by Omer Selim Sher in Ottawa

The Qatar-based Al-Jazeera TV has kicked up a storm again over one of its investigative reports titled ‘All the Prime Minister’s Men,’ a one-sided story on a serious matter and about a man holding one of the most sensitive posts of the state — the army chief.

The outfall is the usual debate. One side is shouting and blowing the lantern of aggressive speech. The other side is in the traditional “flattery.”’ But everyone should know that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has apparently ignored it and going about with her usual day-to-day work. The nation is moving forward as usual.

Those who have so far made the ears of foreigners heavy by claiming ‘no freedom of expression’ in the country, the Al Jazeera report debate has disproved their claims. If the Prime Minister had wanted, she could have withdrawn the Middle Eastern country’s TV channel’s broadcasting rights in Bangladesh. But it has adopted the principle of ‘do whatever the mind wants’. Without wasting time on the propaganda of the opposition, the Prime Minister is advancing with her agenda of development at her own pace.

Experts say more conspiracies against the Awami League since 1981, it had made the ruling party the stronger the fear of Sheikh Hasina’s leadership. People’s confidence on her has become stronger. There have been various conspiracies to question the leadership of the Prime Minister; there have even been 19 assassination attempts. In each case they have been defeated; and the people have become and showed more confidence in Sheikh Hasina.

The ongoing progress of the country under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina is a surprise to the developed world as well. She is now in the world leadership seat. The country is now moving ahead on every index in its thoughtful decisions and programs. The country’s GDP is higher than that of neighboring countries. International organizations like the World Bank and the IMF think twice before commenting on Bangladesh’s economy. Therefore, domestic and foreign conspirators are riding on this development of the country. But veteran politician Sheikh Hasina is moving forward like a skilled boatman.

The development process of the country has continued under the able leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. She is leading the party and the country under a single leadership. The Awami League has come to power four times including three times in a row under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. After coming to the country in 1981 after the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Prime Minister has reached today’s position by dealing with various blows, counter-conspiracies, domestic and foreign. She worked for the country at the risk of her life. The leaders and workers of the party and the people have been her companions for a long time. Whenever there is a conspiracy, the leaders and workers of the party and the people have confidence in the leadership of the Prime Minister. Leaders and activists have also saved the life of Sheikh Hasina by becoming human armor.

Most people have called Al Jazeera’s “All the Prime Minister’s Men” report an anti-Bangladesh conspiracy. This conspiracy has made the Awami League more united than before. The leaders and workers of the party should  unite forgetting their differences. Professionals, including civil society representatives, have protested this irresponsible act by the TV.

If it was aimed at embarrassing or weakening Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, then the world should know it has instead strengthened her hold on power.

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Omer Selim Sher is a retired Professor of Economics at Algonquin College, Ottawa, Canada, and a researcher on South Asian politics.