PM blasts critics
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday criticised those who opposed the construction of a coal-based power plant near the Sundarbans.
“Bangladesh is ours -- I don't believe others will show more kindness than me in saving the country as well as the Sundarbans. They [others] are shedding crocodile tears,” the PM said while speaking on the proposed budget in parliament.
The government would not have gone for the plant, if it would cause harm to the Sundarbans, she observed amid thumping of desks by the treasury and opposition bench MPs.
Responding to Opposition Leader Raushan Ershad's criticism over setting up the power plant at Rampal, Hasina said there is a coal-based power plant in Dinajpur and it is situated in a densely populated area.
“Let me ask you [Raushan] one question, what are the adverse effects of that power plant in that area. Can anybody point out any sign of negative effect? No,” she said.
“If there was any possibility of adverse effect on the Sundarbans in the real sense due to the Rampal power plant, the government would not have gone for constructing this plant.
“Many of us do not like Bangladesh's development and that is the real reason [for opposing the power plant construction],” she added.
About punishing the culprits involved in the share market scam, the PM said, “We've taken punitive actions against those involved in the capital market scam.
“But many of the culprits are now out of the country. They have fled the country … we will take actions against them as soon as we get them.”
In this connection, she mentioned that her administration had taken various steps for the development of the capital market.
“We've also changed the law to strengthen the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission,” Hasina said.
On curbing corruption and ensuring good governance, the PM told parliament that her administration had taken various steps including introducing e-tender in different ministries.
When Raushan Ershad raised concerns about possible disaster from nuclear power plant operation, Hasina said any kind of accident could happen at any time.
“We are taking every possible measure while constructing the nuclear plant so that no accident takes place there,” she told the House.
Hours before her speech in parliament, senior Awami League MP Suranjit Sengupta strongly criticised the government's failure to handle a wide-range of disorder in the banking sector.
While speaking on the proposed budget, he lambasted the finance minister saying, “There is no discipline in banking sector. It has become easy to make fortunes by taking huge amount of loan from banks.”
Mentioning the amount of default loans in the banking sectors, Suranjit demanded the government amend the loan court act.
“We will not be able to do anything unless we can bring discipline in the financial sector,” he observed.
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