Barguna: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday sought reelection of Awami League to uphold the global recognition of Bangladesh as a role model of development.

‘Today, we’ve earned the global respect for Bangladesh as a role model of development. We’ll have to keep it up. So, I want you all to cast votes for Awami League for another term,’ she said.

The Prime Minister was addressing a public rally at Taltoli Upazila Government High School ground here, reports the UNB.

Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League chief, said, ‘I want you to promise to cast votes for ‘Boat’, the election symbol of Awami League, to give us mandate again to serve you.’

She said the living standard of people got elevated whenever AL came to power. ‘Whenever I came to power, I wanted the people of the country to get an improved and decent life as desired by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.’

The Prime Minister went on saying, ‘I dedicated myself to the people of Bangladesh for changing their fate and giving them a happy and prosperous life. It’s my goal to give the people of Bangladesh an improved life.’

She said the boat symbol means development. The people got the right of speaking in mother tongue, Bangla and Bangladesh as an independence country. ‘The whole Bangladesh now sees massive development as people cast votes for boat,’ she added.

The Prime Minister said her government will turn every upazila, union and village into a township.

Criticising the two top leaders of BNP, Sheikh Hasina said Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Zia had tried to kill her by carrying out the August-21 grenade attack.

‘What did BNP do? They had made Bangladesh a country of militancy and terrorism. They had made Bangladesh world champion for five times in the corruption index....they had pushed the country towards destruction,’ she said adding that the reasons behind these were they do not believe in the country’s independence and the development of people.

Hasina said her government awarded the recognition of Quami Madrasah education and is constructing 560 model mosques across the country.

She urged all, including guardians, teachers, imams of mosques, religious clerics and local people to keep their watch over the children so that they will not engage in militancy and drug.

‘Bangladesh will be a peaceful country. There’ll be no room for terrorism, militancy and drug on Bangladesh’s soil,’ said the Prime Minister.

Since returning to power, she said her government has been implementing huge development schemes in the southern region.

Terming the southern region of the country very beautiful and excellent, Hasina said the people of this southern region had always been neglected. ‘It’s only the Awami League government that works for the development of the region. Inshallah, we’ll take measures so that all can lead a decent life,’ she said.

The Prime Minister said the government is taking steps for building the industries of shipbuilding, shipbreaking and recycling at Taltoli upazila which will generate jobs for local people.

AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, among others, addressed the rally arranged by AL Taltoli upazila unit.

Earlier, the Prime Minister inaugurated 21 development projects in the district by unveiling their plaques from the venue.

The projects include a 250-bed hospital at Barguna Sadar, two fire service and civil defence stations at Bamna and Betagi upazilas, district library, construction work on a barrack for women police personnel at district police lines and other projects, extension works on the 2^nd floor of hostel for blind children, Amtoli thana building, three union land offices in Barguna Sadar, Dowatola (coastal) and Hosnabad, repair of coastal embankments affected by cyclone Sidr and Aila, construction works on four-storey academic buildings-cum-cyclone shelter centers of M Baliatoli DN College in Barguna Sadar, Syed Fazlul Haque Degree College in Pathorghata and Yunus Ali Khan Degree College in Amtoli.

The projects also include Upazila Livestock Development Centre in Taltoli, Bakerganj-Padrishibpur-Kathaltoli-Subidkhali-Barguna road widening works, one bridge, Taltoli upazila parishad complex, Bamna upazila parishad complex, Gourachinna Union Parishad Complex, One House One Firm and Polli Sanchoy Bank buildings in Bamna and Taltoli.