PM seeks collective efforts for BD's enhanced image abroad

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Thursday urged the countrymen to enhance Bangladesh's image in global stage by achieving prosperity through their collective efforts.  "I have a request to the entire nation to make united efforts to build the country in such a way so no Bengali would have to bow head down in the world," she said, handing over the country's highest civil honour "Swadhinata Purashkar-2022".

 The premier added that Bangladesh would march ahead keeping its head high in global arena as she distributed the prizes to nine distinguished persons and two organisations.

She distributed the award, also known as Independence Award, in person in a ceremony held at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) at Tejgaon. The Prime Minister said that Bangladesh has been progressing ahead at an indomitable pace confronting various hurdles.

She said that her government has made it possible to continue the journey towards the advancement even during the Coronavirus pandemic. "We have to keep continuing the journey of advancement," she added, hoping that the journey towards the light would be continued and people would get an improved and prosperous life.

Sheikh Hasina said that the nation which had given blood for language and the country's independence cannot be suppressed. The Prime Minister said her government's target is to reach benefits of the independence to every doorstep by keeping intact the dignity of the independence.

She asked all concerned to find out the people who have been serving the people and working for the welfare of the mankind and the country at their own initiatives at the grassroots level. "Assets worth crore of taka cannot give the satisfaction which one can get by serving the people," she added.

After handing over the independence award to the recipients, she said that she felt honoured by distributing the award in person after a long time due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Prime Minister however handed over the independence award to the two living freedom fighters, Sirajuddin Ahmed and Abdul Jalil, after coming down from the stage. Sheikh Hasina later took part in a photo session with the recipients. She greeted the award recipients who got recognition for their glorious and outstanding contribution to their respective fields.

Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque was present at the function. Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam moderated the function and read out the citations with brief life sketch of the recipients.

Among the recipients, Valiant Freedom Fighter Ilias Ahmed Chowdhury, Martyr Colonel Khandaker Nazmul Huda (Bir Bikram), Abdul Jalil, Siraj Uddin Ahmed, late Mohammad Sahiuddin Bishwas and late Sirajul Haque have been nominated for the award in the "Independence and Liberation War" category."

Besides, Professor Kanak Kanti Barua and Professor Md Kamrul Islam have been given the award in the "Medical" category while late architect Syed Moinul Hossain has been nominated in the "Architecture" category.

In addition, the Power Division has been given the award for their success for bringing Bangladesh under cent percent electricity coverage while the Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute has been provided the award in the 'Research and Training' category.

Of the recipients, Professor Kanak Kanti Barua expressed his gratitude to the government for the recognition. Each recipient received a gold medal, a certificate and a cheque of honorarium.

The government has finalized the names of 10 noted personalities and one institution for Independence Award-2022 for their glorious and remarkable contributions to the nation on March 15 last. Later, the name of Amir Hamza, who was nominated for the award in literature category, has been dropped amidst controversy.

The name of the Power Division has been nominated for the Independence Award-2022 on Wednesday for its contribution to bring Bangladesh under cent percent electricity coverage that has helped boost the country's socio-economic development. The government has been giving this award every year since 1977 on the occasion of Independence Day on March 26.

Sheikh Hasina said the contribution of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to the Liberation War had been erased from the history after his assassination (Bangabandhu) on August 15 in 1975.

Bangabandhu's historic 7th March speech and the 'Joy Bangla' slogan had been banned, she said. "Every achievement that included the spirit of the Liberation War and its ideal had also been destroyed. If the history of our victory is not placed before the nation or the new generation how the nation will march ahead, how the people will get self-confidence and how they will dream for the future," she added.

The Prime Minister said her government has been able to bring back the spirit of the Liberation War after coming to power after 21 years and started running the country following the footprint of the Father of the Nation to achieve recognition for Bangladesh to become a developing country.

Noting that her government has been working to implement many mega projects, she said now Bangladesh has achieved the capability of carrying out 90 percent of the development works with its own finance.

The Prime Minister said Bangladesh had achieved sufficiency in food production in 1998 as her government had taken various effective measures after coming to power for the first time in 1996.

Due to her government's tireless efforts, the entire Bangladesh has been brought under the electricity coverage as per her pledge to light every house within the Mujib Borsho, she said.

The Prime Minister said her government has been started giving houses among the homeless and landless people following the footprints of the Father of the Nation as he struggled throughout his life to give the countrymen a better life.

She said that they have already brought the major portion of the homeless and landless people under the housing scheme. "One day will come when none will remain homeless and landless or having no address in the country," she added.

After coming to power in 1996, her government had got only 1500 MW of electricity, she said, adding that her administration had increased it to 4300. The premier said after coming to power for the second time in 2009, her government saw that the power generation had reduced further.

She said they have reached medicare services to the doorsteps of the people by setting up community clinics and increasing the average literacy rate at 75 percent. Sheikh Hasina said that her government has formulated perspective plan and Delta Plan-2100 and started implementing those to ensure a better and improved life for the people.