‘Nation needs aid for development’

Environment Minister Anowar Hossain Monju has said that there is need of foreign aid for the country’s development.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 30 August 2014, 07:44 PM
Updated : 30 August 2014, 07:44 PM

But at the same time, he has said, it should be the country’s own discretion to choose the sectors that need to be financed.

While inaugurating an annual programme of the City Research Centre at the Bangladesh Asiatic Society On Saturday, the minister said, “There was a time when 70 percent of the country’s economic activities were based in the villages and 30 percent in cities. Urbanisation has caused 60 percent of the economic operations to be city-centric now."

"However, to make this development sustainable, these cities need planning. There is no alternative but to bring individuals, society and the state all under planning."

The minister also said, the implementation of any plan needs funding which comes from donors. Had we been more self-reliant since liberation, the situation could have been different.

The minister urged all concerned not to be discouraged. He emphasized, “We must go on working and that there is no alternative to that.”

He also highlighted some projects and plans undertaken by the government.
“A char has emerged in the southern part of the country. The government has embarked on a plan to retain the char through extensive tree plantation. Trees worth Tk 40 million will be planted this year in the new char.”

The inaugural speech was delivered by City Research Centre’s Voluntary Editor Nurul Islam Nazim while the programme was presided over by the centre’s Chairman Nazrul Islam.

A total of five papers were presented at the programme.