Carry on efforts to improve the lot of people

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked government officials to make sure that all, particularly the home-goers, wear masks and follow other health guidelines, alongside continuing their efforts to change people's fate despite the fact that coronavirus has been rattling the world. 

"We have nothing to do alone as it [coronavirus] is a global problem. Despite the fact, we're trying to check its spread and give protection to the people. We have to work for the people by keeping the wheels of the socio-economic advancement running alongside making sure that the efforts to change the fate of the people won't stop anyhow," she said.  

The PM said this while virtually addressing a function on the occasion of signing the Annual Performance Agreement (APA) of various ministries and departments for the FY 2021-2022 and distributing the APA performance and integrity awards from the Gono Bhaban.  

The Cabinet Division organised the function at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital.

Hasina reiterated her call to the people to maintain the health protocols to check further spread of the lethal virus.

"I know, people like to go to their village homes [to celebrate the Eid-ul-Azha with their near and dear ones]," she said and asked the government officials to make sure that people, particularly the home-goers, use masks by making them aware about the virus.

The PM said her government has taken required measures so that no one remains out of the inoculation.

"We have started [mass] vaccination. More vaccines are coming. We will purchase whatever amount of jabs is required to bring all the people under vaccination," she added.

Describing the government officials as the main driving force to pursue the country's development spree, Hasina said, "You're those who help run the wheels of the economy and quicken the country's development."

The premier thanked all the government officials for their brave role in tackling the Covid-19 onslaught, saying that the country's situation could have worsened during the pandemic if they did not perform their duties accordingly.  

Hasina said her government has been able to move the country towards a developing nation as it is in power for the third consecutive term after the 2008 national election.

But she opined that the coronavirus is becoming an impediment to Bangladesh's advancement, saying, "The coronavirus has plunged the entire world into a crisis. No such crisis was ever seen before. We have specified the work plan to overcome the crisis. "

The PM said her government announced 28 stimulus packages involving Tk 1,31,641 crore to keep running the lives and livelihoods amid the pandemic.

She said her government has been giving topmost priority to ensuring socio-economic uplift of the grassroots people. 

Hasina said Bangladesh will definitely advance towards the development following the spirit of the Liberation War as envisioned by the Father of the Nation overcoming all the hurdles, including the Covid-19 pandemic.

The premier mentioned that the government has introduced the method of APA in the 2014-2015 fiscal year for the public sector to ensure institutional transparency, accountability, proper utilisation of resources and, above all, enhancing the institutional efficiency.

This is for the eighth time that such an agreement has been signed between the cabinet secretary on behalf of the prime minister and secretaries of the ministries concerned.

Under the agreement, the ministries will set their visions, missions and strategic goals in line with the development priorities of the government, take short- and long-term plans as per budgetary allocations.

On behalf of the prime minister, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque later distributed crests and certificates among the top 10 ministries and divisions in the FY 2019-20 APA performances and integrity awards among top three ministries following receipt of the APAs signed for the FY 2021-2022.

State Minister for Public Administration Ministry Farhad Hossain, MP, spoke at the function while Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam gave the welcome address.

A video documentary on the APA performance and its contribution to the country's overall development was also screened.