Poverty down to 24.8pc from 70pc: Muhith
BSS
Bangladesh recorded an overwhelming improvement in poverty alleviation down to 24.8 per cent now with a pro-people government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina accelerating all efforts to secure a dignified place as a middle-income country very soon, reports BSS.
The poverty level in this part of the world was 70 per cent, resulted from the continuous repression and exploitation of the Pakistani centrists and their massive destruction along with wholesale killing of the innocent people during the War of Liberation in 1971.
Lawmakers from both treasury and opposition benches made these observations yesterday while taking part in a general discussion over the address of President Abdul Hamid at the maiden session of the current sitting on January 20 this year.
Taking part in yesterdays discussion, Finance Minister AMA Muhith was proud enough while saying that the overall living standard in Bangladesh went appreciably high with the fall of the poverty level down to 24.8 per cent.
We are now hoping to be a developed nation with the current pace of growth to raise our heads high by 2041, he said further disclosing that the current poverty level would again go down to 10 per cent by the end of the present governments tenure not to see anymore poor in the country in course of time.
The finance minister said Bangladesh achieved another victory when the present government in pursuance of its sharp diplomacy retrieved its maritime boundary after resolving the long 68 years pending issue in an international arbitrary court. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina deserves all credit for such a victory, he said.
The countrys total national income is $ 210 billion, export earnings $ 33 billion and export expenditure $ 42 billion, he informed the House.
A new sea port is now being developed at Paira at a cost of $ 5 billion. The government would undertake various new initiatives including a dredging project from the Jamuna River to Bay of Bengal, Muhith added.
He said the government would frame an independent budget for implementing those projects by using foreign debt. The current foreign debt is $ 37 billion, he said adding the government is expected to prepare the next national budget involving Taka three lakh crore.
Minister for Primary and Mass Education Mostafizur Rahman said Bangladesh is now moving forward by overcoming all conspiracies to become a hub of unhindered development under the bold and dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The present government is relentlessly working towards advancing the national economy in a faster pace by speeding up development in all areas and bringing smile and peace for the common people of the country, he said.
Rahman said Sheikh Hasina and her government improved the education system with a view to rearing up the young generation to be worthy leaders in future. She has created a history by holding the trial of war criminals, proving that there is no alternative to her, he said.
Taking part in the discussion, the lawmakers said the country had already achieved success in all areas including health, electricity, education, agriculture, food, communications, science and technology, industries, women and children sectors.
Despite a conspiratorial politics creating odds and obstacles in Bangladesh, the present government has already achieved success in various sectors and is now looking forward to turn Bangladesh into a developed country by 2041, the lawmakers added.
Bitterly criticizing the BNP and its allies for their anti-people politics, they said the BNP and its alliance have long been up with their destructive politics when Bangladesh is already on the path of a new height with its faster growth in economy and a positive image abroad.
On the contrary, lawmakers said, the BNP and its alliance members killed and burnt innocent people through arson attacks and petrol bombs across the country.
The BNP chief Begum Khaleda Zia, her party cadres and fundamentalist allies being in a fix have been hurling abusive words at the government, staged a bloody rampage for 92 days and are now suffering from heart burning after failing to go to power.
In their speeches, they said the living standard of all in Bangladesh has already been raised to a higher extent, giving a clear sign of the countrys becoming a developed one in due course.
They said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has upheld the march of democracy and also the constitution in the greater national interests.
Referring to the global laurels in recognition to the good governance of Sheikh Hasina, lawmakers said Bangladesh has earned tremendous appreciations from various world forums including the UN Climate Change accolade, ITU in ICT, South-South and others.
They termed the Presidents speech as a realistic exposure of what the present government did in terms of development on the basis of its future plans.
After implementation of the long-dreamt Padma Bridge and other mega projects, they said, Bangladesh will wear a new prestigious look.
According to the lawmakers, Bangladesh has become a digital country within the shortest possible time due to the farsightedness of Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the adviser of ICT affairs to the Prime Minister.
The most tremendous development done in Bangladeshs science and technology sector is that the country would soon launch the first ever satellite into the space very soon.
Earlier, they paid their heartfelt tribute to the memory of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, four national leaders, martyred freedom fighters and also those who made their supreme sacrifices during the War of Liberation and all subsequent democratic movements in the country.
Treasury bench members Habibur Rahman, Mahzabin Khaled, Golam Rabbani, Begum Akter Jahan, Begum Roksana Yasmin Suty, M Mamunur Rashid Kiron and opposition party member M Noman, Noor-e-Hasna Lily Chowdhury.
