Bangladesh PM rules out situation like Sri Lanka

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday brushed aside the fear of Bangladesh suffering the fate of Sri Lanka, saying that the country had never been a defaulter in repayment of its foreign debt and the foundation of the country’s economy was very strong.

In her concluding address at the 17th session of the 11th parliament, the prime minister, however, said that Bangladesh was very careful in this regard. 

The prime minister made this remark during her speech responding to concerns expressed by the deputy leader of the opposition GM Quader.

Speaking at the Jatiya Sangsad on the day, Quader doubted whether Bangladesh would be able to bear the burden of foreign debt.

‘Since the formation of the Awami League government all the loans taken for development till now have been repaid timely,’ Hasina said.

She also spoke about commodity prices and traffic congestion in the capital.

She suggested making Beguni, a popular iftar item made with aubergine, with sweet pumpkin or any other vegetable instead of aubergine.

To reduce the traffic congestion, the PM asked people to take fewer private cars on the road.

‘The price of eggplant had gone up to Tk 110. It has now come down to Tk 80. Instead of eating it with purple eggplant, you can make it with other vegetables that are readily available. That’s what we eat. A very good Beguni can be made with sweet pumpkin,’ she said.

Public bus services are being extended and metro rails are being built for the common people, she said, adding that if everyone obeys the traffic rules and the number of cars is less than before there will be no traffic congestion.

Highlighting various steps taken by the government to control commodity prices, she said that the government had taken steps so that people did not suffer much.

Responding to the opposition’s remarks on commodity prices, she said that with regards to rising commodity prices, inflation in Europe was above 7.5 per cent due to the Covid-19 and Ukraine war.

Inflation in Bangladesh is below six per cent, she said, adding that despite the impact of Covid, Bangladesh has been able to achieve 6.94 per cent growth while per capita income also has increased to 2,511 US dollars.

People’s income has increased even though the price of things has increased, she said, adding that poverty has also been reduced.

Responding to criticism over Article 70 of the constitution that barred the lawmakers from voting against their own party in the parliament, the PM said that Article 70 of the constitution ensured political stability and balance.

She said that those, who want to seize power in other ways, raise questions about it.

Responding to a statement made by GM Quader on the constitution, she said that it was unfortunate for the people of Bangladesh to hear about the constitution from a party that came to power in violation of the constitution and through the imposition of martial law.

Earlier, the PM expressed her annoyance at Quader, who, in his closing speech, said that the current constitution made a scope of authoritarianism.

Earlier on the day, in her delivery on a general resolution tabled in the parliament thanking the prime minister and her cabinet for their ‘strong role’ in establishing ‘Joy Bangla’ as the national slogan, Hasina said that BNP founder Ziaur Rahman was the real killer of country’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

She made the remark responding to a statement made by BNP lawmaker Harunur Rashid on the issue of Sheikh Mujib’s assassination and the proceedings and testimony during the trial of his assassination.

Harun, in his speech, claimed that speculative statements were made saying Ziaur Rahman was behind the assassination of Sheikh Mujib. Zia’s name did not appear in the trial of the case and he was not even close to it.

A general resolution in this regard was passed in the parliament after it was by Awami League praesidium member and Madaripur-2 constituency lawmaker Shajahan Khan.

 Regarding calling Ziaur Rahman the murderer of Sheikh Mujib, Hasina said, why not call the murderer a murderer.

‘I have pictures. I have the picture of Khaleda Zia [former prime minister and BNP chairperson] and colonel Farooq [Syed Farooqur Rahman] talking in 1978,’ she added.

Hasina said that BNP lawmaker Harun’s remark on the nationalisation of the ‘Joy Bangla’ slogan had proved that they didn’t believe in the country’s independence and the spirit of the Liberation War.

‘His [Harun] remarks have proved that they don’t believe in independence and the spirit of the Liberation War. They have a love for Pakistan in their minds and they like doing slavery of Pakistan,’ she said.

News Courtesy:

https://www.newagebd.net/article/167440/bangladesh-pm-rules-out-situation-like-sri-lanka