Dec 19 (402 zia hall du)
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina's son Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed,
also an adviser to the Awami League chief, has urged supporters of the ruling
party to prepare for the general elections slated for 2013.
"Election is ahead. So, everyone on the Awami family will have to be organised," he told a rally of the party's US unit in New York on Sunday – Monday morning in Bangladesh.
"We will have to look towards the future and work collectively for improvement of Bangladesh," added Sajeeb, better known in Bangladesh by his nickname Joy.
The rally was organised to mark the 40th Victory Day on Dec 16 and introduce the new committee of the unit.
Sajeeb, the grandson of the nation's father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, said, "My grandfather had dreamt of Sonar Bangla — a prosperous Bangladesh without oppression 40 years ago. We have to rethink where the country stands now after 40 years."
"Election is ahead. So, everyone on the Awami family will have to be organised," he told a rally of the party's US unit in New York on Sunday – Monday morning in Bangladesh.
"We will have to look towards the future and work collectively for improvement of Bangladesh," added Sajeeb, better known in Bangladesh by his nickname Joy.
The rally was organised to mark the 40th Victory Day on Dec 16 and introduce the new committee of the unit.
Sajeeb, the grandson of the nation's father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, said, "My grandfather had dreamt of Sonar Bangla — a prosperous Bangladesh without oppression 40 years ago. We have to rethink where the country stands now after 40 years."
"Awami League, the pro-independence party, was in
power for 12 of these 40 years," he added.
The AL-led coalition won a landslide in the 2008 elections to form government. Barring eventualities, the next national parliamentary elections will be held at the end of 2013.
Sajeeb also projected different aspects of the country's economy in his 17-minute speech and said there was nothing to be worried about the pace at which the country was making progress.
"The rate of poverty fell by 10 percent last year in Bangladesh, which means 15 million people have freed themselves of poverty's curse. No one now dies of Monga (a famine-like situation). Exports have also increased adequately," he said
"Many criticise the budget of Bangladesh, but they do not see that tax revenue increased by 50 percent in the last one year. This is government's own income.
"So, we can claim that the government has a lot of money in hand," he added.
Even though the government puts the current economic growth at seven percent, he claimed the 'unofficial' rate is 2.5 percent more than that.
About World Bank's suspending funds for the Padma bridge project, the prime minister's son said the days of running the state with WB's loans are gone.
He said the government has to pay 'the money borrowed with several conditions attached' back to the World Bank.
"Instead, several countries like Malaysia and China are keen on giving money for building Padma bridge under the PPP (public-private partnership).
"The government will not have to pay the money back. The financiers will recover the money themselves," Sajeeb said.
He mentioned that two bridges will be constructed on the river Padma under PPP.
In October this year, the World Bank suspended its promised $1.2billion funding for the much-hyped Padma bridge project following allegations of corruption in river dredging, appointment of consultants and selection of pre-qualified contractors.
On Dec 10, prime minister Sheikh Hasina said she would made calls to several country to execute the project, with the bank's support. Later, she hinted that the project would be completed under PPP.
Sajeeb, an ICT professional himseIf, spoke of the government plan to build a 'Digital Bangladesh' by 2021. "The 'Doyel' laptops are being sold in Bangladesh for only 130 dollars. Farmers in villages are soliciting advice from agriculturists on the type of pest attacks on their fields by taking pictures and sending them on the mobile phone. The work for having a Digital Bangladesh is fast going ahead this way."
He also expressed his hopes that Bangladesh would be middle-income economy by 2021 if the current trend of development is maintained.
Sajeeb made it clear that the ongoing war crimes trial will not be allowed to be foiled at any rate and sought the blessings of the expatriates for the smooth completion of the trial and implementation of the measures taken by the prime minister.
At the start of the programme, a new 76-strong committee of the party's US unit was introduced.
Sajeeb unveiled the cover of a souvenir 'Swapno Siri' (Stairs of the Dream), too. source : bdnews24bd
The AL-led coalition won a landslide in the 2008 elections to form government. Barring eventualities, the next national parliamentary elections will be held at the end of 2013.
Sajeeb also projected different aspects of the country's economy in his 17-minute speech and said there was nothing to be worried about the pace at which the country was making progress.
"The rate of poverty fell by 10 percent last year in Bangladesh, which means 15 million people have freed themselves of poverty's curse. No one now dies of Monga (a famine-like situation). Exports have also increased adequately," he said
"Many criticise the budget of Bangladesh, but they do not see that tax revenue increased by 50 percent in the last one year. This is government's own income.
"So, we can claim that the government has a lot of money in hand," he added.
Even though the government puts the current economic growth at seven percent, he claimed the 'unofficial' rate is 2.5 percent more than that.
About World Bank's suspending funds for the Padma bridge project, the prime minister's son said the days of running the state with WB's loans are gone.
He said the government has to pay 'the money borrowed with several conditions attached' back to the World Bank.
"Instead, several countries like Malaysia and China are keen on giving money for building Padma bridge under the PPP (public-private partnership).
"The government will not have to pay the money back. The financiers will recover the money themselves," Sajeeb said.
He mentioned that two bridges will be constructed on the river Padma under PPP.
In October this year, the World Bank suspended its promised $1.2billion funding for the much-hyped Padma bridge project following allegations of corruption in river dredging, appointment of consultants and selection of pre-qualified contractors.
On Dec 10, prime minister Sheikh Hasina said she would made calls to several country to execute the project, with the bank's support. Later, she hinted that the project would be completed under PPP.
Sajeeb, an ICT professional himseIf, spoke of the government plan to build a 'Digital Bangladesh' by 2021. "The 'Doyel' laptops are being sold in Bangladesh for only 130 dollars. Farmers in villages are soliciting advice from agriculturists on the type of pest attacks on their fields by taking pictures and sending them on the mobile phone. The work for having a Digital Bangladesh is fast going ahead this way."
He also expressed his hopes that Bangladesh would be middle-income economy by 2021 if the current trend of development is maintained.
Sajeeb made it clear that the ongoing war crimes trial will not be allowed to be foiled at any rate and sought the blessings of the expatriates for the smooth completion of the trial and implementation of the measures taken by the prime minister.
At the start of the programme, a new 76-strong committee of the party's US unit was introduced.
Sajeeb unveiled the cover of a souvenir 'Swapno Siri' (Stairs of the Dream), too. source : bdnews24bd
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