Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday asked all the country’s public university authorities to concentrate on research work as the government is continuing allocating huge amounts of money in this regard.
“Conduct research work at public universities as you (university authorities) are always being given sufficient money to explore knowledge and ensure quality education. Don’t make the higher educational institutions Haats and Bazaars,” quoting the PM after the ECNEC meeting, Planning Minister M A Mannan told newsmen.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved four projects at the cost of Tk 1,659.34 crore, Mannan said adding that, of this, the government will provide Tk 740.14 crore while the foreign grant will be of Tk 919.20 crore.
The approval came at the Ecnec meeting, held with Ecnec Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
The Prime Minister and the Planning Minister joined the meeting from Ganabhaban through video conference whereas some other Ministers and State Ministers also attended the meeting with Planning Commission members and secretaries concerned in attendance at the NEC Conference Room in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.
Sheikh Hasina also said on the occasion, a huge amount of money is allocated for the public universities to conduct research.
“It is very unfortunate that university authorities do not spend the allocated money for the purpose, she said, adding, “So money is not a problem, if necessary, I will arrange the money myself.”
“The government’s timely measures helped the country’s economy rebound during the Covid-19 pandemic” she was quoted as saying.
“We have taken the initiative (announcing stimulus packages) timely. In doing so, we didn’t even think about how much money we have, but rather we reached money to every sector and the people, to keep the wheels of the country’s economy moving,” she mentioned.
Turning to agriculture, she said, we have given utmost priority to agriculture aimed at increasing the food production so that the people of the country do not suffer from a food crisis.
She added:”We have been able to increase food production and thus ensured food security.”
About revival of the industrial sector, the premier said that the country’s trade and commerce have started reviving soon after they had received the stimulus packages.
She went on saying, “There is no sector which has not received assistance from us. We have reached the stimulus packages to not only the richest businessmen, but also to the people involved in all kinds of business. The stimulus packages and cash incentives have boosted the country’s trade and commerce.”
The stimulus packages and cash incentives have also helped the commoners who have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus in easing their hardships.
The Prime Minister requested all concerned to reach the information regarding the success of announcing stimulus packages to keep the country’s economy running as many people are habituated to criticizing the government’s initiative without knowing properly.
She said the government has given incentives to the agricultural sector directly and given it to SMEs, heavy industries, RMG sector and other industries phase by phase.
Hasina mentioned the day-labourers also started getting their jobs back while the businesses started rolling again.
