Work for people’s development

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged all to work from their respective positions alongside the government for the socio-economic development of the people to build the country as Golden Bengal.

"Not only the government but also everyone else has to carry out some responsibilities from their respective positions for socio-economic development, find out those who are poor or homeless or in trouble in their own localities," she said.

The PM was addressing a programme marking the launch of a programme on sending allowances and stipend money directly to different vulnerable groups under the social safety net using mobile financial services. 

The progamme was held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre. The premier joined the event virtually from the Gono Bhaban

From now on, the allowances for elderly people, widows, women abandoned by their husbands and differently abled people as well as the stipend money for differently abled students would reach the mobile accounts (Nagad and bKash accounts) of the beneficiaries.   

Hasina said if the vulnerable people are identified, the government will surely provide them with accommodation and other support.

"If we work together, we will definitely be able to make the country Golden Bengal as dreamt by the Father of the Nation."

She said the government has been working with a plan to make Bangladesh a hunger and poverty-free country.

The PM said her government wants to celebrate the golden jubilee of the country's independence and the Mujib Borsho, the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, through ensuring housing for all homeless people as well as bringing cent percent people under electricity coverage.

Talking about the social safety net, Hasina said her government has long been working to send the allowances directly to the beneficiaries, removing all middlemen in the disbursement process.

She thanked the social welfare ministry, and other agencies concerned, including the ICT Division, the finance ministry and banks for the introduction of the government-to-person (G-2-P) disbursement system of the social safety allowances.

"The allowances will be sent through Nagad and bKash services. All [the beneficiaries] will be benefited from the system."

The PM said the beneficiaries should not depend on the social safety allowances only, rather the capable persons should also work for their livelihoods.

The allowances are given so that any individual doesn't think himself "worthless", she said.

Hasina said her government formed in 1996 had taken an initiative to bring elderly people, widows, husband-abandoned women and freedom fighters under the coverage of allowances.

Later, the PM exchanged views with some beneficiaries and local stakeholders at the offices of deputy commissioners of Chandpur, Pirojpur, Lalmonirhat and Netrakona through video conferences.

 Social Welfare Minister Nuruzzaman Ahmed also spoke at the virtual function, moderated by PM's Principal Secretary Ahmad Kaikaus.