Hasina asks government functionaries not to stall achievement of goals

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked government officials to be proactive and not waste time in achieving development goals.

In a meeting on Tuesday with key officials of her office and the organisations under it, she said her government was working to reach the gains of independence to the people.
 
“I am urging everyone to become more proactive in taking Bangladesh forward. I know there are both advantages and disadvantages when you try to work - a lot has to be faced. 
 
“Still, we must put one thing over everything else - the people of this country, the ordinary people.”
 
Hasina added special attention should be given to the poor, farmers, and the working people. 
 
“How I am doing should not be important; what is important is how those who are worse-off, the poor, are doing. Changing their fate is our duty.” 
 
The prime minister added that looking at what others were missing out on would help dispel personal dissatisfaction. 
 
“Evaluation should be based on how much we could give them, what we could do for them, what we could give to our country, and how much we could do. 
 
“So, we should look at such things, and everyone should work for the country accordingly.”

The government had been working on ‘specific goals’ since 2008 and had already delivered ‘some results’ to the people, she said. 

“Lowering the poverty rate, ensuring a 6 percent GDP growth for six years, boosting the foreign exchange reserves, presenting a fourfold budget and raising the pay of government employees are among the achievements.”

A reduction in mother and child mortality, an increase in average life expectancy, better health services for the people, and an unprecedented progress in using information technology in Bangladesh are the results, she said.

“We have narrowed the wealth gap, and that, I feel, is our biggest achievement. We are gradually elevating the poorest of the poor. Their purchasing power has increased.”

The Awami League’s goal is to raise Bangladesh to a middle-income country by 2021. The country has recently been recognised as a lower-middle income country by the World Bank.

“But, if we work together a little more, we can reach our middle-income goal before 2021.”

Those working in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) have a greater obligation than others in this matter, she said.

“The way we formed our government and started work when the world was in an economic depression made us a role model of development.”

“We have are capable of becoming a developed and solvent nation in South Asia; we will have self-belief and do our work.”

As for the new pay scale, the prime minister said, “We increased everyone’s pay after coming to power in 2008. This is not just for show. It was a big and significant raise. This is supposed to happen again this month.

“It’s almost ready. We’ll make it happen.”    

Investment board and Privatisation Commission

The Board of Investment Bangladesh and the Privatisation Commission function as separate bodies under the PMO, but they will be merged in the future, said Hasina. 
 
“We’ll merge them in future. The papers are ready, but it has not been implemented. I think it’s best if it happens as soon as possible.” 

“I believe we no longer have enough property for privatisation. We can use them for local investment instead. We’re trying to see if we can use them for local investment without having to sell them.” 

Housing for villagers

The government has taken steps to have housing projects for poor villagers, said the Awami League chief.

“We are about to implement a project called ‘Palli Janapad’ to provide proper facilities to villagers.

“Our goal is to provide them with good living standards and eradicate the gap between them and those who live in cities.”