Bangladesh will not depend on others for cherished prosperity: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today unequivocally said Bangladesh as a sovereign country would not bow its head to any foreign country or donors as it is not dependent on them to make its way to cherished prosperity.

Pointing out the World Bank's false allegation of corruption in Padma Bridge Project she said, "Padma Bridge issue is a big lesson for them who want to blame us recurrently to keep us in pressure to bow our heads to them."

"The World Bank's allegation of corruption against us was a blunt lie which has been proved in the Federal Court of Canada," she said adding that her challenge to the bank and decision to construct the Padma Bridge with own finance has brightened Bangladesh's image giving them a message that they should not neglect Bangladesh.

The Prime Minister said this addressing the Independence Award 2017 handing over ceremony in a function at Osmani Memorial Auditorium here today.

"In 2008 election we have floated our charter for changing days with a goal to celebrate the golden jubilee of independence as a middle income country by 2021. We certainly don't want to beg to others to celebrate our golden jubilee," Sheikh Hasina said.

"We are working with the aim to celebrate of independence with honour and dignity," she added saying Bangladesh is going ahead and it will continue as we have earned capacity to implement ninety percent of our development programme with our own resources.

This year the government named Bangladesh Air Force and 15 persons for the Independence Award 2017 for their outstanding contributions to the War of Liberation, literature, culture, development and other areas of national life.

Group Captain (retd) Shamsul Alam Bir Uttam, former Bangladesh Betar official Ashraful Alam, former police super late Shaheed Md Nazmul Huq, former minister late Syed Mohsin Ali, Shaheed NM Nazmul Ahsan, Shaheed Faizur Rahman Ahmed and Bangladesh Air Force were given the Independence Award 2017 for their outstanding contribution to the War of Liberation.

The persons received the Independence Award 2017 are- Prof AHM Touhidul Anowar Chawdhury (Medical Science), Begum Rabeya Khatun and late Golam Samdani Koraishi (Literature), Prof Enamul Huq and Ostad Bazlur Rahman Badal (Culture), Khalil Kazi OBE (Social Service), Bangla Academy Director General Shamsuzzaman Khan and former Dhaka University teacher late Prof Lalit Mohan Nath (Research and Training) and Prof Mohammad Asaduzzaman (Public Administration).

Air Chief Marshal Abu Esrar received the Independence Award 2017 for Bangladesh Air Force while family members of late awardees received their award which contains a gold medal, a certificate of honour, and a sum of cash.

Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam conducted the function and read out the citation of the Independence Award recipients with their brief life sketch.

Professor Enamul Huq, who spoke on the occasion on behalf of the award recipients, thanked the government recognizing their contribution to the society. He hailed the relentless efforts of the Prime Minister to stamp out hunger and poverty from Bangladesh and urged everybody to work together to materialize the dream.

Deputy Speaker, ministers, advisers to the Prime Minister, PM's Special Envoy, judges of the Supreme Court, parliament members, chiefs of three services, diplomats, former Independence Award laureates, academicians of different universities and high civil and military officials were present on the occasion.

The Independence Award is the highest state award given by the government of Bangladesh given individuals and organizations in the categories of War of Liberation, the Language Movement, Education, Literature, Journalism, Public Service, Science and Technology, Medical Science, Social Science, Music, Sports, Fine Arts and Rural Development.

Source: BSS