Assess Bangladesh's massive development by AL: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday called upon the countrymen to take into consideration Bangladesh's massive development in the last 14 years.

"I hope the people will pay special attention to Bangladesh's massive changes in the last 14 years which has only been possible for remaining Awami League (AL) in power," she said.

The prime minister made the remarks while inaugurating 11 development schemes at a function at Ramna Batamul in city, joining virtually from her official Ganabhaban residence.

The development schemes were accomplished by Public Works (PW), National Housing Authority (NHA) and Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) under the Ministry of Housing and Public Works.

The premier said the people voted AL to power in 2014 and 2018 and "they only did it as we're working for the development and welfare of the people".

She said Bangladesh was liberated under the leadership of the Father of the Nation. "So, we've responsibilities to the country and its people. We're running the state from that responsibility," she added.

She said her government has already built "Digital Bangladesh" and is working to transform it into a "Smart Bangladesh" by 2041 where everything including people, governance, economy, education and health sectors will be Smart.

"Our target is to build "Smart Bangladesh" by 2041. InshaAllah we will be able to do it," she added.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh has attained the status of a developing nation as her government successfully implemented the "Vision 2021", announced before the 2008 general election.

"It has been possible for continuation of democratic process and having public representatives in power since AL assumed office in 2009. It is quite natural that people's development will happen if the country's democratic process continues," she said.

Briefly describing the massive development in Bangladesh carried out by her government, the prime minister said her government is working for the overall development of the country and its people.

She said due to her government's timely and pragmatic initiatives, Bangladesh has entered into the satellite, digital and nuclear power era.

"We have joined the nuclear power club, but we won't produce nuclear weapons, rather to generate power using nuclear power," she said.

The premier said her government has taken measures including providing appropriate training to make the people efficient enough to cope with the fourth industrial revolution.

Unveiling the 11 development schemes, she said they are working for the balanced development of the country.

"We're not only taking our development schemes centering the Dhaka city, but also elsewhere across the country to solve the problems of every person in each area," she said.

The projects include six of the Public Works Department, three of the National Housing Authority and two of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk).

The six projects of Public Works Department are 20-storey Judges Quarters (90 flats) at Azimpur in Dhaka; nine 10-storey housing buildings (324 flats) for government officials and employees at Mirpur-6 in Dhaka; Renovation of Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Library Bhaban, Annex Bhaban and Auditorium; Nine 10-storey housing buildings (324 flats) for government officials and employees at Naokhali Sadar; Infrastructural Development and overall beatification of Dhaka Ramna Park including Ramna Lake; and six 13-storey housing buildings (288 flats) for government officials and employees at Tejgaon in Dhaka.

Three projects of National Housing Authority are 1040 residential flats (Swapnanagar-1) for middle-income people at Mirpur-9; one 14-storey housing building (100 flats) at Mirpur-15; and Site and Services Residential Plots in Sunamganj.

Two Rajuk projects are Purbachal Water Supply Project Phase-I; and Progati High School Bhaban, Palkhan High School and Purbachal Adarsha College Bhaban in Purbachal new city project.

The prime minister recalled her memories of going to Ramna Park for morning work with her Father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman when they were residing in Segun Bagicha.

She asked all concerned to take development schemes in view of the protection of the environment.

"The Awami League is not only working for the socio-economic development of the countrymen, it is also protecting the environment keeping its natural beauty intact," she said.

She asked all concerned to have the facilities of water reservoirs, rainwater harvesting system and solar panels in the projects.

Referring to the forecasts of international agencies that the world will witness the worst economic recession in 2023 than 2022 due to prolonged Russia-Ukraine war, she asked the countrymen to grow more food and bring every inch of land under cultivation.

"The economic recession will not be able to hit us if we grow our foods," she said.

The prime minister said Bangladesh's economy is still running successfully with an average seven percent growth in the GDP amid the global economic meltdown due to the Covid-19 Pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war.

"When the globe has been facing crisis due to economic recession, Bangladesh's economy is running smoothly for our pragmatic and timely initiatives," she said.

Against the backdrop of global economic recession, she called upon all to practice austerity in using electricity, water, gas and other resources.

State Minister for Housing and Public Works Sharif Ahmed, Chairman of its Parliamentary Standing Committee Engineer Mosharraf Hossain and Secretary Kazi Wasi Uddin spoke at the function.

A video documentary on the implemented development projects was screened at the function.