Dhaka Bureau: Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina said that remittances sent by expatriates are the main driving force of the country’s economy, recalling the great contribution of expatriates in every struggle and liberation war of the country.
He said these things at a discussion meeting with expatriate Awami League leaders and activists at Ganobhaban on Tuesday (January 16).
Sheikh Hasina said, ‘Expatriates have made a great contribution to the creation of world public opinion in the struggle for freedom. Expatriates have made a great contribution to every movement, struggle, and liberation war. Apart from that, remittances sent by expatriates to independent Bangladesh are the main driving force of Bangladesh’s economy.
“Expatriates have contributed to our freedom struggle and any movement. When martial law was imposed in Bangladesh and we could not work, expatriates protested. You are a movement and a struggle. Creates public opinion. It is a great strength for us.
He said, “I am grateful to the people for the election that took place on January 7.” Because these people have spontaneously come to vote. When the BNP did not come to the election, they started distributing leaflets so that no one would come to the election and no one would vote.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to organize free and fair elections, the head of government said, “A fair election has been held.” This year’s Election Commission has passed a law. Our effort was to make sure that there was no accident in the election—a free and fair election. Due to this, we brought one election reform after another. Because when military rulers seized power one after another, they started rigging the elections. From that place, we started the movement to return people’s rights to people.
Sheikh Hasina said, “After the Awami League came to power, the people of this country realized that the government is the servant of the people. That announcement was made by the Father of the Nation, and I, as the daughter of the Father of the Nation, followed in his footsteps and made that announcement. I am not the prime minister, but as the daughter of the father of the nation, I will work as a servant of the people so that I can change their fate.
Stating that Bangladesh believes in peace and not war, Bangabandhukanya said, “We have got the status of a developing country, the epidemic of the Corona virus, the Ukraine-Russia war, which we were supposed to implement in 2024; we have extended it by two years.” Then came the attacks on Palestine, attacking women, children, and hospitals. We are always with Palestine. Destroying a nation like this and destroying women is a kind of genocide.
“We have sent help; we will send it in the future. After that attack again in Yemen, We don’t want war; we want peace. When Myanmar was in turmoil, they asked for asylum, and we gave them asylum. We have negotiated with Myanmar; we have not gone to war. We wanted peace.
Sheikh Hasina said, “This arms race today… Internationally, wherever I have gone, I have said that this arms race should be stopped and the money should be spent on children’s food, children’s treatment, and children’s education.” Let it be spent on human welfare. In the country that is spending this money, that money is the tax money of the people of that country.
“Today, children suffer, women suffer, and mankind suffers. Why do we have to do such things? We strongly oppose it; we never want war; we want peace.
He said, ‘They are the ones who lock the BNP office; they are the ones who break it; they say they have lost the key. Where did the key go? They are the ones who locked it, lost their keys, and lost their way. They are now lost wayfarers. I don’t know if they have any organizational skills or not. There is only one fire.
