PM for exploring sustainable strategy to expedite country's development

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (11 May) asked the engineers to develop a pro-people, pro-environment, cost-effective, suitable, and sustainable strategy and plan to quicken the country's development.

"Devise the strategy through discussion to foster the country's development so we can take the country forward towards prosperity," she said while addressing as the chief guest of the 61st convocation of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB).

IEB Dhaka Centre organised the programme with the main theme "Engineering and Technology for Smart Bangladesh" on IEB headquarters premises here.

Hasina expressed her desire for inclusive housing development in Bangladesh, emphasising that not only the wealthy should live in flats but also rickshaw pullers, daily labourers, and ordinary working people.

The prime minister asked the engineers to develop environmentally friendly plans to protect Bangladesh from the adverse impact of climate change.

"We should keep in mind that we always have to face drought, flood and flow-tide," she said.

She also called upon the engineers to develop sustainable, cost-effective, and suitable plans to benefit the country and its people.

"We have to take plans in such a way from which the people will get benefit, the country will get return or income and off- course, the plans will be suitable for Bangladesh," she added.

The premier called for not taking any plan for "only the purpose of construction and commission".

"I will not approve if any such plan come to me. I will only take into consideration the benefit of the country and its people," she said.

Sheikh Hasina reiterated her call to the engineers not to take any such plan for development, which requires filling water bodies such haor, beel, and ponds.

"If necessary, we will build expressway. The vehicles will ply the expressway while vessels under the expressway," she said.

Recalling the engineers' contribution to the country's development, she said her government will consider the logical demands of engineers after scrutiny.

The prime minister handed over awards, including gold medals and certificates, to different levels of engineers, centers, sub-centers, engineering divisions, and graduates of the AMIE examination.

IEB President Eng Md Abdus Sabur, General Secretary Eng SM Monjurul Haque Monju, IEB Dhaka Centre Chairman Eng Mohammad Hossain, and its General Secretary Eng Md Nazrul Islam also spoke at the function.

The function featured an audiovisual presentation on engineers' contributions to the country's development and protection of its environment, and the theme song marking the IEB's 61st was played.

Sheikh Hasina stressed more research in agriculture, saying her government is set to completely mechanise the agricultural sector to triple its production.

"Conduct research on how to develop agricultural machineries at low cost," she said.

She reminded all that her government has ensured food security by increasing production through research.

The prime minister said the country has been able to produce 28000mw of electricity and has set a target to increase to 60,000mw by 2041.

"We are ensuring multifaceted electricity generation by installing solar, wind, coal, gas, oil and hydro based power plants. More research is required to this end," she said.
 
She called upon the engineers to focus on research to maximise the use of their talents and merits for the cause of the country's development.

"I want you to give special attention to research," she added.

The prime minister said her government is providing houses to the landless and homeless people across the country free of cost so that they all have an address.

"None will remain homeless in Bangladesh," she reiterated.

Photo: PID

Sheikh Hasina said her government has been building flats for slum dwellers as well.

She asked the engineers to draw plans for making houses and flats more affordable and living-friendly.

"We're doing every job focusing on changing the fate of the grassroots people. Do your duties keeping that in mind," she said.

The prime minister called engineers the main driving force of transforming Bangladesh into a developed, prosperous and Smart Bangladesh by 2041, which means it will have the smart population, smart government, smart economy and smart society. 

"We have been working to turn Bangladesh into a developed, prosperous and Smart Bangladesh by 2041. You (engineers) are the main driving force to materialize the vision," she said.

She came down heavily on the critics of the country's development.

"There are some people who criticise everything without any reason. We don't care who says what as we are committed to working for the welfare of the country and its people," she said.

The prime minister said the BNP and its like-minded governments did nothing for the welfare of the people.

In this regard, she said the per capita income increased by just six US dollars till 1996 after 1975 changeover.

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman increased per capita income to $277 from $97, she noted.

The premier said her government has been able to realize the recognition of a developing nation for Bangladesh in 2021 by conducting massive development works while the BNP did nothing for the country's advancement.