Saying the future of Bangladesh depends on the outcome of the upcoming general election, Sajeeb Wazed Joy yesterday urged the people to help keep up the process of development for building a new and modern Bangladesh.
“If the Awami League doesn't come to power, the developments which have taken place during this tenure will die out again. Today's flow of electricity will come to a halt within two years. Terrorists are lining up and they will reappear if the BNP comes to power,” he said.
Joy, only son of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was speaking at a seminar titled "Vision 2021: Achievements of the past five years and pledges for the next five years" at the capital's Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) organised by Suchinta Foundation.
"Bangladesh is passing a very crucial period now because election is very close. I think the next election is the most important election in the country as the fate of Bangladesh rests on it," he said. "The AL should be given another chance to complete the unfinished revolution.”
Joy said the opposition had myriad of criticisms against the government. “But it [BNP-Jamaat] never gives any future plan. They don't say what they'll do about economy, terrorism and militancy.”
“The most corrupt people, terrorists and militants are with them. The Razakars [anti-liberation forces] are also on their side [BNP]. So, how will they say they'll advance the country? How will they say they'll curb militancy?” asked Joy, stressing that the opposition would never be able to take the country forward.
Joy, who does not hold any post in the ruling party, said massive changes had occurred in Bangladesh in the last five years. “Corruption has reduced to half, per capita income has doubled, and electricity production has increased to 9,000MW.” Such a huge scale of developments, carried out by this government, never happened in the country after 1975.
Referring to the BNP-Jamaat's propaganda against the government, he urged the young generation to resist the opposition's any move to come back to power through spreading propaganda only. “Think where we were and where we stand now. You [people] will have to be cautious and see what opportunities as well as awes lie ahead of us.”
Joy, a US-educated software businessman, also urged the people to compare the successes and failures of the present AL with those of the past BNP tenures before taking any decision. He said introducing 3G [third-general technology in telecommunications] was an electoral pledge of the AL government, which would go for 4G, if voted to power again.
Later, Joy exchanged views with professionals and answered questions of journalists.