DHAKA, May 17, 2024 (BSS) - Prime Minister and Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina today vowed that her party will take the country towards prosperity overcoming all the conspiracies to give the people a beautiful and improved life.

"Conspiracies are hatched every time and we overcome them. We have to keep it up," she said.

She was addressing the leaders and activists of the AL, who came to her official Ganabhaban residence here, to greet her on her Homecoming Day in the morning.

The Prime Minister said she never thinks what she gets or will get in future rather to build a beautiful future of the countrymen.

"That is our target and we are working to implement it," she said.

The Prime Minister recalled her homecoming on May 17 in 1981 when she was welcomed by hundreds of thousands of people defying the storm and rain.

She continued that when she returned to Bangladesh in 1981, the country was then run by war criminals and the killers of Father of the Nation and most of his family members.
 
The Prime Minister said she returned to the country despite she knew she might have been killed so that she had believe in the countrymen and leaders and activists of the Awami League.

"I return to the country as I have strong believed in the people of the country and the leaders and activists of the Awami League," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said she had no experience in running such a big organisation when she took the charge of the AL as its president.

"Now the Awami League has become the country's strongest, largest and most acceptable organisation among the people," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said that the AL assumed power for fifth term, she said, adding that her party first came to power in 1996 and then in 2009 to till the date.

"Today's Bangladesh is a changed Bangladesh," she said.

The premier said her government has changed Bangladesh with massive development across Bangladesh in the last 15 years.

But, the governments after assassination of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with most of his family members on August 15, 1975, did nothing for the development of the country and its people.
 
They rather killed hundreds of military officials and inhumanly tortured and killed Awami League leaders and activists to hang on to power, she said.

Sheikh Hasina said if someone has no political will and patriotism alongside commitment to take the country forward he or she cannot march the country ahead.
 
"They (governments after 1975 changeover) did nothing for the country's development," she said.
 
The Prime Minister said her government has been able to brought changes to the country as they are committed to make fortunes of the countrymen.
 
"No we can say, we have been able to change Bangladesh and we have to march ahead further," she said.
 
The Prime Minister said they are ready to face disaster as she has an well-organised political party and hundreds of thousands of committed partymen.
 
"We have been able to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic as we have a well-organised political party and its associate bodies. A political will is also required in doing so and the Awami League had that," she said.
 
No other political parties except the Awami League stood beside the people during the period of Covid-19 pandemic and many AL leaders and workers have sacrificed their life in doing so, she said.
 
"No other organizations except Awami League do the sacrifice," she said.
 
Sheikh Hasina, also President of the Awami League, said they have reestablished the rights which the people of the country had earlier achieved through blood.
 
The history of the country was distorted and a ban was imposed on plying Bangabandhu's historic 7th March speech and Joy Bangla slogan, she said.
 
The Joy Bangla slogan has returned while the 7th March speech in 1971 by Bangabandhu was now internationally recognized and the 21st February is currently recognized as internationally recognized.
 
"We have been able to reestablish the rights which were achieved through the blood of the Bangladeshi people," she said.
 
The Prime Minister also recalled the contribution of the AL leaders and workers to bring back the democratic trend in Bangladesh through long struggle defying the curfew culture at every night.
 
 
She continued that her party had infused positivity among the people removing frustration due to the curfew culture and showing them hope of development and better future.
 
"We are working to ensure a better future for the countrymen," she said.
 
Earlier in the morning, the AL leaders and activists led by its General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader greeted their party chief Sheikh Hasina with flowers at Ganabhaban marking her 44th homecoming day.
 
Leaders and activists of the associate and friendly bodies of the Awami League were also present at that time.
 
Sheikh Hasina has been leading the Awami League formed by the Father of the Nation for over four decades since taking its charge after coming back to the country on May 17 in 1981 after six years of forced exile.