BANGLADESH NEWS
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged expatriate Bangladeshis to send more remittances to the country to help construct the much-awaited Padma bridge.
"There is no need for collecting tolls or subscriptions, instead you send more and more remittances to the country for construction of the bridge," she told an Iftar party hosted by Bangladesh community in her honour at Park Plaza Westminster Hotel in London on Saturday evening.
Hasina said she was impressed with the overwhelming response of the people at home and abroad to her government's stance for construction of the long- cherished bridge with the country's own fund.
"The government has earmarked financial provisions to launch the construction of the country's largest-ever infrastructure during this fiscal year," she said.
LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, British MP Michael Burns and president of Awami League UK chapter Sultan Mahmud Sharif and the leaders of AL associate bodies spoke, among others, at the function.
The premier recalled the contribution of expatriate Bangladeshis living in London to the great War of Liberation and all democratic movements of the country.
They (the expatriates) appointed lawyer through collecting subscription for Bangabandhu in the Agartala conspiracy case in 1969, while the first movement for trial of the killers of Bangabandhu had begun from London, she said.
Extending her gratitude to the Bangladeshi nationals in
London for their movement against her arrest during the period of last caretaker government, Hasina said their movement helped Bangladesh restore democracy from the hands of dictators.
The prime minister sought support and cooperation of the expatriate Bangladeshis to keep the democracy and development sustainable in Bangladesh and said Bangladesh can prosper under sustainable democracy.
Highlighting her government's stride to build a happy and prosperous Bangladesh, she said, as per electoral commitment, her party has accomplished many tasks in fulfilling the pledges.
"We promised for building a Digital Bangladesh.....we were committed for providing internet facilities up to upazila level."
"But, we have extended it up to union-level giving connection to 4592 unions," she added.
About the nagging power situation, the premier said demand for power is on rise with the increase of population and expansion of consumption of electricity and changing socioeconomic living pattern of the people.
"Our government has added more than 3500 MW power to the national grid over the last three and a half years reaching the total electricity production to near 6,300 MW," she said.
Pointing out the persisting global economic recession, Sheikh Hasina said, "Amid all adversities we could increase our production, raise our food production, reach health service to people, improve our literacy rate, curb terrorism to bring peace in people's life."
She said her government is pursuing development programmes for every sector under five-year plan and long- term perspective plan to make Bangladesh a middle-income country by 2021.
The prime minister also expressed her government's firm commitment to complete the trial of the war criminals.
Hasina arrived here on July 25 to attend the inaugural ceremony of London Olympics where she also attended the royal reception hosted by Queen Elizabeth II.
Ending her five-day official tour, the prime minister will leave London for home Sunday afternoon by a special flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
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