DHAKA, July 3, 2023 (BSS) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today called upon all the public representatives irrespective of political affiliation to work in unison to transform country into a developed, prosperous and 'Smart Bangladesh' by 2041.

"I request you all the public representatives (irrespective of political affiliation) to join hands in turning Bangladesh into a developed, prosperous and Smart Bangladesh by 2041," she said.

Everything in Bangladesh including its population, economy and agriculture will be smart, so, you should work for the country's desired development, Sheikh Hasina said.

She made the remarks while administering oath to newly elected mayors of three city corporations, Abul Khair Abdullah of Barishal, Talukder Abdul Khaleque of Khulna and Jayeda Khatun of Gazipur at a ceremony held at the Shapla Hall of her office here.

The Prime Minister said she knew that there are representatives from different political parties, adding, "But, we have to work together for the overall development of Bangladesh."

Sheikh Hasina said she is the Prime Minister of all and she never thinks who voted for her party in the election in carrying out development works.

The premier said, "We don't work seeing area. We are working for the betterment of each of the citizen."

To this end, she referred to establishing community clinics which she said she did it for everyone.

"Whatever I do for the welfare of the people," she continued.

She called upon all to devise plans for ensuring overall development of their own localities and work and serve in such a way as they can achieve confidence and trust of the people.

"You (newly elected mayors and councillors of three city corporations) have got the chance to serve the people being elected by the people's votes. I want you will serve the people and fulfill their expectations," she said.

Later, 157 newly elected councillors of general wards and female councillors of the reserved seats of three city corporations were also sworn in at the same venue.

Of them, 40 councillors are from Barishal, 41 from Khulna and 76 from Gazipur city.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam administered the oath to the councillors.

Local Government Division Secretary Muhammad Ibrahim conducted the oath-taking ceremony.

State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Swapan Bhattacharjee were present on the dais.

On June 12 last, Awami League mayoral candidate Abul Khair Abdullah (Khokon Serniabat) won the Barishal City Corporation election with 87,807 votes beating his nearest rival Islami Andolon Bangladesh candidate Mufti Syed Mohammad Faizul Karim who bagged only 33,828 votes.

Awami League mayoral candidate Talukder Abdul Khaleque won the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) election with 1,54,825 votes defeating his nearest rival Islami Andolan Bangladesh's Md Abdul Awal who got 60,064 votes in the polls held on June 12 last.

On May 25 last, independent candidate Jayeda Khatun won the Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) polls with 238,934 votes, defeating her nearest rival Awami League-nominated candidate Azmat Ullah Khan who bagged 222,737 votes.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has taken Bangladesh to a dignified position and the world sees the country with honour as it would certainly advance towards prosperity confronting all the natural and man-made disasters.

Referring to 2013-14 arson violence carried out by the BNP-Jamaat alliance in which over 3,500 vehicles were set on fire and many people were alive, she said, "We don't want to see any such terrible situation in the days to come."

"Our (public representatives) aim should be to continue the country's development, ensure peace in public life and give them an improved life," she said.

The Prime Minister said the people of the country voted the Awami League to power time and again in 2008, 2014 and 2018.

She said they have made massive development of Bangladesh in the last 14 and a half years since 2009 till the date.

The premier said the democracy and development of the country are being continued as the Awami League is in power for long.

She said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had established the people's rights of voting alongside building the war-ravaged country and turned Bangladesh into a least developed country.

On the contrary, military dictator Ziaur Rahman had ruined people's voting rights after assassination of the Father of the Nation on August 15 in 1975.

She asked the public representatives to serve the people and meet their desire working in their respective areas.

"You will have to fulfill the desires of the people who elected you by voting spontaneously," she said.

The Prime Minister called upon the newly elected mayors and councillors to ensure proper waste management, water drainage and sewerage system and pure drinking water to their respective areas.

She also asked them to work for prevention of Dengue by keeping the houses and its surroundings of their localities clean and free from stagnant water.

The premier called for increasing awareness among the people to check the dengue.