Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday urged all the elected public representatives to serve the country and its people for making Bangladesh a developed and prosperous one.

‘You’re elected public representatives. As public representatives, it’s your duty and responsibility to work for the development and welfare of the country’s people,’ the Prime Minister said, reports the UNB.

 She was speaking after newly elected mayor of Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) Jahangir Alam took oath of office.  The Prime Minister administered the oath at a ceremony at the Shapla Hall of her office.

Later, 70 newly elected councillors of general wards and female councillors of the reserved seats of Gazipur City Corporation were also sworn in at the same venue.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain administered the oath to the councillors.

 Sheikh Hasina asked the newly elected mayor and councillors to gain public trust and confidence by working in their respective areas.

 ‘People cast votes for you. You’ll have to work in such a way in your respective areas so that you can gain their confidence and trust.’

 Hasina said her government has created scopes for all the elected representatives to work for the development of their respective areas. ‘You, no matter who was elected, will be able to work in your respective areas as we’ve created the scope,’ she said.

She said her government has been working with the goal of making the country as hunger- and poverty-free ‘Sonar Bangla’ as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Hasina said hunger has already been removed from the country and now all will have to work together to eradicate poverty.

Returning to power in 2009, she said, the Awami League government has made Bangladesh a strong and self-reliant country and that pace of development will have to be continued. ‘Bangladesh is marching forward and it’s now a role model of development in the world.’

Reassuring that Bangladesh will be a developed country by 2041, Hasina said her government is working out the perspective plan 2041-2041.

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader was also present on the occasion.

Awami League candidate Jahangir Alam was elected mayor in the GCC election held on June 26 last.