Dhaka: Dedicating all her awards to the country’s people, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday vowed to establish a poverty and hunger free liveable ‘Sonar Bangla’ for the future generation.

She said this while addressing a civic reception arranged by Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) at the South Plaza of Parliament as she won the 'Champions of the Earth Award' and 'ICT Sustainable Development Award'.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialised UN agency responsible for issues on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), conferred the awards on the Prime Minister during the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly recently.

Seeking support from people, Sheikh Hasina said the programmes her present government has taken for the country’s development have to be implemented. ‘I seek support and cooperation from you.’

Hasina also said she has dedicated her life to people’s wellbeing and the country’s overall development.

The Prime Minister said all her achievements are for the people of the country. ‘Because on my return home in 1981, I got the affection and love of father, mother and brothers from these people… I’m ready to make any sacrifice for these people.’

Hasina repeatedly said she will never allow the people of this country to move with their heads down. ‘Our aim is to have a dignified place for the people of this country on the international stage,’ she added.

Talking about Digital Bangladesh vision, she said her government wants to ensure an improved lifestyle for the people of this country through using modern technologies.

About the ensuring of basic rights like food, clothes and accommodation, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh will have to ensure these rights using only its 54,000 square miles. ‘It’s natural that for development there’s some impact on the environment. We’ll have to do that development keeping the environment unharmed.’

Turning to climate change, its effect on Bangladesh and the challenges, Hasina said her government is not at all dependent on anyone.

Mentioning that her government is protecting the environment and biodiversity using the country’s limited resources, she said, ‘We started our programmes with our own resources, and this is now an example in the world.’

Hasina said Bangladesh needs to be kept green protecting its wetlands and water-bodies and the biodiversity. ‘On the other hand, we must expedite the country’s development. And for that we’ll have to lay emphasis on research.’

In this connection, she also briefly mentioned various achievements in researches conducted by the country’s scientists.

Earlier, the Prime Minister also witnessed a colourful cultural function.

Mayors of the two city corporations -- DNCC and DSCC -- presented a tree to the Prime Minister while two children read out a citation and gave it to her.

Chaired by Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Annisul Huq, the function was also addressed by Professor Emeritus of Dhaka University Rafiqul Islam, Local Government and Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain, Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Mohammad Sayeed Khokon.