Information and Broadcasting Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud today said that the pledge of the Victory Day was to build a humanitarian and social welfare state through eliminating negative and destructive politics forever from the country.

"Mental development is very much needed apart from infrastructure development. We are not poor at all economically though lagging behind many countries. Our moral values and family and social ties are stronger than many others," he said while addressing a discussion at Tathya Bhaban here.

Department of Films and Publications (DFP) organized the programme titled '52 years of Victory' with its director general SM Golam Kibria in the chair.

Information and Broadcasting Ministry Senior Secretary Md Humayun Kabir Khandaker addressed the discussion as special guest while additional secretary Md Faruque Ahmed, BTV director general Dr Md Jahangir Alam, DG of Press Institute Bangladesh Zafar Wazed and DG of Mass Communication Department Md Nizamul Kabir, among others, addressed it.

Dr Hasan said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has introduced allowances for old age people, widows, divorced women and lactating mothers and poor with the aim to build a welfare state. "We want to turn the country into a humanitarian and social welfare state where the state would take the responsibilities of all distressed and poor people," he said.

The minister said Bangladesh is marching ahead amid all obstacles under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Bangladesh became 35th largest economy from its 60th position in the world under the charismatic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the country would become 25th or 27th largest economy by 2030, he said.

Hasan Mahmud said the country could have move further ahead if there was no negative and destructive politics. Miscreants of BNP-Jamaat are carrying out arson attacks and killing innocent people alive, he said adding that those are terrorist activities, not political.

He said such destructive politics should be stopped forever. "We are determined to stop such politics. So that we can reach the dreaming destination," he said.

In the beginning a film named 'Aporajeyo Bangladesh' was screened.

Earlier, the information secretary inaugurated a shooting floor of DFP and an exhibition on the liberation war.

Later, Dr Hasan joined a human chain programme of journalists in front of Jatiya Press Club. Media for Development and Peace organized the human chain protesting arson attacks in the name of movement.
 

Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Managing Director and Chief Editor Abul Kalam Azad, Dhaka University Teachers' Association's President Prof Nizamul Hoque Bhuiyan, Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust Managing Director Subhash Chanda Badal, JPC president Farida Yasmin, Dhaka Union of Journalists joint general secretary Khairul Alam, journalists Hemayet Uddin and Hedayet Ullah, among others, addressed the programme.

Extending thanks to the journalists to hold pen against the terrorists, Dr Hasan said BNP killed a cop and injured 32 journalists on October 28 in the name of waging movement. They attacked a hospital and torched 19 transports including ambulances on that day, he added.

He said those are not politics or movement, in fact those are evil design of destructive politics. Everyone should resist the terrorists, he added.

He said a festive mood has been prevailing centering the upcoming election. "We wiil be able to hold a free, fair and transparent election with the participation of voters," he said.