Full text of PM's address to nation

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Photo: File photo

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday sought cooperation of the people in realising her government's Vision-2021 programme as she addressed the nation marking completion of two years of the Awami League-led grand alliance in office.
"We may not reap immediately the benefits of the programme we undertook in the past years . . . as we had to start everything afresh because our preceding governments had left no development programmes for us to follow," she said.
She, however, said people will see the results of her government's development programmes in course of time while she listed the sector-wise achievements in the past two years.
"I urge the countrymen, have a little patience, cooperate with us, Insha Allah (Allah willing) we will definitely fulfill our commitments," the premier said.
Hasina said being a party of general people, Awami League intends to ensure optimum development of the country through the promotion of ordinary people and the past two years of development initiatives carried the testimonies to its commitments.
But she said a quarter that had amassed wealth looting people's money and siphoned out a huge amount of money abroad was now trying to obstruct the progress of the country.
"They earlier tried to foil the Bangabandhu murder trial and now they want to obstruct the war crimes trial. We seek countrymen's support in this regard," Hasina said.
The premier said her government will continue to work to fulfill the electoral pledges discarding the obstacles as "we are working for the benefit of the people, not for personal gain.”
She urged all irrespective of political affiliation to join hands leaving aside the petty differences and work for the country's welfare.
"We have already passed 40 years since the independence, the dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for an exploitation-free society, the 'Golden Bangla' is yet to be realised," Hasina said.
She expected Bangladesh to be as the most peaceful and dignified nation in South Asia.
Since taking office, the premier said, “My colleagues and I are frantically trying to change the lot of the common people.”
Requesting the countrymen to compare the first two-year tenure between the present government and the BNP-Jamaat alliance government, she said, "You will see how much success we achieved in the last two years."
Hasina said all democratic institutions of the country were destroyed during the seven-year rule of the four-party alliance government and the caretaker government.
Bangladesh, she said, was known abroad as the country of terrorism, corruption and extremism and it was a very difficult task to keep the country functional by removing the maladies left by them and fighting global recession.
"I can firmly say we are trying our best and we also achieved many successes and infused dynamism into economy," she said.
The PM said her government has taken a tough stance against terrorism and corruption and became successful in restoring peace in the life of the people.
On price of essentials, the PM said, "When we formed the government, the prices of essentials including rice were skyrocketing. But we were able to bring them down significantly.
"Due to our pragmatic steps, price of rice per kg was reduced to Tk 18 to 20 from Tk 45," she said.
Later, the price was increased to Tk 28 to ensure that the farmers get a fair price, she said.
"We are investigating why the price of rice went up in the peak season and taking proper steps in this regard," she added.
The prime minister said her government is concerned as the prices of essentials increased to a great extent internationally influencing the local market.
Calling upon the countrymen to raise agriculture production, she said, "Do not leave a single inch of land uncultivated, the government will assist you."
The premier said her government has raised salary of the government officials and employees as well as the working class people, while the income of the people went up to one-and-a-half to two times.
Hasina said Bangladesh has been established as a liberal, democratic and economically potential country.
"Bangladesh achieved United Nations MDG Award for its significant progress in reducing child and mother mortality rate. And it is an achievement for the entire nation," she said.
The PM said international journals -- The Economist and The Wall Street Journal -- and different organisations highly praised the current activities of the government. "In the UN Human Development Report 2010, Bangladesh has been placed third out of 95 countries," she said.
When the previous AL government completed its five-year term in 2001, all sectors, including economy, agriculture, industry and power, were in a strong position, she said.
"Inflation was 1.59 percent; the country became self-sufficient in food; literacy rate was increased to 65.5 percent, while power production went up to 4,300MW from 1,600MW during the past AL government," she said, adding that her government had also undertaken many projects in these sectors.
But after assuming office in 2001 through a rigged election, Hasina said, the BNP-Jamaat alliance government stopped their unfinished works out of vengeance. Besides, she said, they also cancelled a large number of approved projects, causing huge losses for the country.
The premier in her speech gave special focus on the economic sector, which was significantly vibrant amidst global recession.
She referred to some significant achievements in the financial sector under in the past two years.
One of the historical achievements was the highest ever reserves of foreign exchange that crossed $ 10 billion mark on November 11, 2009 for the first time in the country's history.
The reserves, which were only $ 5.41 billion in November 2008 before the AL formed government, rose by over 91 percent in one year and stood at $ 10.09 billion on December 21.
"Bangladesh has become the third largest exporters on the global apparels market even after economic downturn in the major importing countries," the premier said, adding that it happened because of the timely stimulus packages offered by the government to the country's readymade garment sector.
Export sector, which also marked a phenomenal 41 percent rise in the first half of the current 2010-11 financial year, was given special attention in the past two years to cope with the recession fallout.
The other significant progress was the increase in the per capita income that rose to $ 780, an encouraging advancements towards promoting country to the middle-income group from low-level status.
Revenue income was also another area of major success, which surpassed the target by 22.6 percent in the first quarter of the current fiscal year.
The PM said country's economic growth is six percent when the rest of the world faced financial crisis.
She said her government wants to increase the per capita income to $ 2,000 by 2021.
To achieve this goal, the government in the past two years created conducive atmosphere to promote both domestic and foreign investments and create employment.
"The contribution of industrial sector to GDP should be increased to 40 percent by 2021," she said.
Hasina referred to the public-private partnership (PPP), a landmark initiative of her government, to foster large-scale investment involving government and private sectors.
"The interest rate of bank loans has been reduced to 13 percent from 17 percent to encourage investment," she said.
She said the government allocated Tk 38,500 crore for Annual Development Programme (ADP) and streamlined the monitoring process for its proper implementation.
Hasina said the government employees also got increased salary packages when the government announced the minimum wage for the garment workers.
She said the government took various initiatives to ease the remittance process and stop money laundering. These steps include opening of money exchanges and bank branches overseas.
"The migrant Bangladeshis now can send money to their beneficiaries at home within 24 hours," Hasina said.
Referring to the Expatriate Welfare Bank, the PM said the Bank would help people get jobs overseas without going through the pain of selling home, crop land and other assets.
She said the passport and visa process have been improved in line with the international standard.
Besides the successes in the core economic issues, the PM also cited some social-economic areas where her government gave special attention to meet the basic needs of citizens.
Major initiatives to this effect include four planned satellite towns around the capital city and one lakh apartments to meet the increasing accommodation problems of middle-income group in Dhaka.
Hasina said the government would take similar programme in every district and upazila to offer people affordable housing.
The PM said the government is working persistently towards achieving the target of Digital Bangladesh by 2021.
"Already we have formulated ICT Policy 2009 and established 1,600 computer labs in educational institutions, 20 cyber centres in different universities, 152 community e-centres and information centres in 64 districts," she said.
Besides, she said 4,501 information service centres had been set up at union level.
"A high-tech park will be set up in Kaliakoir and an ICT incubator will be built in Karwan Bazar to help expanding ICT industry," the PM said.
Referring to the technology park being built in the capital city, Hasina said initiative had been taken to set up similar park at all the divisional headquarters.
She said the government also included the ICT education in the national curriculum and distributed 1,500 laptop computers to different schools across the country.
Hasina said effective measures had also been taken to produce cheaper laptop computers at home.
The PM said all the unions would have fibre optic cable connection by 2013.
Focusing on her government's plan to solve the country's existing power crisis, the premier said it has undertaken immediate, medium and long-term programmes to meet the present electricity demand as construction of a new power plant takes three or four years.
She said construction works of 33 power plants with a total capacity of 2,941 megawatts have already been started and tenders have been invited for setting up 24 more plants capable of generating 3,840MW.
Apart from this, the PM said her government has also undertaken a programme to set up power plants to produce 12,000MW electricity during the next five years.
Hasina said process is on to set up 2000MW Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant with the cooperation of Russia.
Besides, steps have been taken to import electricity from India, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar to meet the growing demand at home.
Process has been completed for importing 500 MW electricity from India by 2012," she added.
The PM said her government has so far distributed 1.05 crore energy-saving CFL bulbs among the people free of cost to save electricity and another 1.75 crore CFL bulbs would be distributed among the consumers.
Hasina said the crisis in power sector deepened due to mismanagement and corruption of the past BNP-Jamaat government as it did not take any initiative to produce a single megawatt of electricity during its tenure.
She said her previous government during 1996-2001 had increased the country's power generation from 1,600MW to 4,300MW and took massive projects in the interest of the people. "But, the BNP-Jamaat government after coming to power through a rigged election in 2001 suspended all unfinished and approved projects just because of its political vengeance which caused immense harm to the nation," she added.
The premier said her government is trying its best to solve the power crisis to bring the country out of the crisis at the soonest.
She said the government has already started work to produce electricity from sources like liquid fuel, coal, duel fuel and renewable energy along with the setting up of gas-based power plants.
On the development of new gas fields and extraction of gas, she said her government is implementing various programmes to increase the country's gas production. Besides, steps have been taken to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) equivalent to the volume of 500 million cubic feet daily by 2012.
Hasina said daily gas production in the country has increased to 2,035 million cubic feet last month while the production was 1,750 million cubic feet in 2009.
Regarding the country's law and order, the PM said the situation is better than anytime in the past as the government has taken stern actions against the terrorist and militant groups.
"The present government believes that better law and order is the prime and foremost condition for development. We have taken measures so that people can freely move and do their business safely and sleep without any anxiety," she said.
Extending her sincere thanks to the members of law enforcement agencies including police, RAB and intelligence services for their relentless services, the premier said people enjoyed festivity in real terms during last two Eids, Puja and Christmas. They went for shopping till midnight as the law and order was excellent, she noted.
Referring to trial of incident of BDR carnage in Pilkhana in February 2009, the PM said new law has been enacted for this trial. Necessary measures were also taken to strengthen the Border Guards and equip it with modern artilleries.
The PM highlighted her government's initiative to maintain law and order in industrial zones and said Industrial Police has been formed to check any violence in the industries.
The process for formation of the Tourist Police, Marine Police, Security and Protection Battalion and Police Bureau of Counter Terrorism to encounter militants is now progressing.
Hasina said her government has been making relentless efforts for implementing various programmes for welfare of the freedom fighters. As part it, she said, the honorarium of the freedom fighters has been raised to Taka 2,000 from Taka 900 and 30 percent government jobs has been kept reserved for their children and grand children.
Expressing her government's firm commitment to ensure free flow of information, the PM said the government has enacted Right to Information Act (RTA) and Information Commission to make sure citizens' access to all information.
She said Bangladesh media is enjoying full freedom. Present government after taking power has given permission to 12 new television channels, 14 Community Radio and one FM radio. We, for the first time in the country, allowed private television channel when we came to power in 1996, the premier noted.
Hasina reiterated her electoral pledge to strengthen local government system and said Upazila Parishad Act-1998 has been amended to set up local government at upazila level. Laws related to Pourasabha, City Corporation and Union Parishad have been amended to held election at local level, she said.
The PM said 4,484 unions were allocated Taka 442 crore this year to carry out their development programme, she said.
Pointing out the vulnerability of Bangladesh to climate change, the PM said international community ranked Bangladesh as the riskiest among the ten countries vulnerable to climate change.
"We have established our own fund to face the risk and so far undertaken 134 projects to face the adverse impact of climate change," the PM said.
The premier welcomed the decision of global climate conference to form a Green Climate Fund (GCF) to support the developing countries to address climate change and said the present government from its own fund so far allocated Taka 1,400 crore for climate change.
She said projects were taken for capital dredging of the Gorai and Jamuna Rivers and re-excavation of the dying rivers to revive their channels.
The PM said her government has made the parliament as the focal point of all democratic practice. A total of 130 laws were passed in 174 working days of the 9th Jatiya Sangsad in last two years, she said.
All important decisions of the government and issues including national education policy, poverty reduction strategy paper, nuclear power plant, climate change, proposal for making Bangla as the official language of the UN were discussed in the parliament.
She said all parliamentary committees are working regularly, despite the opposition's complete failure to play their role in the House. The opposition was present only 44 days out of 174 working days in last two years while Leader of the Opposition attended the House only five days though they are allowed to raise any issue in the parliament.
The PM said the government has executed the National Human Rights Commission to ensure basic right of people.
The Anti-Corruption Commission and Election Commission are also working freely.
The judiciary is enjoying complete freedom and working to establish rule of law in the country, Hasina said.
Describing agriculture as the main driving force of economy, Hasina said her government has been implementing various programmes to make the country self-sufficient again in food.
She said her government has reduced fertilizer price three times during the last two years, distributed agricultural cards, provided subsidy and agri-inputs to farmers and facilitate them to open bank account with an initial deposit of only Taka 10.
She said her government would distribute Taka 12,000 crore agricultural loans among the farmers during this fiscal though it has disbursed a loan of Taka 11,117 crore in the last fiscal.
"With these initiatives, fair price of agriculture produce has been ensured," she added.
Hasina said her government has reinvigorated the country's dying jute industry through genome sequencing of jute, once called as 'golden fibre' of Bangladesh. With the government's initiatives, farmers are now selling per maund of jute at Taka 2,000 to 2,500, she added.
Besides, she said her government has been distributing food free of cost among the poor and low-income people while a programme of selling rice through ration among the Class-IV government employees, police and village police force is going on.
Regarding 'Monga', she said her present government has been successful to eliminate the seasonal famine in the northern region of the country.
She said her government has allocated Taka 331 crore in providing allowances for the distressed and elderly women as it has increased the number of beneficiaries as well as the amount of the allowances.
Besides, she said Taka 1,176 crore has been spent in implementing the programme for creating jobs for the ultra poor people in the current fiscal.
Apart from this, she said her government is implementing "Ekti Bari, Ekti Khamar" (One homestead, one farm), Ashrayan (housing) projects for homeless people and providing collateral free loan to the unemployed youths.
Focusing on various programmes being implemented in health sector, she said her previous government had taken a step to set up 18,000 community clinics across the country to reach medical services to the doorsteps of people.
But, she regretted that the BNP-Jamaat government suspended the project. "After assuming office this time, we have introduced 10,000 community clinics," she added. Besides, she said the present government has recruited 13,500 healthcare providers, 4,500 doctors, 2,000 nurses and 6,500 health assistants.
She said all upazila health complexes have been brought under internet service when maternity leave has been increased to six months.
The PM said her government is working to bring about qualitative changes in the education sector.
The government has formulated a science-based and time-befitting education policy in consultation with all, she said and vowed to remove illiteracy from the country by 2014.
She said distribution of 23 crore books among the primary and secondary school students has started and the books are also available on the website.
Holding terminal examinations for class V and class VII students have begun and the success rate in secondary and higher secondary exams in last two years was about 80 percent, she added.
Hasina said her government has raised the number of stipends for school students to 30 lakh from 17 lakh and included 1,624 educational institutions in the monthly payment order (MPO).
The present government has recruited about 52,000 assistant teachers and about 2,000 headmasters for primary schools, she added.
The PM said work has started to construct 3,000 secondary schools, academic buildings in 71 colleges and 306 model schools.
Eleven secondary schools and six colleges are being set up in Dhaka city, she said and added that one university would be established in every district of the country.
Hasina said the government has formulated a new law to enhance quality of education in private universities.
For expansion of higher education, University of Professionals has been opened in Dhaka, Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur and Science and Technology University in Pabna, she said.
Work has started for setting up six specialised universities, she said and added that initiatives have been taken to set up one technical school in every upazila.
The PM said madrasa education is being modernised and religious education has been made compulsory at the secondary level.
Thirty model madrasas have been set up, vocational courses introduced in 100 madrasas and honours courses opened in 31 madrasas, she said and urged all to educate the new generation properly in religious education and modern teachings.
The PM said her government brought about radical changes in country's communications system in last two years.
"We have already inaugurated Sultana Kamal Bridge, Shaheed Buddhijibi Bridge and Chittagong Shah Amanat Bridge," she said and also referred to construction of Dhaka bypass road, Dapdapia Bridge and the bridges to be constructed over the Karotoa and Tista rivers.
Dhaka-Chittagong and Chittagong-Hathajari highways are being upgraded into four-lane roads. Joydebpur-Mymensing and some other highways would also be brought under the process, she said.
The premier said the main construction work for the much-expected Padma Bridge will begin soon along with the construction of railway lines on both the sides.
About measures to ease traffic jam in Dhaka city, she said the Bijoy Sarani and Tongi Ahsanullah Master flyover have been opened and the constriction of Kuril, Gulistan-Jatrabari and Banani-Jurain flyovers is going on.
The PM said the construction of 26km elevated expressway will begin in Dhaka soon. Study on metro rail in Dhaka has also completed.
She mentioned introduction of 100 new BRTC buses in Dhaka and said 430 more buses would be pressed into service soon.
Referring to the opening of Aminbazar-Sadarghat waterway around Dhaka city, she said steps have been taken to introduce commuter trains on Dhaka-Narayanganj, Dhaka-Joydebpur and Dhaka-Mymensingh routes.