C T Online Desk: Sept 14, 2023- Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged the public representatives of the local government bodies to move forward gaining the trust and confidence of the grassroots people and raise voice against drugs, terrorism, militancy.

“You’re elected by the votes of the people at the grassroots level, you’re the people’s servants. It is the duty of yours, mine and all to work for the welfare of the people. And by fulfilling this duty properly, you will gain the trust and confidence of the people and move forward,” she said.

She was addressing a programme arranged on the premises of her official residence Ganabhaban, marking the National Local Government Day-2023. The day was celebrated in the country for the first time this year.

The premier also said, “You (public representatives) will have to stand against drug abuse, terrorism and militancy. You will have to pay special attention so that none can engage in drug abuse, terrorism and militancy.”

Over 9,000 public representatives of the country’s 5,474 local government bodies -12 city corporations, 61 zilla parishads, 329 municipalities, 495 upazila parishads and 4,577 union parishads – are took part in the celebration event organized by the Local Government Division.

At the meeting of representatives of the local government of five levels across the country, Sheikh Hasina said, “As people have voted you once, you have to earn the trust and confidence of the people so they can vote you again.”

Mentioning that today’s development of the country is the result of long suffering, she said: “(You have to be aware so that) none can destroy it any more. Because, the far the country was taken ahead from 1996 to 2001, the BNP-Jamaat alliance pushed it back.”

Referring to the construction of 560 model mosques by the government, the prime minister said that they are also providing money for renovating temples and other places of worship of different religions.

“The government will do whatever is necessary for the development of mosques, temples, churches and pagodas,” she said.

Mentioning the incidents like BNP’s arson and burning of places of worship, she called upon the public representatives to look into these matters and said, “We’ve made this country independent together. This country is a country of non-communal spirit and will continue to be so.”

Sheikh Hasina also asked the public representatives to pay attention to the community clinics so it can render proper services.

She laid emphasis on creating awareness so that the overseas job seekers are not deceived by the middlemen, rather they can avail loans from the banks particularly Probashi Kallyan Bank which offers them loans without collaterals.

The Prime Minister also urged the public representatives to work for food production and encourage the people not to leave a single inch of land uncultivated.

“We’ll have to take the country forward using whatever resources we have. I would like to request everyone to work accordingly,” she said.

The head of government said that her government has been able to work for the development of the country and continue the democratic trend, maintaining a stable situation after forming the government for three consecutive terms since 2009. “This is why we’ve been able to develop the country up to the village-level,” she added.

Stating that still there are earthen roads in many villages, she said if her party gets the scope to serve the people again, they will develop these roads as well. “Every village will be developed like a town,” she said.