Conspiracy was hatched to create crisis before Jan 5 polls: PM:Daily Sun

Sheikh Hasina Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday alleged that a vested quarter hatched a conspiracy to create an artificial crisis before the January 5 elections to mar the continuation of the country’s democratic practice. “A vested quarter tried to create an artificial crisis like that of the famine in 1974 before the January 5 polls,” she said while addressing the officials of the Social We
lfare Ministry at Bangladesh Secretariat. Terming the 1974 famine an artificially created crisis, the premier said there had been global economic recession at that time but there were preparations to face any food crisis. “Various food items were purchased in cash but a ship laden with the food items was not allowed to reach country timely. That was a big conspiracy,” the premier added. She said her immediate-past government smelt that type of conspiracy before January 5 polls. “A vested quarter made an attempt to unseat my government to hinder the country’s democratic practice.” Thanking government employees, ruling party activists and people for saving democracy, the premier claimed that her government could effectively handle the situation as they had the experience. Sheikh Hasina also mentioned that her 1996 government had taken various development programmes but the BNP-Jamaat alliance government scrapped them. “So continuation of the government is essential this time for country’s development.” Laying importance on the activities of the social welfare ministry, the premier directed the ministry to extend support to a section of people neglected in the society. “It is the responsibility of the social welfare ministry to change the fate of lot of the neglected citizens of the society,” she added. “The best service is to provide service to the people. You have to do something for the poor instead of paving the way for the rich people to become richer,” she said, directing them to do something for the children and deprived section of people. Directing the officials to implement programmes taken for the betterment of the people with disabilities, the premier said the life of the people with disabilities should be made meaningful. “They should be turned into assets instead of considering them as burden of society,” she said. The premier also directed the ministry to make arrangement on the ground of Dumb and Meek School at the western side of Jatiya Sangsad so that cricketers with disabilities can practice there. She also said that the government has already made a list of street children in the capital aimed at rehabilitating them with giving education and necessary training. “It is not a difficult task, it can be done if we wish,” she said. The premier also mentioned that 28 more new hostels are being constructed for the visually-impaired children. “We have introduced a new process to educate the children with disabilities and books are being provided to these children free of cost,” she said. Laying an importance on economic emancipation of women, the premier said that poverty should be driven out to make independence of the country fruitful. “The government will certainly give allowances to the poor but the poor should not be dependent only on the government help to maintain their families,” Hasina said. Social welfare minister Syed Mohsin Ali gave speech welcoming the premier while state minister Promode Mankin, secretary of the ministry Nasima Begum and senior officials of the ministry and Prime Minister Office were present.