He said these things in the president’s speech at the 22nd National Council of Awami League on Saturday.

Highlighting Bangladesh’s ability to implement development projects with its own financing, the three-time head of government said, “We are doing many mega projects.” Before doing any development project, we had to listen to many suggestions, directions and many things from many people. Today we are financially independent. We have been able to self-finance 90 percent of our development projects. We want it to continue.

At this time, Sheikh Hasina thanked the leaders who were responsible for 8 conferences across the country. He said, except for 10 districts, the conference of all the districts of the country has ended.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, with the help of the people, we have successfully dealt with the corona epidemic. We will also deal with the current global recession.

He said, the whole world is passing through an unstable economic situation today. At the end of 2019, the world was hit by the coronavirus pandemic. In these two years 2020 and 2021, a deep wound was created in the world economy. Many countries’ economies collapsed. Our economy also suffers.

Sheikh Hasina said that the Russia-Ukraine war started just when our economy started to turn around after overcoming the damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic. And this war is not just a war of arms; Added to this is a terrible economic war. The effects of economic warfare are not confined to the borders of a single country, but spread globally. The post-Russia-Ukraine war economic embargo-reciprocal embargo has crippled the global economy.

At this time, the Prime Minister highlighted various steps taken by the government during the Corona period. He said, by taking timely measures, we have been able to reduce the loss of human lives due to the coronavirus, as well as keep the economy running. Our aim was to save people’s lives as well as sustain their livelihoods.

We have increased 15,000 beds in various hospitals on an emergency basis to ensure the treatment of coronavirus patients. All materials including PPE, oxygen for patient, ventilator, emergency medicine are provided for the protection of health workers.

Sheikh Hasina said that about 34 crore vaccinations have been given free of charge to all those eligible for vaccination. So far 14.9 million people have received the first dose, 12.65 million 25 thousand second dose and 6.45 million booster dose. Since 2009, 22,000 doctors and 40,000 nurses and other health workers have been recruited.

The Prime Minister said, so far we have announced an incentive package of Tk 1 lakh 87 thousand 679 crores under 28 packages for the continuation of production in industries and proper management of business and trade. Salaries and allowances of workers in garments and other industries have been guaranteed. 50 lakh marginalized people have been given cash assistance of two and a half thousand taka in two phases. Among them were people from all walks of life including vehicle workers, shopkeepers, non-MPO teachers, imams, muezzins, cultural workers. Slum dwellers, poor and low-income people who cannot reach out to others, as soon as they call the hotline number 333, food items including rice and pulses are delivered to their homes.

During the corona epidemic, about 73 million 50 thousand people have benefited in various ways and about 1 lakh 81 thousand 266 organizations have benefited.

Highlighting the development of the government, Sheikh Hasina said that the Awami League government always works for the welfare of the common people. It was we who introduced various allowances for marginalized people including old age, widow, husband deserter, disabled and freedom fighter allowance during 1996-2001 period. Both the number and amount of these allowances have been increased. All the backward classes of society like Hijras, Bedes, Harijans, sweepers, tea workers – accommodation, medical, education allowance and other assistance are being provided for them. About four and a half crore people are benefiting under various programs of social safety net.

Sheikh Hasina said that while the country is moving forward after overcoming various obstacles, at that time a group against freedom and development is trying to create anarchy. See their past history. A part of them not only opposed the independence of Bangladesh, they killed people by being allies of the Pakistani invasion forces. After independence Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib banned their politics. War criminals were brought to justice. But on 15th August 1975, after killing the father of the nation and his family, Ziaur Rahman seized power illegally and rehabilitated them in politics. After being resettled, they again started the politics of killing and terror.