Country marching towards progress
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday told parliament that Bangladesh is marching towards progress at an overwhelming pace, dispelling pessimists' takes on the country's future.
In reply to lawmakers' queries, the PM said her government is determined to build a safe and integrated communication network in the country.
"The government is committed to easing traffic congestion, ensuring comfortable public transport, increasing discipline and security on roads... and developing an integrated multimedia communication network by being consistent with the existing system and changing situations of future development," she said in reply to Awami League MP Didarul Alam.
In reply to MP Momtaz Begum, Hasina said, "Bangladesh is marching towards development and progress, disproving all conceptions of pessimists about the future of independent Bangladesh."
In a scripted answer, she said, "In the year of the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence and Bangabandhu's birth centenary celebration, UNDP recommended Bangladesh's graduation to a developing country in 2026. It's a matter of pride for us."
Hasina said to dispel misconceptions about Bangladesh's advancement, her government has taken various time-befitting steps to implement plans to face global trade challenges, following graduation from a least developed country (LDC).
She added that Bangladesh has taken initiatives to sign preferential trade agreements (PTA), free trade agreements and comprehensive economic partnership agreements with different commercially important countries.
The PM said initially, her government has taken a step to sign trade agreements with 10 countries and three alliances on priority basis, the 10 being India, Nepal, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Japan, Singapore, the US, Canada, China and Malaysia.
She said Bangladesh signed a PTA with Bhutan on December 6, 2020.
Due to successful diplomatic efforts of Bangladesh, she said, LDCs have been able to obtain a number of facilities, including extending time for the pharmaceutical patent exemption provision till 2033.
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