New budget key to turning Bangladesh into developing country

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday described the proposed budget for FY2023-24 as an appropriate one for marching Bangladesh ahead as a developing nation, discarding the apprehension over the ability to implement it.

"We need not bother who says what [about the budget]. We have got status as a developing nation. We have announced an appropriate budget to transform Bangladesh into a developing country," she said.

She said these while inaugurating Dhaka District Awami League Bhaban (offices of Dhaka district and Dhaka north city Awami League) as the chief guest in the capital’s Tejgaon industrial area.

The inaugural programme turned into a grand rally as thousands of enthusiastic Awami League leaders and activists from across the Dhaka district and Dhaka city assembled to have a   glimpse of their party chief. 

Sheikh Hasina, also president of the Awami League, said, "We, Insha Allah, can implement the budget as the people of the country are with us."

The prime minister came down heavily on those who are apprehending over the implementation of such a huge budget of around Tk 7.62 lakh crore.  

"Some people always say the same thing before passing the budget every year that we cannot implement the budget. But, we are doing our work to improve the living standard of every person," she said.  

The prime minister reiterated her pledge to transform Bangladesh into a developed, prosperous and “Smart Bangladesh” free from poverty and hunger by 2041 as envisioned by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Awami League Advisory Council member and Prime Minister’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, Presidium member Quamrul Islam, Organising Secretary Mirza Azam, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid, and State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Enamur Rahman, spoke at the function.  

Awami League Presidium members, Deputy Leader of the House Begum Matia Chowdhury, and Mostofa Jalal Mohiuddin and Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Atiqul Islam were present on the dais.

Dhaka district Awami League President Benazir Ahmed presided over the function while its General Secretary Paniruzzaman Torun moderated it.

In her speech, Sheikh Hasina gave the countrymen good news that they have already signed agreements with Qatar and Oman and are working to do the same with some other countries to purchase electricity-producing fuel to ease suffering of the people caused by load-shedding.

"It is good for us that we have made agreements with Qatar and Oman. We are working on it with some other countries so that we can purchase gas and bring those into the country to ease suffering of the people," she said.

The prime minister said they have reached electricity at every doorstep. But the people have to suffer for load-shedding due to price hikes in oil and gas and scarcity of coal, she said, adding that, "We have to import those."

She continued that the government has to face difficulties to import fuel to produce electricity. The prime minister said those who were against coal-based power plants, are now establishing those.

The world is going through economic meltdown and inflation due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war and sanctions and counter-sanctions, she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the people never have to suffer for power if the Covid-19 pandemic, Russia-Ukraine war, economic recession and price hike did not hit hard the globe.

She said she knew that it is difficult for the people to tolerate load-shedding as her government had successfully put an end to this end. But the global situation has forced it to happen, she added.

The prime minister reminded the countrymen that the government of Khaleda Zia had killed 18 farmers in Kansat as they had demanded electricity, while another 17 labourers were killed during the month of Ramadan for demanding due wages.