Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday categorically said that BNP will gain nothing by threatening to oust her government through movements.
“Today, BNP wants to oust the government. They are giving various types of threats to launch movements. Let me make it clear that Awami League has attained for Bangladesh the developing nation status through coming in power with people’s votes. No threat will work,” she said.
The prime minister was addressing a grand rally at KEPZ field in Anwara organised to mark the inauguration of country’s first-ever underwater tunnel, named after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Chattogram North and South District Units of Awami League organised the rally.
Slamming BNP she said that the party only kills people, loot money and resorts to corruption.
“Khaleda Zia stole orphans' money and for that reason she has been convicted. Her son Tarique Rahman is absconding in a foreign country,” she said.
Hasina, also the chief of ruling Awami League, said that In 2007 Tarique Rahman signed a bond to then caretaker government to quit politics and left the country.
“He laundered crores of taka. He was involved in 10 trucks arms smuggling and for that he has been convicted.
He has also been convicted in August 21 grenade attack aimed at killing me,” she said.
Read: PM Hasina inaugurates Bangabandhu Tunnel, ushers in new era in road communication
The prime minister said that Khaleda Zia rigged votes in February 15 election and for that reason people of Bangladesh deposed her from power through movement.
“They (BNP) should remember that. They are vote riggers, they are the looters of people’s money, they are killers, BNP- Jamaat means killers, murderers and terrorists and they believe in militancy,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said that Awami League believes in peace and development.
“As Awami League is in power today Bangladesh is advancing. No one will be able to suppress Bangladesh. That is the reality,” she said.
From the rally ground the PM also formally inaugurated the country’s first- ever the much-anticipated underwater expressway “Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel”.
It is first of its kind in South Asia, constructed beneath the River Karnaphuli connecting the city’s Patenga with Anwara upazila.
Read: PM Hasina seeks EU's support for Rohingya repatriation to ensure regional peace, stability
Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a goodwill message on this occasion. The message was read out by Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen, and later he handed it over to the premier.
PM Hasina also released a special commemorative postage stamp and first day cover along with special canceller, marking the inauguration of the road tunnel. She also unveiled commemorative note of Taka 50 to mark the occasion.
At the outset, a video documentary on the tunnel was screened. The 9.39 km-long tunnel, including approach road, built at a cost of Tk 10,689 crore will be opened to vehicles from 6am on Monday.
The tunnel's two tubes are spaced approximately 12 meters apart. Both tubes feature two lanes for traffic, and a 5.35-kilometre connecting road is situated at each end of the tunnel, with an additional 727-metre-long over-bridge at the Anwara end.
In terms of connecting two regions of the country, the tunnel is the second "dream scheme" in road transport sector after the Padma Bridge. The tunnel has been built following the "one city two towns" model like Shanghai in China.
The prime minister said that when AL carries out development of the country, the BNP-Jamaat destroys it.
“They (BNP) have the history of burning people alive,” she said.
She also said that BNP founder Ziaur Rahman was involved in the brutal killing of her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and rest of her family members.
“They only know how to kill, nothing else," she told the rally.
In this connection, she said that they had killed over 21,000 leaders and activists of AL along with its front and associates bodies.
PM Hasina said that Chattogram witnessed terrorism during the regime of BNP.
“But AL after assuming power pulled it back to the road of development. Chattogram is our commercial capital and we’re developing Chattogram with this view,” she added.
Hasina said AL always works for the country’s development and this tunnel has reduced the distance with Cox’s Bazar and will also connect Asian highway which will expedite the country’s development further.
She said that AL government is advancing the country ahead through taking multi-sectoral development projects.
“We’re taking comprehensive development schemes considering all aspects for the overall development of Bangladesh,” she added.
She also highlighted different social initiates taken by her governments such old age allowance, widow allowance, deserted women and divorcee allowance, housing for homeless, physically challenged allowance, free of cost book distribution, stipend for student and others development schemes.
She said as the democratic trend has continued in the country, alongside with development activities, poverty rate and extreme poverty rates have been reduced.
She urged the overseas job seekers not to go to foreign countries by giving money to middlemen.
In this regard, she referred to name of Probashi Kalyan Bank to get loan without any collateral.
Hasina urged the people to cast their votes in favour of Awami League for maintaining the development spree of the country.
Bridge Division Secretary Monjur Hossain conducted the formal inaugural ceremony of the tunnel.
The prime minister also inaugurated 11 completed projects and laid foundation stones of six development projects in Chattogram at the rally.
Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Presidium Member and Deputy Leader of the Parliament Begum Matia Chowdhury, Presidium Member Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, Joint General Secretary and Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud, Land Minister and Member of the Parliament from local constituency Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, among others, spoke at the rally.
Read: Leaders, activists have started gathering at Baitul Mukarram South Gate for AL’s Peace Rally
AL’s Chattogram South District unit president Mothaherul Islam Chowdhury chaired the rally..
A large boat-shaped stage was erected at the rally venue. The public rally drew a huge number of people, as the entire area witnessed festivities following the opening of the tunnel.