Polls in mind

With the national election possibly next month, the government continues to approve, inaugurate, and lay foundation stones of development projects, an apparent move to woo voters.

At least 82 projects involving Tk 88,782 crore were approved last month. The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) will sit in a special meeting on Sunday where 40 more projects could be approved, sources said.

The planning ministry is working hard to prepare project proposals ahead of the special meeting. The Ecnec secretariat will be open on Saturday, the weekend, they said. Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal will also go to the office on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday inaugurated and laid foundation stones of 321 development projects across the country, reports BSS.

She goes to Mymensingh today to open and lay foundation stones of 195 more development projects in four districts of the division, the agency adds.

Usually, once the election schedule is announced, no projects are approved. So, the officials of ministries and divisions are rushing to the planning ministry to get the green light for their projects.

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda yesterday said the decision regarding the election schedule would be made at the Election Commission on November 4.

The 90-day countdown to the national election began on Wednesday. According to the constitution, the polls must be held by January 28 when the five-year tenure of the 10th parliament expires.

Yesterday, the PM opened and laid foundation stones of the 321 development schemes in 56 districts under 21 ministries and divisions via videoconference from the Gono Bhaban, reports BSS.

“Bangladesh will witness further development if the Awami League comes to power again. More development will happen in the country Insha Allah,” Hasina said.

She reiterated her determination to build a developed Bangladesh by freeing the society from terrorism, militancy, and drugs.

Asking the authorities concerned to step up their anti-drug drives, the PM said the operations against the menace would continue.

At the function, State Minister for Textiles and Jute Mirza Azam handed over a traditional “muslin sari” to the PM produced by local weavers.

In Mymensingh, Hasina will today inaugurate 101 development projects and lay foundation stones of 94 projects in four districts of the division.

She will also address a public meeting to be organised by the local AL at Mymensingh Circuit House ground. AL district unit President Jahirul Haque Khoka will chair the meeting.

Of the 101 development projects, 31 are in Mymensingh, 19 in Netrakona, six in Jamalpur, and 45 in Sherpur, Mahmud Hasan, Mymensingh divisional commissioner, told BSS.

SUNDARBANS NOW FREE FROM ROBBERS

In another development, the PM declared the Sundarbans free from robbers after 54 robbers in the area surrendered their firearms yesterday to the home minister in Bagerhat.

“The Sundarbans was once gripped by robbers. But with the surrender of the robbers, I can declare the world's largest mangrove forest free of those.”

She also announced that each of the 54 robbers would be given Tk 1 lakh.

Hasina asked the home minister to take measures for withdrawal of cases against them, except those for murder.

The PM, who was connected with the arms surrendering function via videoconference, said the government would do whatever necessary for the robbers' rehabilitation. “We want them to return to normal life and live peacefully with their families.”