Covid-19 has slowed economic advancement but we’ll defy all hurdles: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said Covid-19 has slowed the country's economic advancement to some extent but the nation will move forward, defying all hurdles.

The situation might delay Bangladesh's graduation to a developing nation in the stipulated time, the prime minister said adding, "These days of Covid-19 will not last forever. We will be able to move forward defying all hurdles."

The prime minister said this while speaking at the Executive Committee on National Economic Council (Ecnec) meeting held at NEC conference room. She attended the meeting through a videoconference from her official residence Gono Bhaban.

"The way Bangladesh was advancing economically, we had hopes that while celebrating Mujib Borsho in 2020 and golden jubilee of our independence in 2021 we will be able to reduce the rate of poverty and put the country in a higher dignified status through graduating toa developing country. But due to Covid-19 that pace of advancement has been slowed slightly," she said.

Sheikh Hasina urged all to discharge their respective responsibilities maintaining appropriate health guidelines so that people of the country do not suffer.