Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday told Parliament that the ruling Bangladesh Awami League’s vision is to transform every village into a township alongside building the country as “Smart Bangladesh” by 2041.
“If Bangladesh Awami League forms the government again, our vision is to build ‘Smart Bangladesh' by 2041,” she said, replying to a starred question from Jatiya Party lawmaker Rustum Ali Faraji of Pirojpur-3 constituency.
The ‘Smart Bangladesh’ will be based on smart citizens, smart economy, smart government and smart society, she added.
The Leader of the House said that Awami League's "Election Manifesto-2018: Bangladesh on the Journey to Prosperity" which was presented before the nation on the eve of the 11th national parliamentary elections outlined plans for building a “prosperous and developed Bangladesh by 2041” and a “safe delta” by 2100.
As the first step in the journey of a developed Bangladesh, she said, the country has already become a developing one from the least developed country.
Sheikh Hasina said that Bangladesh will become an upper middle income country by 2031 with average per capita income of above US$ 5,906 and Bangladesh will be a developed country in 2041 with per capita income of above US$ 12,500.
Mentioning that currently Bangladesh’s GDP growth rate is 7.25 percent, she said that their target is to raise the rate to 8.51 percent in 2025, 9.0 percent in 2031 and 9.9 percent in 2041.
In order to materialize the vision, she said, different short, medium and long-term plans will be taken.
She stated that the plans which now are under consideration include the 2nd Perspective Plan 2021-2041 to build a ‘Smart Bangladesh’ in the line with the Vision-2041, Bangladesh Delta Plan-2100 to build smart delta, 9th five-year plan (2026-2030), 10th five-year plan (2031-2035) and 11th five year plan (2036-2040).
The head of government said that the agricultural production would be raised by promoting agricultural mechanization; small, cottage, medium and large industries would be developed; all projects undertaken for road, sea, rail and air connectivity would be completed; a massive employment would be generated by ensuring local and foreign investment in 100 economic zones, and steps would be taken emphasizing on agriculture and food processing industries.
She also said the production of digital devices would be increased and the local market for the devices would be expanded by increasing the purchasing power of the people of Bangladesh alongside finding new overseas markets for the items.
Sheikh Hasina said the overall living standard of all the people of Bangladesh will be improved by ensuring the basic needs of people - clothing, shelter, education and medicare - up to the grassroots level in the country.
“A developed golden Bangladesh will be built by transforming every village into a township,” she said, adding that the detailed plans will be published in the next election manifesto in time.
In response to a supplementary question from Jatiya Party lawmaker Fakhrul Imam, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina further told the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) that no force has been created yet in Bangladesh that can topple the Awami League government as the root of the party is very deep.
“In Bangladesh, no force has emerged yet, which can oust the Awami League government,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina, also the president of ruling Awami League (AL), said AL is a party that wasn’t born from the pocket of any illegal power-grabber and military dictator, rather its birth was from the soil and the people of this country.
“So, our roots have deepened very much inside the soil,” she added.
The Leader of the House mentioned that Ayub Khan, Yahya Khan, Zia, Gen Ershad and Khaleda Zia tried to destroy the Awami League but failed, she said, adding: “They would never be able to do so – Inshallah.”
“When Awami League is in power, it means the government serves the people and changes the fate of the people,” she said, asking all to remember what the condition of Bangladesh was 14 years ago.
