Soon after the disclosure of her cellphone numbers and e-mail address in parliament, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received a huge response from a cross section of people in the last two days.
Some callers expressed surprise while others showed nervousness while talking directly to the head of the government.
Some shared their problems in their locality while others talked about the most burning issues like Padma Bridge with the premier, Mahbubul Hoque Shakil, premier's special assistant (media), said.
“I cannot believe that you Ipremier] have received my call,” Shakil quoted a caller as saying.
One of the callers was a female student of class VII from Kurigram district. She expressed her
SEE PAGE 19 COL 2 FROM PAGE 1 gratitude to the premier saying that she received her textbooks in time.
"Dear Prime Minister, I am a girl from a poor family. I would like to express my gratitude to you for receiving the textbooks in time,” said the premier's special assistant quoting the girl.
In response to a supplementary query during the question-answer session in parliament on Wednesday, Hasina gave her email address (sheikhhasina@ hotmail.com) and the phone numbers (01711-520000 and 01819-260371) so that people could inform her about the persons who try to seek undue advantage using her name or that of her family members.
"My family includes myself, my younger sister, and our five children. Apart from them, I have no one else as my family members,” Hasina said in parliament.
Ever since the announcement, the prime minister has talked to many people from 5:00pm to 11:00pm on Thursday and after the Zuma prayers on Friday at the premier's official residence Gono Bhaban, said Shakil.
A curious man made a phone call to the premier and wanted to know whether it was the prime minister herself talking to him. On hearing, “Yes, I'm,” from Hasina, the man disconnected the call.
When the prime minister
called back to the number and asked his identity and purpose of the call, the man said he disconnected the call in haste as he could not believe that he was actually talking to the head of the government, said the premier's special assistant.
Shakil also said most callers wanted to know about the Padma Bridge issue. They thanked the premier for her rigid stance on the issue while some of them also told her to raise funds from the public for financing the bridge project.
“Honourable Prime Minister, the construction of the Padma Bridge must be started no matter whatever conspiracies go on. You should inaugurate and end its construction," said Shakil quoting a caller from the southern region of the country.
The premier also received several e-mails on different issues including allegations of corruption in various sectors, he added.
The government officials, however, feel worried about the disclosure of the premier's phone numbers and e-mail address because anyone now can communicate with her directly about anyone's corruption or misdeed, sources said.
A woman from Banaripara in Natore informed the premier of tortures on them during the four-party alliance, and also demanded a trial of the culprits, added Shakil.