Don’t pay heed to propaganda, says PM

Mentioning the recent rumours over the scarcity of onion and salt in the market, prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday urged all not to pay heed to such propaganda.

‘We see confusion being created carrying out false propaganda on many occasions. I would like to tell you all not to pay heed to such propaganda,’ she said while addressing a reception at Army Multipurpose Complex in Dhaka Cantonment.

The prime minister hosted the reception for the close relatives of the Bir Sreshthas and other gallantry award-winning freedom fighters and their family members on the occasion of the Armed Forces Day 2019.

Sheikh Hasina said various types of propaganda were being spread suddenly as if there was no onion, salt or any other item (in the market) and thus mislead people.

‘I know this (propaganda) would be done. It’s normal. We’ve to move on facing all this. We also do so. Today, we’re self-sufficient in food. Bangladesh is now a food-surplus country,’ she said.

Mentioning that the production of fish and vegetables also increased significantly, she said her government paid its due attention to food and nutrition.

Pointing at freedom fighters, the prime minister urged them to share the stories of the Liberation War with the new generation and local people so that they could learn the history.

‘Because, We’re a victorious nation. We achieved the victory in the Liberation War. (Share the stories of the Liberation war) so that our future generations may know how we’ve been a victorious nation… the Bangalee can never suffer any defeat,’ she said.

Sheikh Hasina said, ‘The government now tries to preserve the 1971 war and massacre spots identifying the places properly.’

She said Sheikh Mujibur Rahman engaged himself in rebuilding the war-ravaged country. He developed every force - Army, Navy, Air Force, BGB, Police and Ansar and made them fit for an independent country.

The country’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman realized the recognition of Bangladesh from 126 countries and many international agencies, including the United Nations, OIC and Commonwealth.

Unfortunately, she said, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was killed when he was taking the country towards development with more than 7 per cent GDP growth rate.

‘The person who had made huge sacrifices for the independence of this country was killed so brutally,’ said Sheikh Hasina, the eldest daughter of Sheikh Mujib.

The prime minister said her government had been able to bring back the lost glorious history of the Liberation War as it held the trial of war criminals and killers of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Now Bangladesh was considered as a dignified country in the whole world, she said, adding that her government’s goal was to turn Bangladesh into a hunger- and poverty-free, and prosperous country as dreamt by Sheikh Mujib.

A total of 101 family members of seven Bir Sreshthas, gallantry award-winning freedom fighters, and their family members attended the function. The prime minister handed over cheques of honorariums to them.

The PM also handed over ‘Shantikalin Padak 2018-2019’ (peace medals) to 13 members of the armed forces – eight members of the Army, two of Navy and three of the Air Force—at the event.

Liberation war affairs minister AKM Mozammel Haque, PM’s security affairs adviser Major Gen (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique and the chiefs of the three services were present at the event.

Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Lt Gen Md Mahfuzur Rahman delivered the welcome speech.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net