"Those who're waging movement don't think about the real situation or they don't see our development. This is unfortunate," she said while delivering her valedictory speech in the 3rd session (Budget Session) of 11th Parliament.
The Prime Minister said in fact 75 percent hike in gas price was needed, but the government increased it by only 32.8 percent. The total cost for importing per cubic feet LNG is Tk 61.12, but it is being sold at Tk 9.80/cf by providing huge subsidy, she added.
"Though gas price was hiked to some extent due to LNG import, it's much less than what in other countries of the world," she said.
Refuting the claim of Deputy Opposition Leader Raushon Ershad that gas price has been brought down in India, the Leader of the House placed statistics comparing the gas prices between Bangladesh and India.
The Prime Minister said the gas price for household purpose is Tk 12.60/ cubic feet in Bangladesh whereas it is Rs 30-37/cf in India.
She said the gas price for industrial purpose is only Tk 10.70/cf in Bangladesh against Rs 40-42/cf in India, while CNG price is Tk 43/cf in Bangladesh, which is Rs 44/cf in India, and the gas price for commercial purpose is Tk 23/cf against Rs 58-65/cf in India, Hasina told the House.
Hasina said the government supplies both gas and electricity to people providing a huge amount of money as subsidy.
Noting that the trend of social crimes including rape, child abuse and killings has marked a rise, the Prime Minister said it is essential to make the relevant law tougher to provide harsher punishment to perpetrators.
She urged men to raise voice against sexual violence against women.
Hasina also called upon the media people to repeatedly show the faces of rapists so that they feel ashamed.
About the age limit to enter public service, the Prime Minister placed a number of arguments in support of keeping the current age limit unchanged.
She said a student has 6-7 years in their hand to sit for BCS examination on completion of a post-graduation degree.
Hasina said one can complete his post-graduation at the age of 23 and the success rate of BCS exam candidates of the 23-25 age group is higher than that of those 25-27 and much higher than that of those aged above 29.
She said if the age limit is extended to 35 years from the existing 30 years, the age of a candidate would be 37 years to join the public service after completing trainings following the gazette of BCS results.
Noting the number of universities has gone up in the country, she said her government wants to turn the UGC into a commission by enacting a new law.
The Prime Minister said her government could restore the education-friendly atmosphere in universities of the country.
Lambasting those who attacked and looted the house of Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University during the quota movement, the Prime Minister said it is essential to revive the cases filed in this regard.
“It’s necessary to take action against those who carried out such incidents and ensure punishment,” she added.
About the country’s progress, the Prime Minister said today Bangladesh is recognised as a role model for development in the world.
She said Bangladesh attained 8.10 percent GDP growth and has been able to keep the inflation rate at 5.4 percent in the last fiscal year, and set an 8.2 percent GDP growth target for the current fiscal year in the budget.
Referring to the slogan of the new national budget ‘Time is Ours, Time for Bangladesh,’ she said it is proved today that now the time is for Bangladesh.
She said 99 percent of the national budget is being implemented with own financing. “We want to make Bangladesh a self-reliant country economically without begging to anyone,” she added.
The Prime Minister also narrated different government activities implemented for the development of education, health, food production and power sectors.