October 5, 2018
Premier says the country can implement 90 per cent of the national budget with own funding.
Mentioning that Bangladesh will not remain dependent on others, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said her government has adopted all necessary plans and is working accordingly so that the country can secure greater dignity in the global arena.
“Our goal is to improve the living standard of each person, including those from grassroots, and give a decent life to them,” she said while inaugurating the 4th National Development Fair.
The PM opened the fair through video conferencing from the Gono Bhaban.
The three-day event began in the capital and in all the district and upazila headquarters across the country with the slogan “Indomitable Bangladesh in March towards Development”. It aims at showcasing the government’s development activities.
The PM said Bangladesh now can implement 90 per cent of its budget with own financing. “The country not only achieved self-sufficiency in food but also has become a food-surplus one. Every sector is witnessing development.”
Hasina said people witnessed a lot of changes in their living standard during the last 10 years. The Awami League had announced the “charter of change” in its election manifesto before the 2008 general election, she added.
Terming the 1996-2001 tenure of AL rule a golden time for Bangladesh, she said her party could not assume power despite securing a higher number of votes than any other political party in the 2001 national election due to a deep-rooted conspiracy.
She said her government has been working not only for the present time but also for the new and future generations so that they can have a better living condition.
The government reduced the poverty rate to 21 per cent from 40 per cent and increased the power generation capacity to 20,000 megawatts, the PM added.
Talking about the education sector, Hasina said the pass rate in the SSC examination increased significantly, but the students were still lagging behind in some subjects.
To overcome the situation, online digital lessons (Online Digital Path Sahayika) on Bangla, Mathematics and English have been introduced in this year’s fair.
“We don’t want anyone to lag behind. So, we’ve taken special steps to introduce online digital lessons in the development fair this year. It’s a gift from me to the SSC examinees,” Hasina said, adding that such online digital lessons on other subjects would be introduced in phases.
She said her government already made an online language app and people, particularly the overseas job seekers, could use it to learn 10 languages.
Talking to the people of Rangpur’s Pirganj upazila, the PM assured them of setting up an agricultural university in the northern region.
She also talked to people from Amtoli of Barguna, Fakirhat of Bagerhat and Lohagora of Narail.
In the capital, the fair is being held at the field of Dhaka International Trade Fair in Agargaon.
Successes achieved in different sectors under the leadership of Hasina are being exhibited in the fair.
Besides, information on 10 special initiatives taken by the PM, international recognition, the visions 2021 and 2041, Bangabandhu Satellite, and megaprojects, including the Padma Bridge and Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant have been displayed in the fair.
During the fair, the Directorate of Mass Communication will showcase the government’s successes before the people through its district offices. Bangladesh Betar will air programmes on the government’s development activities.
Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, and prime minister’s advisers HT Imam and Mashihur Rahman were present, among others.