Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday expressed her determination to bring down the country’s poverty rate lower than that of United States of America before observing the golden jubilee of the independence of Bangladesh. She said this while inaugurating the 5-day Deputy Commissioners’ Conference adding that it would be a fitting reply to them who had said Bangladesh would be a bottomless basket.
“We have brought down the country’s poverty rate to 21 percent already. If we try a bit harder we will be able to bring it down by 2 or 3 percent as still we have some time (to celebrate the golden jubilee of independence) in our hands. “Probably you know that the current poverty rate in America is 18 percent. We want to bring down our poverty rate at least one percent lower than that of America,” She said.
“We want to show those who had said that Bangladesh would be a bottomless basket that we have reduced the poverty rate. By 2024, we will reduce poverty remarkably. By 2041, Bangladesh will be a developed and rich country of Asia.” BSS reports, the Prime Minister has said that the ultimate aim of the present government is to build a happy, prosperous, justified, knowledge-based ‘Digital Bangladesh’ free from the curses of hunger, poverty, militancy, corruption and drugs.
She said her government wants to reach every civic amenity to the villages under “My Town My Village” programme so none of the countrymen will lag behind. The Prime Minister also asked the DCs to remain always ready to address the natural calamities like flood, saying “The flood which is now being seen at different parts of the country will spread slowly to its middle areas and the lower portion of the country might be inundated late August.” She however said her government is well prepared to tackle any kind of natural calamities like flood.
The prime minister said the Deputy Commissioners’ Conference is an opportunity for direct exchange of views of field officials with the policy level of government. “This is very important for taking the right decision and its successful implementation….whatever plan we take for development, it depends on you to be properly executed,” she said.
The premier said the country will celebrate the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 2020 and golden jubilee of independence in 2021, adding that “You (DCs) can take own programmes to observe the events.” The premier said the government will further introduce district-wise budget to ensure balanced development taking into consideration the diversified geographic location and population as some districts are hilly, some in coastal areas and some surrounded by haor and baor.
Sheikh Hasina asked the DCs to take legal action against mills and factories built in unplanned way. The premier stressed the need for formulating master plans up to union levels aimed at saving arable land, environment and ecology as none can build mills and factories anywhere they want. She asked the DCs to take prompt action to select location for constructing mini stadiums.
The prime minister also asked them for conducting regular surveillances to prevent public from being harassed or deprived of any kind of public service.
She called for continuation of the anti-drug operation and protecting the youths from the menace. The premier asked the DCs to play a leadership role in establishing good governance at the grassroots level and work together with the public representatives.
Increasing transparency and efficiency in the land administration, the prime minister urged the deputy commissioners to take effective steps to protect the government lands. About ensuring sound health and well-being of the poor and disadvantaged people, she said the community clinic activities should be enhanced while public awareness should be accelerated to protect the environment and proper application of laws and regulations to be applied in this regard.
The prime minister called upon the DCs for raising a fund in their respective areas to rehabilitate beggars. She instructed them for taking proper plans for mitigation of natural disaster and helping the people get public services. Sheikh Hasina also asked DCs for undertaking special measures for the welfare of the disabled, autistic and backward communities. Deputy Commissioners’ (DCs) Conference is an annual meeting of the heads of districts with policy makers of the government aimed at discussing policy matters and development strategies to gear up the field level administration. The conference plays an active role in determining and solving the problems and taking strategies for implementation of government policies and programmes at the grassroots level.