Bangladesh will become a developed nation by 2041: lawmakers

BSS, DHAKA: Lawmakers today taking part in the discussion on the thanksgiving motion on President Abdul Hamid’s 9 January address to the House said under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh will be transformed into a developed and prosperous country within the stipulated time in 2041.

The lawmakers thanked the President for his time-worthy speech, saying that President Abdul Hamid in his 163-page speech has projected the government’s success in all sectors in the last 11 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and outlined the government’s future plans for transforming the country into a developed and prosperous one by 2041.

Awami League lawmakers Matia Chowdhury, State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Md Ashraf Ali Khan Khasru, Md Abdul Hyee, SM Shahjada, Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, Nazim Uddin Ahmed, Simeen Hussain (Rimi) and Mohammad Shubid Ali Bhuiyan, Jatiya Party lawmaker Md Rustum Ali Faraji and Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh lawmaker Abdul Mannan took part in the discussion with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.

Taking part in the discussion, Matia Chowdhury said the people of the country get something when Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina comes to power.

“We formed the government in 1996. She (Sheikh Hasina) gave me the charge of Agriculture Ministry… the country witnessed a flood in 1998. After the flood, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) certified the country as self-reliant in food in 1999-2000,” she said.

Referring to the current status of women empowerment in the country, Matia said Sheikh Hasina paved the way of women empowerment for the first time by allowing the women to participate in the polls directly from women reserved seats.

Coming down heavily on BNP for its negative politics, she said, Ziaur Rahman made Shah Aziz as Prime Minister who advocated for Pakistan in the United Nations (UN) during the country’s Liberation War in 1971.

He (Zia) also rehabilitated the anti-liberation elements including Abdul Alim, the treasury bench member said, adding that Zia had split the national four principles of the Constitution by bayonet which has been achieved through the Liberation War.

“BNP is now talking about casino. But who is the initiator of the casino? The initiator of the casino was Ziaur Rahman. He issued licenses to gambling and heroin consumption and allowed Lucky Khan’s obscene dance in the country,” she said.

But Sheikh Hasina has taken actions against the casino and she did not spare anybody in this regard, the treasury bench member added.

“We had established the right of voting in 1991… but after forming the government in 1991, Khaleda Zia went to India and she forgot to discuss the Teesta’s water sharing issue,” she said.

Noting that farmers sacrificed their lives for fertilizer in 1995, Matia said they (Khaleda) were liable for that farmer killing and whenever they come to power they repress the farmers, labourers and working people.

She said Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Hasina restored the democracy in the counter in 1996 after a long struggle. Sheikh Hasina walked through the democratic way although the way was broken and abolished by the indemnity ordinance of 1975.

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Md Ashraf Ali Khan Khasru said Bangladesh has been ranked third position for overall fish production while it topped in Hilsha production.

Highlighting different activities of the government for boosting Hilsha production, he said, the Hilsha production has been increased by 73 percent in the last nine years.

Referring to the development took place in the livestock sector, the state minister said it has been possible to meet the demand of sacrificial animals with the country’s own production since 2017.

If the ongoing development spree continues, he said, the country will achieve overall self-sufficiency in meat, milk and egg production soon.

Highlighting the President’s speech on the celebration of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the lawmakers said celebration of Bangabandhu’s birth centenary will remain as a milestone in the country’s history.

Earlier, the lawmakers paid rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for his sacrifice and contribution to establish an independent Bangladesh. They also paid rich tributes to the national four leaders and martyrs of 1975 carnage.