Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said it was because of the Awami League that Bangladesh could attain over 5% GDP growth during the pandemic when many developed countries saw negative growth.

“We have given the budget for FY2022-23, when many developed countries are having negative GDP growth. Bangladesh maintained its growth over 5%,” she said.

She said this while leaders of Awami League and its associated bodies greeted her at Ganabhaban marking the 14th anniversary of Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s release from prison.

On this day in 2008, Hasina was released from the special sub-jail set up on the premises of the Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament) Building after remaining captive there for nearly 11 months.

The Awami League president was arrested from her Sudha Sadan residence at Dhanmondi on July 16, 2007, during the military-backed caretaker government, which assumed power in the political changeover of 1/11 in 2007.

Sheikh Hasina said that Awami League always has to step forward defying all odds and hurdles.

She said that whenever she was arrested she sent letters to the people and leaders and activists of the Awami League for giving them directives.

She added that in 1983 she was arrested after her return to the country. At that time she was taken to the DGFI office.

“I never bow down to anyone and never begged anyone. I got the lesson from my father and my family that does not to bow to anything unjust.”

She said that leaders and activists of Awami League always choose the right path and she also saw it during the time of Bangabandhu.

Sheikh Hasina recalled that the caretaker government was compelled to free her due to the movement and pressure from her party. They became surprised when they saw that Awami League collected 2.5 million signatures in just 15 days.

“This is Awami League, people are our strength,” she said. In this connection, she mentioned that people are not the strength of the BNP as their birth happened through an illegal system.

Recalling her jail days during the army-backed caretaker government she said that she noted down how the country will be governed and how the party will be run.

“I noted down how we will develop Bangladesh, as a result, there is electricity in every house now,” she said.

Slamming the critics of achievements of Bangladesh, she said this section of people cannot accept the country's development.