Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina this evening delivered a televised address ahead of the 12th Jatiya Sangsad election slated for January 7.
Following is the full text of her speech.
Thursday
20 Paush 1430
4 January 2024
Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
Dear countrymen
Assalamu Alaikum.
Wishing you all a very happy New Year.
Bangladesh Awami League is going to finish the current term with great success by forming the government for the fourth time in the post-1975 period after winning the 11th Jatiya Sangsad Election in 2018 with a huge margin of vote. The 12th Jatiya Sangsad Election will be held on January 7.
I remember with deep respect the Greatest Bangalee of All Time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Remembering the four national leaders and 30 lakh martyrs and 2 lakh oppressed mothers and sisters of the liberation war. I salute the freedom fighters.
I recall with profound grief the victims of the heinous killing on August 15, 1975, my mother Bangmata Fazilatun Nesha Mujib, three brothers- freedom fighter captain Sheikh Kamal, freedom fighter lieutenant Sheikh Jamal and ten-year-old Sheikh Russell- Kamal and Jamal's newlywed wife Sultana Kamal and Rozi Jamal, my uncle freedom fighter Sheikh Abu Naser, Military Secretary to the President Brigadier Jamil and ASI Siddiqur Rahman of Police Intelligence and all other martyrs of that night.
I pay deep respect to Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, founding president of Bangladesh Awami League, one of the oldest political parties of this subcontinent, general secretary Shamsul Haque and Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, the champion of democracy.
Remembering Awami League's 22 leaders and activists including Ivy Rahman, who were killed in the grenade attack on August 21, 2004. Remembering 21 thousand leaders and activists including former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria, Awami League leader Ahsanullah Master, Manjurul Imam and Momtaz Uddin who were brutally murdered after BNP-Jamaat came to power in 2001.
I remember those who were killed in the BNP-Jamaat alliance's arson attacks and petrol bombings. Condolences to the injured and bereaved family members.
Dear Countrymen,
The father of the nation deployed all his might to rebuild the war-torn Bangladesh, standing on the destroyed infrastructure and economy as a result of Pakistan's 24-year exploitation and the scorched-earth policy of Pakistan in the 1971 liberation war. In just 3 years 7 months 3 days, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib achieved a prestigious status for Bangladesh at the global stage by running the government. In 1972, the per capita income of Bangladesh was $91. The father of the nation increased it to $277 in just 3 and a half years. From 1976 to 1991, the illegitimate governments of Bangladesh increased per capita income by only $5 in 16 long years. During the tenure of the Father of the Nation, the growth rate exceeded 9 percent. But, all the development and progress of Bangladesh had stopped after the killing of the father of the nation along with his family members on August 15 in 1975.
I and my younger sister Sheikh Rehana were abroad when the father of the nation was killed.
That is why we survived. We were forced to live as refugees for long 6 years. In 1979, Ziaur Rahman staged an illegal election through yes/no voting. In that election, the counting of votes showed turnout of more than 100 percent votes. Ziaur Rahman was illegally the army chief on one side and the president on the other.
The then military ruler Ziaur Rahman prevented us from coming to the country. I returned to the country in 1981 with the support of Bangladesh Awami League and the people. I returned to the country ignoring all threats from the illegally ruling government, Father of the Nation's murderers and plotters and the war criminals.
I started the struggle to establish people's right to vote and food. That's why I came under attack again and again. I protested against the military regime for the democratic rights of the people and was arrested many times. I faced assassination attempts at least 19 times. But I didn't give up. Finally, I was able to return the right to vote to the people.
After long 21 years, Bangladesh Awami League formed government by winning the general election held on 12th June, 1996. It made an end to killings, coups and military rule.
In the post-1975 period, illegitimate governments' isolation from people, looting and governing the state without any philosophy turned Bangladesh into an undignified state. Bangladesh was known to the outside world as a land of floods, storms, tides and beggars-poor-destitute people. At that time, the poverty rate in the country was about 55 percent.
During the 1996-2001 tenure, we took several groundbreaking initiatives to alleviate poverty. We established peace in the hills by inking the hill tracts peace accord. Various allowances were introduced for the poor and marginal groups, special programs for them such as: Ashrayan Project, Ghore Fera, establishing of community clinics played a special role in alleviating poverty and improving the quality of life of marginal people.
Adoption of farmer and agro-friendly policies made the country self-sufficient in food production rapidly. Besides, we adopted short, medium and long-term policies in various sectors; which put a far-reaching effect on the economy.
Dear Countrymen,
From June 23, 1996 to July 15, 2001 - 26 years after completing these 5 years, the Awami League government handed over power peacefully for the first time in the history of Bangladesh.
BNP-Jamaat came back to power in 2001 through a conspiracy, just when the country was overcoming financial stagnation and embarking on the highway of socio-economic development. Under the umbrella of the state, a campaign to torture and repress Awami League leaders and workers began. As many as 21, 000 leader and workers were killed. Many ongoing development projects were shelved for political reasons alone. By opening the 'Hawa Bhavan', looting of state resources, corruption, terrorism, militancy and misrule continue freely.
On August 21 in 2004, grenade attack was launched on Awami League's peace rally that killed 22 leaders and wounded more than 500 people. Bomb attacks in districts, clanging of weapons, session jam and uncertain life of students in educational institutions were the common phenomena during the BNP-Jamaat coalition government. Militancy, terrorism, arms smuggling, money laundering, embezzlement of bank money and the dual rule of Hawa Bhaban made public life miserable.
At the end of the term, in 2006, through the BNP-Jamaat alliance was supposed to hold elections after handing over the power, the party resorted to various tricks to hold the power forever. With a view to rigging the election, a voter list was formulated including 01 crore 23 lakh fake voters as well as a submissive Election Commission was formed.
Such of their activities led Bangladesh on the path of darkness. As a result, a state of emergency was imposed in the country. The military force seized power from behind the scene. This government of Iajuddin, Fakhruddin and Mainuddin snatched away the rights of the people and started running a steamroller on them. Design was made to break up the established political parties. I and many leaders of my party and other party leaders were imprisoned. An initiative was taken to hold elections after trying to form different parties.
But conscious countrymen in unison resisted this plot. In the face of people's agitation, they were forced to hold the 9th parliamentary elections. However, they implemented some of the demands of the electoral reforms that the Awami League-led Grand Alliance presented - such as: preparation of voter lists with photographs, cancellation of the list of 1 crore 23 lakh fake voters, and use of transparent ballot boxes.
The Awami League-led Grand Alliance achieved a landslide victory in the general election held on December 29, 2008. Awami League alone won 233 seats. And BNP alone won only 30 seats. Partners of the both the alliances won the rest of the seats.
Dear Countrymen,
There is a huge gap between Bangladesh 15 years ago and today's Bangladesh. People's living standard has improved. Today, the people dream of a developed life. They dream of a beautiful life.
I am presenting the picture what was the socio-economic condition of Bangladesh in the last year of the BNP-Jamaat coalition government in 2006; and what progress has been achieved during the Awami League government from 2009 to 2023:
Growth rate is 7.25 percent, per capita income increased 5 times. The size of budget has increased 12 times. Annual development program increased 13 times. GDP size 12 times. Foreign exchange reserves 36 times. Export earnings 5 times. Annual remittance inflow 6 times. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increased 5 times. Purchasing power of an agricultural labourer increased 3 times. Wages of workers increased 9 times.
Poverty rate reduced from 41.51 percent to 18.7 percent. Extreme poverty rate reduced 5 times. Drinking water increased from 55 percent to 98.8 percent. Sanitary latrines increased from 43.28 percent to 97.32 percent. Infant mortality rate decreased from 84 to 21 in per thousand. Maternal mortality rate decreased from 360 to 156 in per lakh. The average life expectancy is 72.8 years.
Power generation capacity increased 8 times. Electricity consumption rate increased from 28 percent to 100 percent. Literacy rate increased to 76.8 percent. Technical education increased 22 times. Food grain production 4 times.
We have built Padma Bridge with domestic funds. We launched metro rail in Dhaka, constructed elevated expressway and inaugurated subway operations. We set up the country's first nuclear power plant at Rooppur. The third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport has been inaugurated. We have constructed South Asia's first underground road - 'Bangabandhu Tunnel' in Chittagong. Dhaka-Cox's Bazar rail route has been established by constructing iconic railway station in Cox's Bazar. 'Bangabandhu Satellite-1' has been launched.
In any economic index, the economy of Bangladesh has excelled by increasing manifold in 2023 as compared to 2009. In 2009, the GDP was only $102 billion. In 2023, the GDP has crossed $ 450 billion.
During the Awami League government, the total amount of bank loans increased more than 7 times. As of June 2009, there were bad loans of Taka 22,000 crore; Which is 10.5 percent of the total loan. At the end of September 2023, there were bad loans of Taka 1 lakh 55 thousand crore; Which is 9.9 percent of the total disbursed loans.
Those who criticize - it is unfortunate that they do not present the correct information to the nation. It is their character to mislead people with false information against the country. It seems that they get frustrated when they see the socio-economic development of the people of Bangladesh.
Dear Countrymen,
On December 27, I presented the election manifesto of Bangladesh Awami League before you. I explained in detail in what condition we found the country, and how much we have been able to implement to improve your living standard.
By sustaining the development trend of the country, so that you can have a better life, we have explained what we will do in the next 5 years if we are elected by your vote.
Today I have come to you to seek your vote for "boat" symbol. We want another chance to make this development sustainable, to improve your standard of life, to build our beloved motherland Bangladesh a hunger-poverty-free developed Smart Sonar Bangla.
The aim of the Awami League government is to improve your living standard by ensuring food security by increasing production, reducing poverty, providing permanent homes and livelihoods for landless and homeless families, educating our children and youth in time-befitting education system, improving health services further, creating massive employment opportunities through domestic and foreign investment in 100 economic zones, continuing providing technical and computer training in every upazila as we have created the opportunity, finding new workplaces in different countries of the world for exporting skilled manpower, ensuring civic amenities for rural people, improve roads and highways and taking measures to make sustainable electricity, drinking water and sanitation facilities we have taken.
If we are elected by your valuable votes and can form the government once again, we will get the opportunity to improve your living standard by implementing the programmes we have taken.
The aims of the Awami League government are to create new employment opportunities in the country, to ensure civic amenities for the rural people, to develop roads and highways, and to improve living standard of all people by sustaining the measures taken for electricity, fresh water and sanitation.
If we are elected with your valuable votes and form the government again, we will get the opportunity to improve your living standard by implementing the programmes that we have taken.
By excavating rivers, canals, ponds and reservoirs, conducting extensive plantation programme, creating afforestation and building green belts in the country’s coastal areas, we will protect the people of the country from the adverse impacts of climate change - cyclones, tidal surge, floods and riverbank erosion.
Extensive development of communication infrastructure will be ensured by enhancing road, rail, waterway and airways and their services.
Steps will continue for mechanising agriculture sector, producing more crops, food preservation, processing of food and agricultural products, meeting local demand and taking appropriate initiatives to export goods.
New markets are being explored to expand export trade and the production of necessary products will be increased. To this end, works will continue to produce digital devices, leather and leather products, jute and jute products, and build agriculture and food processing, pharmaceuticals and cottage industries, small, medium and heavy industrial production units, shipbuilding and ship recycling industries, and factories. Massive investment and employment opportunities will be created.
In this regard, the works of building institutions and laboratories for agricultural products, health science, technological science, nuclear research, aerospace and aviation research, marine research and climate change research should be accomplished.
Dear Countrymen,
In continuation of the successes we achieved in governing the state imbued with the ideals and spirit of the liberation war mentioned in the AL’s election manifestoes in 2008, 2014 and 2018, we have declared the election manifesto for building a Smart Sonar Bangla from 2024. Among the issues of socioeconomic development of the people mentioned in this election manifesto, I am presenting before you some of the issues that we have given special priority:
* To protect and practice democratic system at all levels.
* To continue all-out efforts to keep prices of commodities within everyone's purchasing capacity.
* To ensure employability education and employment for youth.
* To build smart Bangladesh based on modern technology.
* To mechanise the integrated agricultural system and take initiatives to preserve products aiming to boost production.
* To boost agricultural products and food processing industries.
* To create employment opportunities by developing infrastructure and setting up industrial units up to village level.
* To enhance the proficiency and capacity in bank, insurance and financial sectors.
* To make healthcare services available for low-income people.
* To ensure individual and social security by including all in the universal pension system.
* To enhance the capacity of law enforcing agencies in using modern technology and ensure their accountability.
* To remove communalism and all forms of terrorism and militancy.
In three consecutive periods from 2009 to 2023, the Awami League government has advanced the nation towards the path of building a democratic country based on equality and justice through public welfare-oriented and integrated planning, maintaining democratic trend and stability. Meanwhile, a sustainable foundation for reconstructing a developed Bangladesh has been established. Bangladesh has achieved the status of a developing country. Bangladesh's journey as a developing country will begin from 2026. The opportunity, to be got for building Bangladesh as developing country, will be utilised and the existing challenges can be dealt with only if the Awami League remains in power.
By implementing Bangladesh as a developing country, we have formulated plans to build a developed and prosperous Smart Bangladesh by 2041.
A large number of potential young generation will be the main architects in reconstructing Smart Bangladesh. The power of youth means the advancement of Bangladesh.
Dear Countrymen,
The 12th national parliamentary elections will be held on January 7. A request to all the political parties and institutions that believe in democracy and the rule of law - do not allow and instigate any abnormal ideas that disrupt the constitutional process.
We expect a free, fair and impartial election. This is the first time in Bangladesh that the Election Commission has been formed as per law. The Election Commission has been given financial freedom. Administration and law enforcing agencies have been brought under the Election Commission. The Election Commission is conducting the polls absolute independently.
Our government is providing all kinds of support to the Election Commission for conducting fair and peaceful elections. Whenever Bangladesh Awami League, a party of commoners, comes to power, it ensures the socioeconomic development of the country’s people. It also ensures food, security, health treatment, housing, education and employment of the people and massive infrastructure development.
We believe in peace, not in conflict. At the international level, we believe in the principle of ‘Friendship to all, malice to none’. We are moving forward with this principle. We have developed every institution keeping pace with the present era aiming to protect independence and sovereignty.
We do not want war, we want peace. We want an end to the wars in Palestine and Ukraine. We want an end to the genocide going in Palestine. Bangladesh always stands by the people of Palestine.
Dear Countrymen,
You have given the Awami League the opportunity to serve you by voting for boat. I express my gratitude.
As much as we have achieved during this long journey, all of it is your contribution.
This would not have been possible without your cooperation. If we have made any mistakes in our journey, forgive us - this is my request. If we can form the government again, we will get a chance to correct the mistakes we did in the past. Please give me another opportunity to serve you by voting for the 'Boat' in the January 7 election.
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had struggled throughout his life to realise the rights of the people of this country and bring smile on the faces of the distress people.
By losing my father, mother and brothers, I am standing by you making the pains a resort. I have found the love of my parents and affection of brothers in you. You are my family so keep trust in me. Let’s all build this Bangladesh a Smart Sonar Bangla and fulfill the dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib.
I want to say with the words of poet Sukanta-
Our time has come
We need to move forward
Our time has come to march forward this morning
At the global level, on an equal footing with others
Do not look back, let us move forward
Chant the victorious slogan in the morning
(“Amader Dak Aseche
Ebar Pathe Chalte Hobe.
Dak Aseche Chalte Hobe Aj Saokale
Biswapathe Sabar Sathe Saman Tale.
Pichon Pane Takasni Aj, Chol Sammokhe
Joyer Bani Notun Prate Bol O Mukhe.”)
Khoda Hafez.
Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu
May Bangladesh live forever.
