Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said when leadership fails, the nation suffers. She said this while speaking about the current development programmes undertaken by the present government. She reminded of the fact that real development takes place only when the pro-liberation forces are in power.
The prime minister was addressing a press conference held at her official residence Ganobhaban to brief media about the outcomes of her recent visit to China. The Prime Minister visited China from July 1 – 5 at the invitation of the Chinese Premiere Li Keqiang. While briefing the crowded room of journalists, The Prime Minister said, “We have achieved our goals of development by taking timely decisions through our quality leadership.”
She said that Bangladesh’s developments are visible everywhere. “The global communities have already recognized our development and praised us for that,” she recapped. About Bangladesh’s bilateral relations with two biggest neighbours—India and China, Hasina said, “For our own development we take what we need from India and China.” The premier reiterated her sticking to the country’s foreign policy of ‘friendship to all, malice to none’, as promulgated by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Sheikh Hasina who is fighting for women empowerment from her student life, reiterated her commitment to take stern action against any violence on women.
Referring to the gruesome killing of a minor girl in Dhaka, the head of government said, “We have taken all necessary steps against those who were involved in committing crimes against our women folk.”
Those who raped women are being arrested instantly and proper steps are also being taken against them, she continued. Police has already arrested the criminal who violated and murdered minor girl Samia. The arrested criminal has also confessed to his crime, Sheikh Hasina said. “Those who raped and murdered the baby girl, is not human beings at all. The crime which was committed against the minor girl, is a heinous offense. We shall take every action against him,” she vowed.
She urged all to come forward against rape and warned that no rapist will be spared. The PM slammed US Congressman and Chairman of the Asia and Pacific Subcommittee Brad Sherman for his proposal to incorporate Rakhine State of Myanmar into Bangladesh. The Prime Minister said Bangladesh is happy with its areas of 54,000 square miles or 147,000 square kilometres.
“We fully reject the proposal to include other country’s border in our territory or attach a province of another country. Every country has to remain happy with its own sovereignty and Myanmar will be the same,” she said. Sheikh Hasina questioned about the intention of the US Congressman’s proposal. “They might be a very big country and he is the congressman of that country, but do they forget their past history where there were civil wars in their country? They should not forget their past. How do they say that the past will not be repeated in the future?” she said.
The Prime Minister also said many incidents are taking place every day in Rakhine State. “Why should Bangladesh attach that kind of problematic area to it after knowing all these? “We’ll never do that. Myanmar is our neighbour and we’re sheltering Rohingyas on humanitarian grounds. But sheltering them doesn’t mean that we’ll include one part of their country,” she said. The PM mentioned that Bangladesh does not have that kind of mentality. “Every country will stay with its own sovereignty… I want that,” she said.
She also said the US congressman should propose that the Myanmar has to take back their nationals from Bangladesh. “That’s the thing the congressman should do. That will be a humanitarian matter. This is not right to create anarchy inside any country,” she said. The Prime Minister also mentioned that wherever the US puts their hands, fire engulfs every place of it. “There’s no peace anywhere (where they got involved); rather this gave rise to militancy and anarchy in those areas,” she added.
She said countries of the region are trying to stay in a peaceful atmosphere. “Their efforts to ignite fire in this region aren’t accepted,” she said. According to US media report, Congressman Bradley Sherman, Chairman of Sub-committee on Asia Pacific of the Congress, made the proposal on June 13 during a hearing on the State Department’s budget for South Asia.
Sherman also called upon the State Department to consider the proposal of bringing Rakhine state of Myanmar under Bangladesh, the economic times reports quoting the US media report. About Chinese role in resolving Rohingya problem, Sheikh Hasina said, “China would do whatever necessary to accelerate repatriation of Rohingya people to Myanmar.”
She further said “China is always attached to Myanmar. Despite this, it assured that it will talk to Myanmar for repatriating Rohingyas.” “China assured us of its support in repatriating the Rohingyas. Is it not good news for us?” she made a counter question to a reporter. About the performance of Bangladesh Cricket team in the England World Cup 2019, Sheikh Hasina who is a great fan of the country’s sports said, “I always encourage our boys. They played boldly against all mighty competitors.”
I shall never blame our players. Game is such a thing where players can’t not play well all time, she opined. Replying to a question about Sunday’s strike protesting gas price hike, Sheikh Hasina said, “If people want development then the price will have to be increased.” She said, “There are two ways –either we will have to import LNG or halt the ongoing development process.”
The gas price has been adjusted for the sake of the country’s economic progress and prosperity, she noted. The prime minster ruled out the demand for increasing age limit for government service entrance exams. Responding to a query about increasing the age limit, Hasina said, it is not logical to increase the age limit to 35.
Mentionable, during her 5-day China visit, Sheikh Hasina attended the annual meeting of World Economic Forum (WEF) in Dalian on July 2 as well as held bilateral talks with Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang and meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on July 4 and 5 respectively. Bangladesh and China signed nine instruments, including two loan agreements, for further strengthening cooperation on power, water resources, culture and tourism sectors as well as for providing 2,500 metric tonnes rice for the displaced Rohingyas.
