<div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said she will die if she is isolated from the public, asking the Special Security Force (SSF) not to detach her from the people.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"If you make me isolated from the people, it doesn’t need to shoot me to death. I will die anyway because they (people) are my life-blood," she said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sheikh Hasina was addressing the Darbar of the SSF on its 38th founding anniversary at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) here.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The prime minister asked the SSF personnel not to ever isolate her from the people with whom and for whom she does politics.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"We do politics. I have no other strength. People are my only strength. We do politics with the power of the people. So, make sure that I will not be isolated from the public," she said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She reminded all that the people were with her when she was not in power.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In this regard, the premier mentioned that a very ordinary person, rickshaw- puller purchased a piece of land after her name with his hard earned money.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She said she later built a house on that land and gave it to the rickshaw-puller with its ownership.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"So, I won't allow isolating these people from me. They give me power to march ahead. Everyone should keep it in mind," she added.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The prime minister asked the SSF personnel to perform their duties in ensuring security for the VVIPS with firmness, efficiency, discipline, honesty, responsibility and topmost professionalism.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"If you have no firmness, honesty and responsibility, it will not be possible to be successful," she said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sheikh Hasina said she always thinks about the safety and security of the SSF personnel as they are entrusted with ensuring protection of her risking their lives.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The prime minister said several attempts were made on her life in which many of her party leaders and activists were killed.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She continued 22 leaders and activists including late president Zillur Rahman's wife Ivy Rahman were killed in August 21, 2004 grenade attack.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She said she prays for all including the SSF personnel as they remain safe.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sheikh Hasina said her government is doing everything to ensure safety of the SSF personnel.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She said her government first built shooting range for SSF after assuming power for the first time in 1996.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The shooting range is now being modernised with updated equipment, she added.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The prime minister said they have made Bangladesh Digital and are now working to transform it into a smart country by 2041 and change the fate of the people by giving them beautiful and improved life.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She said her government is now implementing Delta Plan-2100 to give generation after generation better and secured life.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">PM's Security Affairs Adviser Major General (rtd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique and PM's Principal Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah were present on the dais.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">SSF DG Major General AKM Nazmul Hasan gave the address of welcome.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Presidential Security Force (PSF) which was later renamed SSF came into being on June 15, 1986.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>