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Will build planned cities in all districts: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said the government will build planned cities in all districts of the country, not only in Dhaka.
"We’ll make planned housing in every division and district…it’ll no longer be Dhaka-centric one so that people have a better life [everywhere]," Sheikh Hasina said.
Also Read:Will work together to overcome Covid crisis: Hasina to Mamata
The Prime Minister said this while addressing a function marking the handover of plot documents to 1,440 original residents and affected people of Purbachal New Town Project.
She joined the programme, held at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC), virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.
She said the government is also taking steps so that people in rural areas can avail themselves of civic amenities that the city dwellers are enjoying.
"Everyone has a desire to live in a city. So, we’ve decided that the people living in villages will be provided with facilities like that of a city," she said.The government is constructing roads, bridges and appropriate infrastructures across the country, Hasina said, adding that a project, 'Palli Janopod', has been taken so that one can buy a flat if he/she wants to live in a flat.
Also read:Antimicrobial resistance can even threaten food security: PM Hasina
The Prime Minister said the government is taking various steps so that people can manage their livelihood living in flats.
The Prime Minister reiterated her firm commitment that no one in the country will remain homeless. "We’ll arrange a shelter for everybody whatever and however we could.”
She also said every house will have the electricity connection which will illuminate it. "Every house will have educated people. The country will march forward with education and knowledge, and it’ll have a glorified position in the world.”
Hasina went on saying, “Bangladesh is now a developing nation, and this country will advance further. We’ll be the wonder of the world."
New variant of coronavirusTalking about the new variant of coronavirus that spread widely in neighbouring India, she said all have to remain alert and must wear masks.
"As the neighbouring country is hit hard by the new variant. There’s a possibility for it to enter Bangladesh," she said.
Also Read: As India surges, Bangladesh lacks jabs, faces virus variants
She criticised a section of people for their desperate bid to go to their village homes defying all the restrictions at this critical time of pandemic.
"All are travelling together in ferries and other vehicles. You don’t know who’s infected with coronavirus. You’re carrying that virus to your family members. You’re going to infect them, too. You’re going to put their lives in danger as well," she said.
Hasina questioned what problem they will face if one Eid is celebrated without all other family members and relatives. It will help save all from coronavirus infections, she said.
State Minister Housing and Public Works Ministry Sharif Ahmed, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Housing and Public Works Ministry Engineer Mosharrof Hossain , Housing and Public Works secretary Shahid Ullah Khandaker also spoke on the occasion.
Textiles and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi was present at the dais.
Also read: Celebrate Eid where you are: PM Hasina
Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) Chairman ABM Amin Ullah Nuri delivered the welcome speech.
State Minister Housing and Public Works Ministry Sharif Ahmed handed over the allotment papers on behalf of the Prime Minister.
Govt taken all-out preparation to procure Covid-19 vaccine: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday assured the countrymen that the government has taken all-out preparations to bring COVID-19 vaccine whenever it will be available.
"The vaccine is about to be invented, research works are going on. We've given advance booking so that we could bring a vaccine at once after its invention. We're taking steps for that purpose. We've taken all-out preparations for that," she said while delivering her winding-up speech in the Parliament.
Responding to criticism from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Jatiya Party leader GM Quader, she said that educational institutions were opened in America and European countries including UK, but later they shut down all as the infection of coronavirus was shooting up alarmingly.
"We've also discussed to open our educational institutions. If opened, students, teachers and guardians would go to the respective institutions. Coronavirus is contagious, a vaccine is yet to be invented. Why should we take the risk? We can't push our people towards death risk. We've to keep that in our mind too," she said.
Meeting on agricultural production, stock held at Ganobhaban
A meeting on agriculture production and stock was held at the Ganobhaban on Thursday with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
PM fears earth’s extinction, seeks steps to check human actions
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said if the current actions of humans keep going on unchecked it will not only cause the extinction of other species, but also move towards ultimate extinction of itself.
Need better cooperation for development of region’s people: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday emphasised on the need for a better cooperation with neighbouring countries for the development of the people of this region.
"We always think that better cooperation is needed with the neighbouring countries firstly for the development of the people of the region as our foreign policy is 'friendship to all and malice towards none'," she said.
The prime minister made the remarks when outgoing Indian High Commissioner Riva Ganguly Das called on her at her official residence Ganobhaban.
After the meeting, PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters.
Sheikh Hasina also said that the neighbouring countries can use Chattogram, Sylhet and Syedpur airports for their convenience.
Ihsanul Karim said the prime minister and the high commissioner discussed bilateral issues.
The COVID-19 situation and the protracted Rohingya crisis also came up during the talks, he said.
Riva Ganguly said the two countries are working together to combat the virus.
She also appreciated the steps Bangladesh has taken under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to contain the pandemic.
The high commissioner lauded Bangladesh's economic development under the leadership of the prime minister amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
Sheikh Hasina said the people of all classes and professions are working together during this crisis.
She mentioned that large-scale programmes had been taken on the occasion of the 'Mujib Borsho'. "But we couldn’t celebrate many programmes due to coronavirus outbreak," she said.
She said alongside the government's tree plantation campaign, her party has taken a programme to plant 10 million trees across the country during the Mujib Borsho.
The high commissioner handed over a letter from Indian Premier Narendra Modi in which he (Modi) greeted Sheikh Hasina on the occasion of her 74th birthday.
The high commissioner also wished the prime minister on the occasion of her birthday.
The prime minister thanked Modi and Riva Ganguly for greeting her, the press secretary said.
Sheikh Hasina recalled India's contributions to Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971.
She said the people of India and its political parties extended overwhelming support to Bangladesh's Liberation War and at the same way they supported the historic land boundary agreement with Bangladesh.
The Indian high commissioner informed the prime minister that the foreign ministers of the two countries are likely to hold talks virtually on Tuesday.
PM's Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus and Indian Deputy High Commissioner in Dhaka Bishwadip Dey were present on the occasion.
Corona situation may deteriorate to some extent in winter: PM
Expressing apprehension that the Covid-19 situation may deteriorate to some extent during the upcoming winter, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday asked everyone to bolster preparation to fight the pandemic in wintertime.
PM receives donations for relief fund
Over 55 government agencies, public and private organisations, and educational institutions on Sunday provided donations to the Prime Minister’s Relief and Welfare Fund to help the poor affected by COVID-19 fallout.
Don’t worry about loan interest, PM tells businesspeople
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said the businesspeople, who took loans for operating their business entities, do not to be worried about their loan interest.
Educational institutions to remain closed till Sept if corona situation doesn’t improve: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said educational institutions in the country will remain closed till September next if there is no improvement in the prevailing situation triggered by COVID-19.
PM to join Covid-19 virtual conference Thursday
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will join a virtual conference on ‘Enhancing regional cooperation in South Asia to combat Covid-19 related impact on its Economics’ on Thursday evening.