Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said that she would die if she was isolated from the public, asking the Special Security Force not to detach her from the people.
鈥業f you make me isolated from the people, it doesn鈥檛 need to shoot me to death. I will die anyway because they (people) are my life-blood,鈥� she said.
Sheikh Hasina was addressing the Darbar of the SSF on its 38th founding anniversary at the Prime Minister鈥檚 Office in Dhaka.
The prime minister asked the SSF personnel not to ever isolate her from the people with whom and for whom she does politics.
鈥榃e 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,鈥� she said.
She reminded all that the people were with her when she was not in power.
In this regard, the prime minister mentioned that a very ordinary person, a rickshaw-puller purchased a piece of land after her name with his hard-earned money.
She said that she later built a house on that land and gave it to the rickshaw-puller with its ownership.
鈥楽o, I won鈥檛 allow isolating these people from me. They give me the power to march ahead. Everyone should keep it in mind,鈥� she added.
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.
鈥業f you have no firmness, honesty and responsibility, it will not be possible to be successful,鈥� she said.
Sheikh Hasina said that she always thought about the safety and security of the SSF personnel as they were entrusted with ensuring the protection of her risking their lives.
The prime minister said that several attempts were made on her life in which many of her party leaders and activists were killed.
She continued 22 leaders and activists including late president Zillur Rahman鈥檚 wife Ivy Rahman were killed in August 21, 2004 grenade attack.
She said that she prays for all including the SSF personnel as they remain safe.
Sheikh Hasina said that her government was doing everything to ensure the safety of the SSF personnel.
She said that her government first built a shooting range for SSF after assuming power for the first time in 1996.
The shooting range is now being modernised with updated equipment, she added.
The prime minister said that they made Bangladesh Digital and were now working to transform it into a smart country by 2041 and change the fate of the people by giving them a beautiful and improved life.
She said that her government was now implementing Delta Plan-2100 to give generation after generation a better and secured life.
PM鈥檚 security affairs adviser Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique and PM鈥檚 principal secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah were present on the dais.
SSF DG Major General AKM Nazmul Hasan gave the address of welcome.
The Presidential Security Force which was later renamed SSF came into being on June 15, 1986.
