<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said the people of Bangladesh are enjoying democracy now as the Awami League has come to power for the fourth consecutive term.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“People are enjoying democracy now,” she said while Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) secretary general Indra Mani Pandey called on her at her office in Parliament.</div><div><br></div><div>PM’s deputy press secretary KM Shakhwat Moon briefed the reporters after the call on.</div><div><br></div><div>The Prime Minister said that there was a time when the country had plunged under military rules.</div><div><br></div><div>She termed people of the country as one of her strengths.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina mentioned that the government has always put emphasis on the rural development.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that she visited numerous villages and encouraged people not to leave single inch of arable land without food production.</div><div><br></div><div>“I requested all to engage in food production in whatever way they can,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She also said that Bangladesh and BIMSTEC will work together to achieve the common goals.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister said that India has always been a friendly country to Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>She recalled with gratitude that during 1971 India had helped Bangladesh a lot and gave shelter to some one crore people.</div><div><br></div><div>She also said that after the assassination of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman she and her sister Sheikh Rehana took refuge in India.</div><div><br></div><div>The BIMSTEC secretary general congratulated the prime minister on her re-election.</div><div><br></div><div>He expressed satisfaction regarding the activities of Bangladesh with BIMSTEC.</div><div><br></div><div>He also mentioned that the BIMSTEC will continue its excellent relationship with Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>He lauded Bangladesh’s development and PM’s vision to establish smart Bangladesh and graduation of Bangladesh as developing country from LDC status.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister said that Bangladesh plans to complete the construction work of the proposed BIMSTEC Secretariat Building within three years with the objective of inaugurating it by the BIMSTEC leaders during the 7th Summit to be held in Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>She Mentioned that the areas of cooperation under BIMSTEC has been restructured and brought down to seven sectors with a lead country for each sector.</div><div><br></div><div>Trade, Investment and Development is one of the most important sectors of BIMSTEC cooperation and Bangladesh is the lead country in this sector, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Expressing hope the next BIMSTEC Summit will continue to intensify the forum's activities further when Bangladesh takes the Chairmanship after the next summit.</div><div><br></div><div>Prime Minister expressed hope of taking the BIMSTEC process to a new height as the new SG and Chairmanship would be shared by two very friendly nations - India and Bangladesh- and the Secretariat is hosted in Dhaka, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina reiterated that Bangladesh stands ready to assume more responsibilities in BIMSTEC process after the 6th Summit upon assumption of the Chairmanship of the Group.</div><div><br></div><div>PMO secretary Mohammad Salahuddin were present.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>