Opposition to be alienated if hinders progress: Moudud

The country has proved that it is now capable of surviving in the competitive world, as it achieved remarkable successes in socio-economic sectors, including education, health, communications and telecommunication, he added.

Moudud was speaking at a discussion on the 13th anniversary of the Swadhinata Forum, a civil society organisation, in the auditorium of the Institution of Diploma Engineers, in the city.

The law minister distributed Swadhinata Forum awards among 31 personalities for the outstanding contributions to their respective fields. The function was followed by a cultural soiree. The Forum also organised a blood donation programme on this occasion.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdullah-Al-Noman, Deputy Minister for Land Advocate Ruhul Quddus Talukdar Dulu and former Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University Prof Dr Emajuddin Ahmed, spoke on the occasion with Forum President Abu Naser M Rahmatullah in the chair.

The award recipients are Poet Jasim Uddin (posthumous), Communication Minister Nazmul Huda for making Dhaka air pollution-free, former Chief Election Commissioner Justice Abdur Rouf, Prof Dr Shamser Ali, Poet Abdul Mannan Syed, Chairman of ATN Bangla Mahfuzur Rahman, actor Ahmed Sharif, singer Fatema-tuz-Zohra, singer Baby Nazneen, magistrate Rukon-ud-Doula and others.

Moudud said continuation of the democratic process is a must for keeping the pace of development that the country achieved during last 35 years, he added.

He said Bangladesh is one of the 11 potential countries in the world where massive foreign investment is coming soon.