Dhaka Bureau: Responding to critics on reserves, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said her government has increased the reserve to a record amount and is doing all the work keeping sufficient reserves in hand. He said, there is still a reserve to buy food for five months, which can only last for three months.
In the opening speech of the meeting with the advisory council of the party at Ganobhaban on Saturday (November 19), he said, “There is a lot of discussion about the reserve, what have we done?” We have to buy fuel oil. Bought oil, wheat, corn, food grains. I bought the corona vaccine by sending it by special plane. Hospital dedicated to treatment. Free treatment has been confirmed.
Reminding the fact that doctors, nurses and health workers are rented houses separately from their families during the Corona period, the head of government said that they do not get sick and the family also does not get affected. I have given them a separate allowance for providing medical services at risk. He also expressed his surprise at the questions raised by those who took the vaccine and received treatment for free.
The Prime Minister said that when the BNP was in power, they had kept reserves of only two and a half billion US dollars, which was not enough money for three months of food or imports. In that situation we increased the reserve after coming to power (1996). When I came in 2008, it was not more than five billion, from there I was able to raise up to 48 billion. Moreover, we will never default on our loans. We did other work keeping three months of import expenses in hand.
Pointing out that the whole world is saving energy due to the crisis caused by Corona and the Russia-Ukraine war, he said, “We did too.” Maybe a little hard. From next month, this pain may not be there anymore.
Still I will say, everyone should be frugal when it comes to using oil and water. Be frugal. Because there is an economic recession all over the world, we are not free from its effects. Use whatever land you have for that. Produced in various ways including roof gardens. If we can produce our own food, the famine will not affect Bangladesh, said Sheikh Hasina.
He said, I inaugurated hundreds of roads and bridges in one day. What has the BNP managed to do? we did I built the Padma Bridge with my own money. I have given incentives to keep business going as usual in Corona. I gave food and cash assistance to the needy. As imports stopped during the epidemic, raw materials had to be bought later. These have to be spent from our reserves. But we still have reserves to buy five months of food, which lasts only three months.
Commenting on BNP’s belief in the politics of disappearances and murders, he said that during their tenure Abdur Rahman and Bangla Bhai rose to the occasion. At that time people’s eyes were plucked out. Many of our leaders and activists have been killed. There was no opportunity to do business if Hawa Bhaban was not paid. This was the condition of their time.
Bangabandhukanya said in response to the criticism about the road-bridge-culvert construction cost, those who have no relation with the soil of this country. They do not understand the character of the soil. They will question the cost. If we want to build roads and culverts here, we have to harden the soil first. Soft ground here.
The Prime Minister said, I am giving rice to 50 lakh people for free. I am giving to low income people for 15 rupees. And I have given special card (family card) to one crore people. They are able to buy rice, pulses, oil, sugar at subsidized prices. I have given houses to the homeless, I will give more. Our target is that not a single person will remain without an address in this country. We are also making special houses for coastal and flood affected areas. I am giving books for free. I am giving a scholarship. Giving agricultural inputs to farmers. Incentives have been given to workers due to Corona. I opened the mobile account of the garment workers and sent the money. No worker of this country was left out. No class of people was left out, I helped everyone with cash.
He said, Ershad-Khaleda-Zia was in power before us. They have not done so much for the welfare of people. Only the Awami League government did it. Now nobody looks down on Bangladesh. can’t see We are a victorious nation, standing tall with dignity all over the world.
Referring to BNP’s movement for democracy, Sheikh Hasina said, one does not have to go far for what happened during BNP’s tenure. 2001 election, Magura election, Mirpur 10 elections should be recalled. It was said – 10 Honda, 20 gangster election. There were various misdeeds starting from vote rigging. For which we have prepared transparent ballot box, voter list with pictures. 1 crore 23 lakh fake voters were listed by BNP for the 2006 elections. Of course, democracy can also be heard in their mouths. They are not agitating for the establishment of democracy.
Addressing the advisors, the Awami League president said, I have talked a lot. You have to listen to various criticisms. We are bringing Bangladesh to this position by working so hard day and night. Outsiders see, our countrymen don’t. Still, you have to listen to a lot of criticism, it hurts.
