Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today asked Awami Swechasebak League leaders and activists to help people in getting vaccines in rural areas and motivate them to go for Covid-19 test so they can receive proper treatment.

“We are taking initiative to provide vaccine in rural areas massively and pre-registration would not be mandatory there rather people can receive the jab showing their ID cards on the basis of spot registration,” she said, directing the Swechasebak League leaders and activists across the country to extend cooperation to the people.

The Premier was addressing the 27th founding anniversary of Bangladesh Awami Swechasebak League (BASL) as chief guest at its central office in the capital’s 23 Bangabandhu Avenue, joining virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban.

She said people’s fear regarding the Covid-19 inoculation has almost gone, but one thing is still prevailing there about Covid-19 test.

“None wants to go for a test, but if he/she carries out the test (Covid-19) will receive proper treatment, which will not only help them but also protect others from the deadly virus infection, and this perception has to be made understandable to the people. Our party (Awami League) people have to do it,” she said.

Awami League Joint General Secretary and BASL former President AFM Bahauddin Nasim also spoke on the occasion as special guest.

BASL President Nirmal Ranjan Guha delivered welcome address while general secretary Afzalur Rahman Babu moderated the ceremony.

A documentary on the activities of BASL in the last year and on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Prime Minister’s ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy was screened at the event.

The Prime Minister also unveiled the cover of a book “One Year of Swechasebak League”.

The Prime Minister told the Swechasebak League leaders and activists”, you have set instances of humanity and you should continue it”.

She reminded them saying “Keep in mind that it is our ideology, it’s our job. Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has taught us this lesson,”.

Sheikh Hasina said the government is collecting vaccines for the country’s nearly 80 percent people who are eligible to receive the jab as per WHO guidelines.

“Vaccine is being procured wherever it is available and a separate fund has been kept for it. We will spend more (money) if it is required (for vaccines),” she said.

The prime minister mentioned that 1.87 crore people have been brought under Covid-19 inoculation.

The Premier said two types of politics are prevailing in the country – -some people are doing politics for their own luxury and income money while another group is busy serving people through politics, which has been practiced by the Father of the Nation.

Mentioning that people have realized the government is their servant when Awami League came to power, she said “We are working for the welfare of the people and will continue it.”

Sheikh Hasina said she has seen that all associate organisations of Awami League have been working for the people massively, and Awami League and its associate bodies always stand beside the affected people during any call.

“No scarcity of political parties in the country, but the Swechasebak League has been working and standing beside people visibly which is really a public service, not any photo session,” she observed.

Highlighting the role of Swechasebak League in tree plantation for saving the environment apart from serving the Covid-19 patient, she urged all to continue the tree plantation in this rainy season.

Sheikh Hasina also recalled the memories of the birth of her son and her ICT affairs adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy as he was born on this day in 1971.

She also narrated the struggle of Joy in his academic life even after becoming a son of the Prime Minister and said “Joy got admission in MIT, but at that time I became the Prime Minister of the country. Due to my concentration in the country, I failed to give money to him, resulting his enrollment in MIT was cancelled”.

The Prime Minister said today Bangladesh is a digital country and its full credit goes to Joy as he provided a total concept and layout for this digitization.bss