Not sitting idle with reserves, using it for the people: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday heavily castigated the criticism over the reserves, saying her government would not sit idle with the reserves money rather to use it for the people's welfare.

"It would not be proper to sit idle with the reserve money. We have to utilise it for people's welfare... We have to reduce sufferings of the people," she said.

The prime minister said this while administering oath to newly elected 59 district councils' chairmen at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka.

A total of 623 members of the district councils also took oath at the programme.

The prime minister asked the local government representatives to take prompt measures to make their localities self-reliant in food production by ensuring every inch of land to be brought under cultivation.

She also asked them to clean their localities as the Dengue patients are increasing across the country.

The prime minister too called for making people aware about Dengue.

She said her government is working to make local government bodies as pro-people.

Sheikh Hasina said the price of everything and the transportation costs have increased worldwide due to the Russia-Ukraine war, sanctions, counter sanctions and the Covid-19 pandemic.

The prime minister said the government is importing necessary things to make those available and ease sufferings of the common people.

She said her government is purchasing food, fuel oil, gas, edible oil, wheat and corn at much higher price using the reserves.

The reserves money is also used in purchasing capital machineries, she added.

The prime minister said communication, transportation, import and everything was almost stalled during the coronavirus pandemic, for which, the reserves increased to almost $48 billion.

She said that the government has invested $8 billion in various purposes including infrastructural development and river dredging.

The prime minister said they have given loan from the reserve to Bangladesh Biman to purchase planes and they are now repaying it with 2 per cent interest.

The prime minister heavily criticised the BNP leaders for their propaganda regarding the reserve money.

She added that they (BNP) will definitely do it as their leader Tarique Rahman is sentenced to seven years imprisonment with Tk 20 crore penalty in a money laundering case.

Sheikh Hasina said the government is giving stimulus package to the export oriented industries to continue rolling out their activities.

She said the government is also supplying essential items at lower price through one crore TCB cards, while 50 lakh people are getting rice at the rate of Tk 15 per kilogram.

"Those who are totally incapable to purchase essential things, we are providing them foods free of cost," she said.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader was present on the dais.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam administered oath to the elected members of the Zila Parishads.

State Minister of the Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Swapan Bhattacharjee was present on the dias while Local Government Division Secretary Muhammad Ibrahim gave the address of welcome.

The prime minister urged the local government representatives to win hearts of the people by rendering required services and stand by them in their needs.

Sheikh Hasina also called upon them to give special focus on the overall development of their respective areas with the mentality of providing service.