<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday alleged that the secret motive of some foreign countries is to hinder the progress of Bangladesh and they are taking interest in the upcoming election of the country to use the Bay of Bengal.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“They want to create a (unstable) situation in this country on different pleas of election, democracy and different other names so that they can use the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal. The purpose of some of them is to attack different countries in this region and destroy the countries,” she said, without mentioning the name of any country.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier was addressing a memorial meeting arranged by Bangladesh Awami League (AL) here on the occasion of the National Mourning Day-2023.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina, also the AL President, chaired the commemorative event held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.</div><div><br></div><div>She said their purpose is neither (arrangement of) an election nor democracy. “They want to create obstacles on the development journey of Bangladesh. It is reality,” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM said her government strengthened the foundation of democracy and ensured the voting rights of the people, uplifted the socio-economic condition of the people, brought down the poverty rate to 18.6 percent from 41 percent and extreme poverty rate to 5.7 percent from 25 percent.</div><div><br></div><div>She said the Bay of Bengal is a very important place in terms of geographical location as it is in the Indian Ocean which is the safest and undisputed waterway for international goods transportation. So, they want to create a situation in this country on the plea of election, democracy and different other names so that they can use the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Criticizing the local supporters of the foreign forces, Sheikh Hasina said some clowns are here in the country who speak to their tune not understanding and realizing this reality. “They (local clowns) are doing these in many ways just for some pennies,” she said, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier asked the people of Bangladesh to remain vigilant in this regard. “I believe that the countries located in the Indian Ocean region remain conscious enough in this regard,” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>