Work with self-confidence and patriotism: PM Sheikh Hasina directs PMO officials

"My aim is to build a hunger and poverty-free prosperous Bangladesh...my only thinking is how Bangladesh could be developed fast. So you will have to work with self-confidence and patriotism as well as utmost sincerity and honesty to achieve the goal," she said.

The Premier gave the directives at her office while reviewing the last six-month progress of different projects of the various organisations under the PMO.

After the meeting, PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters.

He said the meeting reviewed the last six-month's progress of different projects of various organisations like Ashrayon, the Board of Investment, the Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority, Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority under the PMO.

At the meeting, the Prime Minister put emphasis on speedy and successful implementation of the development projects for a faster uplift of the country.

Pointing out her government success in lowering poverty rate significantly in the country, Sheikh Hasina said not only in urban areas, the poverty will also have to be alleviated in rural areas.

Mentioning that infrastructure development is very necessary for development, the Premier said her government has been working tirelessly to ensure housing facilities for all.

"We want nobody lives without a home and no "hut" exists in the country," she said, adding that her government are implementing various projects amid many adverse situations.

In this connection, Sheikh Hasina elaborated different achievements of her government including generating employment, providing loans to the sharecroppers.

Referring to the long struggle of Bangabandhu for achieving the country's independence, the Prime Minister said the great leader not only liberated the country, he also started work for economic freedom of the people.

"We are working ceaselessly to build Sonar Bangla as dreamt by the Father of the Nation...we are also working to fulfil the basic needs of the people," she said

The Prime Minister said her government has undertaken the seventh five-year plan for turning Bangladesh into a higher middle income country by 2021.

"The per capita income of the people has raised to US Dollar 1316, while the country is maintaining over 6.50 percent GDP growth over the last seven years due to various pragmatic steps of the present government," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has been successful in controlling inflation as it naturally increases with a rise in the GDP rate.

She stressed the need for formulating a master plan for development of infrastructure at the upazila level.

Noting that the geographical location of Bangladesh is "very important", the Prime Minister said Bangladesh could be a bridge between the East and West.

In this connection, the Premier cited her government initiatives for boosting connectivity through implementation of the BBIN Motor Vehicle Agreement and the BCIM Economic Corridor.

Sheikh Hasina expressed satisfaction over the progress of the work on different projects of the organisations under the PMO.

The Prime Minister was apprised at the meeting that 1,39,188 families have been rehabilitated through the Ashrayan Project and Taka 1745 crore were spent for the purpose.

She was also informed that 630 "project villages" have been brought under the electrification.

The officials at the meeting said there are 2.68 lakh families in the country who are living in "extreme poverty".

In this connection, the Premier directed the officials concerned to bring the families out of the cycle of the extreme poverty in two years.

PM's Media Advisor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Principal Secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad and PMO Secretary Suraiya Begum were present, among others.