President M Abdul Hamid yesterday called upon all, irrespective of party affiliations, opinions, classes and professions, to work together on basic issues like democracy, rule of law and country’s development.
The President made the call as he addressed the New Year’s (2022) first session of the 11th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) here.
The head of the state termed the parliament the focal point of people’s expectations and said, “People are the source of all power… All public representatives must give priority to the public interests.”
He also asked all to work together to build a ‘Sonar Bangla’ dreamt by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by eliminating terrorism, drugs, corruption and militancy from the country, achieved at the cost of millions of lives.
As per the parliamentary practice, the current session is the maiden one of the new year, where the President addresses the House every year. Subsequently, detailed discussions take place on his speech with the participation of lawmakers.
But due to COVID-19, this session, like the special JS session on the occasion of Mujb Borsho, will be held in a limited scale maintaining the health rules, said the parliamentary secretariat.
Leader of the House and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and parliamentarians of both treasury and opposition benches were present as Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury chaired the sitting.
The President called upon the treasury and opposition bench members to play their due and effective role in parliament in the greater interest of the country and its people.
“It is our sacred duty to give the new generation a safe, happy, beautiful and prosperous Bangladesh,” he added.
Hamid said 2021 was an unforgettable year for the Bengali nation as Bangladesh celebrated its golden jubilee of independence as well as victory day and Bangabandhu’s birth centenary, adding: “This celebration gave a greater and international look with many world leaders and heads of the states joining the events physically and virtually.
Noting that peace and stability are prevailing across the country due to the incumbent government’s strict policy against terrorism and militancy as a prerequisite to development, he said Sheikh Hasina’s government is firm to ensure communal harmony in the country.
Bangladesh is a unique example in the world in terms of communal harmony, the President said, adding, “However, we must be vigilant so that no vicious clique, in the name of religion can destabilize the country.”
The President stressed the need for preparing new training curriculum in line with the demand of world market, modernizing existing ones and imparting adequate trainings to create internationally certified skilled manpower.
