We’ll implement Vision 2021: Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has firmly stated that her government will fully implement the Awami League's campaign pledge 'Vision 2021' announced six years ago before the 2008 general election.

Five issues have been prioritised in the work plan: keeping food prices in check, ensuring overall economic stability, curbing corruption, ending power and fuel crisis, eradicating poverty, and establishing the rule of law by thwarting discrimination.

"We will carry out our Vision 2021," Hasina told reporters in London on Wednesday. "Bangladesh will be turned into a middle-income country [by then]."

The prime minister went to London on Monday on her first visit to the UK after taking office for a second consecutive term to attend the Girl Summit, 2014.

She interacted with the media at the end of her visit.

The prime Minister started for home at 6pm (local time) from London's Heathrow Airport. She is scheduled to reach Dhaka at around 9am on Thursday.

Hasina said Bangladesh made "significant headway" in power generation and improving the distribution system, thanks to steps taken by her government.

Recently, Bangladesh recorded power production equal to the full demand.

Bangladesh has struck deals with neighbouring India to set up thermal power plants to meet its growing electricity demand. It plans to import another 100MW from the Indian state of Tripura by the end of 2014.

It is currently importing 500MW from India which, according to Indian experts, will save Bangladesh around Tk 40 billion a year.

During Hasina's visit to Moscow last year, the government signed an agreement with Russia to build a nuclear power plant.

At Wednesday's briefing, the prime minister blamed the earlier BNP-Jamaat-e-Islami coalition government for exposing the country to a power crisis.

In a typical political note, she claimed the previous BNP-led government did not take any initiative to meet the power shortage.

Hasina's Awami League presented its 'Vision 2041' before the Jan 5 polls, boycotted by the BNP and its allies.

"Vision 2041 aims at making Bangladesh a developed country," the prime minister said optimistically.

She touched on the issues of child marriage and child labour.

"Poverty is the main reason," Hasina told expatriate journalists before saying that her government ‘was tirelessly trying’ to improve the people's lives.

Addressing Tuesday's Girl Summit, she felt a reduction in poverty and greater educational and employment opportunities could bring child marriage to a ‘natural’ end.

“We've taken steps to ensure that our girls are educated properly and then go for jobs so that they can take their own decisions," she said.

The prime minister said education was being specially emphasised and labour laws reformed.

She termed Bangladesh's relations with the new Indian government a "diplomatic success".

"We'll have good relations with our neighbouring countries.

"[Of course,] there will be regime changes but the relations with the state will remain unchanged.

“Bangladesh's policy is to maintain good ties with everyone and hostility towards none," she reminded.