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Power crisis BNP's creation: Hasina

Tk 20,000cr plundered in power sector during BNP-Jamaat rule, she alleges

Staff Correspondent
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday blamed the previous BNP-led four-party alliance government for the prevailing power and water crises.
"The present power crisis is a legacy of the BNP-led government. They spent Tk 20,000 crore in the name of generating power but could not produce any. They plundered crores of taka and siphoned them off abroad, which they have to return," said Hasina, also chief of Awami League (AL), at a huge rally in the city's Paltan Maidan, organised by ruling party's workers' wing Sramik League marking the May Day.
Urging people to show patience, she said they are taking measures to solve the power crisis but it would take some time.
The premier said the government would bring changes to the existing labour policy in line with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) convention and also ensure rationingsystem for all labourers in phases.
"If necessary, we shall take initiatives to reopen the closed factories," Hasina said in her 35-minute-long speech.
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She said her government will Ox minimum wage for labourers in line with the market price
The premier said the present government has already formed a tripartite committee comprised of workers, owners and government representatives to ensure the rights of labourers.
Thousands of activists and leaders of the AL and its associated organisations attended the rally, the first public meeting of Hasina since she assumed the office of prime ministcron January 6.
The premier sat behind a bullet-proof glass on the dais and also delivered speech from a podium walled with bullet-proof glass amid tight security.
Several central party lead ers were not even allowed to go near the dais.
Processions from Dhaka and its adjoining areas marched to the Paltan Maidan shortly after 12:00noon. Thousands of party activists and leaders carrying banners, placard and festoons reached the venue on foot as vehicular movement on all roads around Paltan Maidan was restricted.
But there was no traffic congestion on the streets in and around the area on the day as it was a public holiday.
As the Paltan Maidan got jam-packed, many had to listen to the premier's speech standing at Zero Point, Muktangan, Bangabandhu Avenue. Dainik Bangla and RajukBhaban.
Referring to militancy,
Hasina said investigations show that ministers and law makers of the previous BNP-led alliance government patronised militants and damaged the country's image abroad.
Commenting on the seizure of 10 truckloads of firearms and ammunition. Hasina said the involvement of former BNP ministers and lawmakers in it is coming out gradually.
The premier said some undesirable incidents occurred in the four-month rule of the present government which settled those successfully one after another.
Criticising some opposition leaders for their remarks about the massacre at the BDR headquarters, she said 57 officers were killed in the incident but their (BNP) statements indicated that they would be happy if more lives were lost and a civil war had broken out in the country.
"You have to remain alert as conspiracies are still going on," Hasinasaid.
She sought people's cooperation to foil all conspiracies’ and build the golden Bangladesh' dreamt by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
"These days of sufferings will not last longer. We shall bring happiness to people's lives," she said.
Sramik League President Abdul Matin Master presided over the rally attended by, among others. Abdul Jalil, Abdur Razzak. Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta and engineer Mosharraf Hossain.