Waive agri loan in Monga-hit areas
She also demanded reopening of closed mills and factories in the region and to run sugar mills properly so that farmers can get a little relief in hard days now.
She was addressing a public meeting at Palashbari Government College ground while returning to Dhaka after a four-day tour of Monga affected northern districts.
The Leader of the Opposition in Jatiya Sangsad alleged that while in power, her government had reopened many mills in northern districts. But those were closed due to mismanagement and corruption by their authorities in connivance with local BNP-Jamaat men.
"If voted to power, we will reopen the mills again", she told the crowd.
Hasina alleged that the BNP-Jamaat alliance government has no headache for the starving and distress people.
Monga could be averted had the government taken appropriate steps in time, she added.
If voted to power in next election, Awami League will take steps for a permanent solution of the Monga situation, she pledged.
"We were with you and will remain with you", she said.
The country will be saved from many ills if BNP-Jamaat is removed from power, the AL chief said.
The Monga situation is grave this year because flood destroyed a major portion of the Aman crop. But the government did not take any step immediately after the floods, she alleged.
"They (BNP-Jamaat) captured power through vote forgery only to plunder people's property".
Sufferings of the poor people would not have been so severe as of now had the government taken steps to contain rise in rice prices. Rice price was between Tk 12 and Tk 14 during Awami League rule though there were devastating floods twice, she claimed.
Even BNP men are realising tolls in giving VGF cards and old age pension, she alleged. She asked party men to prepare lists of distressed people for help.
The present government is negating all benevolent steps taken by AL government for rural people. Citing an example, she said this government has closed community clinics set up by her government.
The AL chief alleged that Ziaur Rahman was an autocrat and captured power by dethroning the then President Sayem.
Capturing power illegally, General Zia killed 2,500 army men and 500 officials, politicians and journalists, Hasina alleged.
General Zia established the killers of Bangabandhu in politics. Even he rewarded them by providing with jobs abroad.
Zia betrayed with the 30 lakh martyred freedom fighters by giving Golam Azam Bangladeshi citizenship and rehabilitating Jamaat-e-Islami in politics, Hasina said.
Presided over by Palashbari AL President Toffazal Hoissain, the meeting was addressed by, among others, AL central leaders Abdul Manana, Obidul Kader, Pankaz Dev Nath, Advocate Fazley Rabbi, and Gaibandha AL president Mohammed Khaled.
Sheikh Hasina was also addressed in number of wayside meetings in Gobindagnaj upazila and distributed relief materials among the distressed people.
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