Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday asked the public representatives of the local government bodies to stand against drug abuse, terrorism and militancy.

“You will have to stand against drug abuse, terrorism and militancy. You will have to pay special attention so that none can engage in drug, terrorism and militancy,” she said.

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

Some 8,000 public representatives of the country’s 5,474 local government bodies—12 city corporations, 61 zila parishads, 329 municipalities, 495 upazila parishads and 4,577 union parishads—joined  the event organised by the Local Government Division.

Hasina said the government is constructing 560 model mosques and providing money for renovating temples. The government will do whatever is necessary for the development of mosques, temples, churches and pagodas, she said.

She also asked the public representatives to pay attention so that the community clinics render proper services, and create awareness,  the overseas job seekers are not deceived by the middlemen and rather they can avail loans from the banks particularly the Probashi Kallyan Bank which offers them loans with collaterals.

The PM asked 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.

PM Hasina said 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 upto the village-level,” she said.

Noting that there are still mud 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.

Sheikh Hasina, also the President of Awami League, asked the public representatives to win the trust and confidence of the people by serving them properly.

“You are the people from the grassroots, elected representatives with the votes of the people, and responsible to serve the people. So, working for the welfare of the people is the responsibility for you, me and all (public representatives).  You should go forward gaining the trust and confidence of the people by working for and serving them. You will have to gain the trust and confidence so that the people will again vote for you,” she said.

Mentioning that today’s development success is the outcome of the long hard work, the PM asked the people, including local public representatives to be alert so that none can destroy the success anymore as the achievement of the 1996-2001 regime was marred.

“The progress of Bangladesh, what was obtained from 2009 to 2023, should be continued,” she said, expressing her firm conviction to take the country to a more dignified position on the global stage by building ‘Smart Bangladesh’ and implementing the SDGs 2030.

LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam presided over the event, while State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Swapan Bhattacharjee and Local Government Secretary Muhammad Ibrahim spoke on the occasion.

Besides, mayors of five city corporations –Dhaka south, Rajshahi, Narayanganj, Khulna and Sylhet; chairmen of two Zila Parishads –Chattogram and Pirojpur; chairmen of four Upazila Parishads –-Dumki of Patuakhali and Raozan of Chattogram, Guimara of Khagrachhari and Rangpur Sadar; mayors of two municipalities –Nilphamari sadar and Nator Sadar; two councilors from Dhaka south and north city corporations; two members from Brahmanbaria and Gopalganj zila parishads; two vice chairmen from Juri Upazila (Moulvibazar) and Mohammadpur Upazila (Magura); chairmen of eight union parishads –Noajishpur Union (Raozan Upazila, Chattogram), Patgati at Tungipara in Golapganj, Bagadi in Chandpur Sadar, Borokashia Birampur at Mohonganj Upazila in Netrokona, Sonabaria at Kalaroa in Satkhira, Telegati at Morrelganj in Bagerhat, Lalabazar at Dakkhin Surma in Sylhet and Paratali Union at Raipura in Narsingdi, among local public representatives, spoke at the event.