Country made good progress
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the country's development continued despite the Covid-19 pandemic affecting the global economy and creating food shortages even in many developed countries.
"We've been able to continue the country's development trend despite facing Coronavirus," she said at the Swadhinata Purashkar-2022 handover ceremony at the Shapla Hall in the Prime Minister's Office.
Bangladesh has gained economic self-sufficiency, she said, adding, "Now we can implement our development projects with 90 percent financing from our own resources... Our goal is ensure the benefits [of independence] reach every household."
She also said Bangladesh has been able to continue its momentum in economic development, attain GDP growth and increase per capita income amid the pandemic fallout as her government has been working according to plan.
About her government's success in electricity generation, she said, "We've been able to illuminate every house."
In this context, she recalled that her government in 1996-2001 had increased the power generation capacity to 4,300MW from only 1,500MW. Unfortunately, the generation capacity came down to 3,200MW again when the Awami League was not in power, she said.
Hasina congratulated the recipients of the Independence Award-2022. "It is a great honour for me to hand over the Swadhinata Purashkar to you in person."
She stressed the need for awarding the people who are silently working for the welfare of citizens at the grassroots.
Ilias Ahmed Chowdhury (posthumous), Col Khandaker Nazmul Huda (posthumous), Mohammad Sahiudiin Biswas (posthumous), Sirazul Haque (posthumous), Siraj Uddin Ahmed and Abdul Jalil were honoured for their contributions to the 1971 Liberation War.
Prof Dr Kanak Kanti Barua and Prof Dr Md Kamrul Islam were given the highest civilian award for their contributions to the medicine sector, while Syed Mainul Hossain (posthumous) for his contribution to architecture.
The Power Division was given the award for successfully bringing 100 percent of the population under the electricity coverage by increasing the daily power generation capacity to 25,514MW, while Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute received the award for research and training.
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