Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday asked the economists to design their policies, plans and programmes considering the local realities as advice from a foreigner won’t be fruitful here.
“I want from the economists that you would design your policies, plans and programmes considering the soil and people of the country,” she said.
The premier said this while inaugurating the 22nd biennial conference-2024 of Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA) at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) in the city’s Ramna area.
She said if any plan and programme is designed focusing on local realities and public welfare, it would be effective.
“If someone (a foreigner) comes here for a day or two and leaves giving us advice. There’ll be no use of that advice for us,” she said.
The PM, however, said Bangladeshi experts of course can learn anything from foreign sources but implement it here considering the country, its people and resources.
Noting that making Bangladesh developed is her goal by changing the fate of its people, she said Bangladesh has already progressed a lot in its development journey.
“Inshallah, we’ll continue to advance as we are doing now. We'll be able to overcome all obstacles no matter how many obstructions are there,” said Hasina amid applause.
The prime minister asked the economists to work on plans for boosting the country’s exports and strengthening the rural economy further.
“We need to produce export-oriented goods on a larger scale and diversify our exports. We’ve many more things to do here. I would like to see our economists to work on identifying other products that can be added to our export basket,” she said.
She said the pace of the country’s progress was slowed down due to some international factors, she said adding that some obstacles also came from inside the country when arson violence was unleashed in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2023.
“I’m going ahead overcoming internal manmade disasters and also tackling international pressure,” she said.
The premier said her government will place the proposed national budget for the fiscal 2024-2025 in Parliament on June 6 next. “Inshallah, we’ll be able to place the budget properly and will implement it as well,” she said.
She said her government is focusing on enhancing the agricultural productions based on cooperatives in the country.
The PM focused on different measures her government took for strengthening the rural economy, self-employment, expanding the coverage of social safety net and utilising marine resources.
She also highlighted various programmes like ‘My Village-My Township,’ My House My Farm,’ Micro-saving scheme and self-employment loan scheme
“Our every policy has been taken targeting the grassroots people,” said Hasina.
BEA President Prof Abul Barkat presided over the opening session of the two-day biennial conference.
Convener of the conference preparation committee Dr Jamaluddin Ahmed delivered the welcome speech, while BEA General Secretary Prof Md Aynul Islam gave the vote of thanks.