Live Correspondent: Calling upon the youths, particularly the Jubo League leaders and activists, to follow the ideals of Bangabandhu, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today reiterated that the ongoing drives against terrorism, corruption and drugs would be continued.

“We have been working hard round-the-clock for the welfare of the people… if anyone is found involved with terrorism, militancy, drugs and corruption, he or she wouldn’t be spared. I will show no sympathy for them,” she said while opening the 7th national congress of Bangladesh Awami Jubo League at the historic Suhrawardi Udyan here.

Sheikh Hasina called upon the youths to engage themselves in building the country being imbued with the mentality of patriotism and sacrifice. It is vital to utilize the merit, power and creativity of the youth for building anything, she opined.

The premier urged the youths to stay away from terrorism, militancy, narcotics, and corruption, saying, “One can be rich through corruption, but don’t get honour as well as love and affection from anyone.”

“Read attentively two books – “Oshomapto Attojiboni” (Unfinished Memoirs) and “Karagarer Rojnamcha” (Diary in Jail) – written by the Father of the Nation and “Secret Documents of Intelligence Branch on Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman” to know how Bangabandhu sacrificed his life for the welfare of the people keeping him above greed and lust,” she advised the Jubo League leaders.

Referring to the contribution of Juba League in all the democratic movements, the premier said, “This Jubo League will have to be developed in such a way so that it would not earn any bad name, rather can move on with ideology and can work for the welfare of the country.”

Spelling out various programmes taken by her government for employment generation, Sheikh Hasina said, “None will remain unemployed in the country as we have taken various measures, including establishing 100 special economic zones as well as opening up the private sector.”

She came down heavily on the BNP for comparing Khaleda Zia with world famous leader Nelson Mandela as the BNP chairperson has been serving jail for corruption while Mandela suffered in jail for the people’s cause.

In this context, she mentioned that Khaleda Zia’s elder son Tarique Rahman has been awarded jail terms in the 10-truck arms haul case, August 21, 2004 grenade attack case and graft cases while her younger son Arafat Rahman Koko for graft.

Regarding general election, she said many speculations are being made about the fairness of the last general election but there was no question about the 2008 national election in which BNP-Jamaat alliance got only 29 seats.

“He (Bangabandhu) established all organizations necessary for the country, and framed all relevant laws and time was needed for him to implement those laws,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said coming to power after 21 years, her government is trying its best to complete the unfinished task of Bangabandhu to turn Bangladesh into a developed and prosperous country free from corruption and huger.

Dhaka 23 November (campuslive24.com)//AZ