Desk Report:

President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Tuesday called upon the political parties to carry out non-violent constructive programmes to uphold constitutional rights of the people and democracy in the country, reports BSS.

“Polls boycotting parties are staging political programmes fully independently . . . I hope the parties to shun the path of violence, anarchy and conduct non-violent constructive programmes for people’s welfare and democracy,” he said.

The head of the state said this while delivering his maiden speech at the first session of the 12th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) this afternoon.

He also suggested the government to show restraint, saying political stability should be maintained to continue this ongoing trend of development in Bangladesh.

“The democracy must have to be shaped institutionally strong and the practice of democracy will have to be spread to the grassroots for permanent and sustainable development,” he added.

The president asked all concerned to remain more careful so that no one can create anarchy in the name of movement and harm people’s lives and livelihood anyway.

He underscored the need for reforming the country’s financial sector and taking necessary strict measures against all sorts of corruption.

Mohammed Shahabuddin also urged the people to be more vigilant against all rumors and misinformation and said everyone should have to be more careful about the people’s rights and none, as if, could take away it by hatching conspiracy.

The president called on the ruling and opposition parties to play a constructive role in successful implementation of the dreams and aspirations of transparency, accountability, complete tolerance, consolidated human rights and the rule of law and the progress of the nation.

He said people expect that the country’s political parties will stand by them with a liberal and positive attitude for the smooth ways of democracy and development.

“It is natural that there will be differences in political principles, ideals and opinions . . . But the people don’t expect any disagreement in turning parliament into the focal point of democracy and development,” the president noted.

Terming this JS as ‘the bearer of all expectations of the people’, he said people hope that the Jatiya Sangsad would play a proper and effective role in the welfare of the citizens by giving utmost importance to the people’s needs.

The head of the state said an uncertainty is looming large in the global economy due to geopolitical reasons.

“If the global economic crisis occurs, it will also affect us and for this, we must have to take necessary preparation”, he observed.

President Shahabuddin said the use of advanced agricultural technology should be increased while agricultural storage and agro-processing industries should be developed.

Along with the developing of skilled human resources, he stressed exploring new labor markets for exporting skilled manpower.

On the English New Year and the opening of the first session of 12th JS, the president extended his warm greetings and congratulations to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of the newly formed government, Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and all Members of Parliament (MPs).

He also thanked the Election Commission (EC) and all concerned parties such as public administration, armed forces division, law enforcement agencies, other forces and the media for helping hold a free, fair and impartial parliamentary election by upholding the constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and continuing the process of parliamentary democracy.

Referring to the twelfth national parliament election as a landmark event for the country’s democracy, the head of state said all steps taken by the government and the election commission had been worthwhile due to the spontaneity and active participation of the common people.

The president said soon after the brutal assassination of Father of the Nation and most of his family members on August 15, 1975, the way for the development and progress of the newly-independent Bangladesh was stopped.

However, Bangladesh has become a ‘role model’ in the world due to continuous development in the socio-economic field in the last decade and a half, he added.

“Our goal is to establish a developed and prosperous Bangladesh by 2041. After building Digital Bangladesh, the four pillars of Smart Bangladesh-Smart Citizen, Smart Economy, Smart Government and Smart Social System have been announced to build a smart and technology-based advanced “Smart Bangladesh”, the president mentioned.

He also apprised of initiatives taken to impart training to the youth with various elements of the fourth industrial revolution.

This is the first speech given by Mohammed Shahabuddin in Parliament as the 22nd President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.

Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury of the 12th national parliament chaired the session starting at 3 pm.