Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina this evening asked the business community to take necessary preparations for the possible challenges they will face due to the graduation of Bangladesh as a developing country.

"We may face many challenges here. But we're ready to face them. We, the Awami League government, have taken the preparations. I would like to ask the business community to take preparations properly," she said while inaugurating a celebration programme organised by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) today.

She virtually inaugurated the 16-day gala programme on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the country's independence at the Amphitheatre adjacent to Hatirjheel, from her Gono Bhaban residence.

The prime minister at the time said Now Bangladesh is now a developing country. "As a developing country, we'll get many scopes to take the country forward further".

She said her government is here to create all sorts of scopes for the business community to expand businesses and thus generate jobs for the socio-economic development of people.

"You might be born in a village or studied in a rural school. To change the fate of people, take some programmes alongside the government's ones in your respective areas so that their financial and purchasing capacities go up, which will also benefit your businesses," said Hasina pointing at the businesspeople.

In collaboration with Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), the country's apex business body arranged the celebration programme, titled "50 Years of Independence-Grand Celebration of Red and Green (the two colours of the National Flag)."

During the 16-day gala celebrations, there will be fireworks, different cultural events, presentation of regional folk songs and Nazrul and Rabindra songs by noted singers, performances by distinguished dancers and programmes for women and children.

The programme will start at the Amphitheatre after 7:00 pm every day till December 16, which is open to the public.