PM suggests eye treatment for those who don’t see development

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Sunday suggested a section of people to go for eye treatment as they don’t see the development of the government. "In their eyes, there is no development in the country. So now, it has to be said that we’ve set up an eye institute. Those who deliver addresses  that there is no development; don’t see with their eyes, I think their eyes are needed to be examined. Then maybe they can see whether there is any development,” she said.   

The Premier made the remarks while addressing the discussion meeting organized marking the 52nd Independence and National Day by Awami League at its central party office in city’s Bangabandhu Avenue. She chaired the discussion, joining virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban.

Mentioning that they don’t see 100 percent electrification and digital Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina said,  “Digital Bangladesh can’t run without electricity. Today, they are using Digital Bangladesh. Isn't that an improvement?”

“Aren’t the Padma Bridge, Metro Rail, Karnaphuli Tunnel, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant visible to them. These are not signs of development?” she said, adding, “Today, the poverty rate has come down, this development is not in their eyes, and achieving self-sufficiency in food which is not development in their eyes.”

The head of the government said that she knows there are many people who don’t see any progress in the country and for them she has nothing to say if they are one-eyed.

She added that “Actually, they don't see, why they don't see is because they don't want to see and that is why they don't see. But, we’ve taken steps in a well-planned manner for our development program  .”

She continued that the Bangladesh Awami League has formulated economic policy and announced it in their election manifesto. “We are implementing all the measures one after another that we have pledged in the election manifesto", she added.  

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, MP delivered   introductory speech.

Awami League (AL) Presidium Members Begum Matia Chowdhury, MP, Agriculture Minister Dr. Md. Abdur Razzak, MP, Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya Bir Bikram and Advocate Md. Qamrul Islam, MP, Joint-General Secretary and Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr. Hassan Mahmud, MP, Organizing Secretaries BM Mozammel Haque, International Affairs Secretary Dr. Shammi Ahmed, Central Working Committee Members Dr. Mostofa Jalal Mohiuddin and Azizus Samad Azad Don, Dhaka South City AL President Abu Ahmed Mannafi and Dhaka North City AL President Sheikh Bazlur Rahman also spoke.

Publicity and Publication Secretary Dr. Abdus Sobhan Golap, MP moderated the discussion from Ganabhaban end.

Noting that BNP leaders often allege that there is no democracy in the country, Sheikh Hasina, also the President of ruling Awami League, said it is very unfortunate for the nation that it would have to learn democracy from a party that had been born in the hands of an illegal power grabber Ziaur Rahman from the cantonment.

She said “They’re saying that democracy has been destroyed. What is their definition of democracy? Their birth was in the pocket of an illegal usurper of power from the cantonment not from the people. But they are now giving lessons about democracy. It is very unfortunate for the nation.”

She went on saying the High Court has declared that Zia’s grabbing power was illegal, Ershad’s power grabbing was illegal because they had grabbed power violating constitution and military rules.

Ziaur Rahman had killed thousands of members of Armed Forces, political and Awami League, Jubo League, Chhatra League leaders, students to make his power secured, she said, adding that many families of Armed Forces didn’t find the bodies of their near and dear ones who were killed in 19/20 military coups.

“Its hard luck for the nation as the lecture of democracy is being heard from them (BNP leaders),” she added.  

"I will give my vote to whomever I please" - this is the slogan of the Awami League and they have given it, said the Prime Minister, mentioning that Awami League has brought back democracy today by fighting with this slogan to protect the people's right to vote.

"We have brought the power of the people back into the hands of them," she said, adding that the power was imprisoned in the cantonment, was in Zia and Ershad's pocket as well as the fringe of Khaleda Zia's shari.

“We’ve returned the power to the people. Today we’ve empowered the people,” she said.

Regarding the BNP leaders’ misleading information on development, she said if the BNP leaders don’t see democracy and development now, then there is nothing more to say “but, they have a good quality which is that they can tell lies well”.

The Awami League President said they have smuggled the country's money abroad through corruption and some of the money of Khaleda Zia's sons brought back by the government. “So how could they say about corruption or say about vote . . .,” she added.

She said Begum Khaleda Zia (the then premier and BNP chairperson) had killed 18 farmers as they wanted fertilizer while 17 labourers were killed in the month of holy Ramadan when they demanded wage hike.

But, the Awami League government has made fertilizer available in its tenures with subsidy price and increased wages of labourers of different sectors a few more times, she said. She said “Actually, our goal is to ensure food, life and livelihood for people.”

Highlighting the steps taken by the government for the economic development of the people of the village, Sheikh Hasina said "I took ‘a house a farm’ project in 1996 but Khaleda Zia after assuming power strangled it."

She said later they are implementing this project with the name of ‘My house, My farm’ with the aim that there is no shortage of people in the village.

"People no longer have to worry about debt, instead they will be able to stand on their own feet as this project is being implemented by making arrangements for their small savings. Through which we are gaining tremendous capability in reducing poverty,” she added.

The Premier firmly said none will remain landless and homeless as well as address less in Mujib’s Bangladesh.

Regarding the Covid-19 pandemic, she said the government has carried out Coronavirus tests and administered vaccines free of cost which was not possible in many developed countries.

Mentioning that 73 percent people of the country have already received Covid-19 jab, she said the government will run another campaign to administer a second dose to over one crore people as 1.23 crore people given the first dose of jab already.