Prepare to face any crisis

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked top bureaucrats to get ready to face any crisis in the coming days.

Accordingly, the Prime Minister's Office gave a 24-point directive to the senior secretaries and secretaries of the ministries and divisions so that they are better prepared to face the challenges brought on by the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.

The Daily Star has a copy of the directives, which was handed out on Monday.

The premier has asked the energy ministry to take preparation from now on to avoid load-shedding in the coming days, take austerity measures to conserve electricity, construct transmission lines, and bring electricity and diesel-run irrigation pumps under solar power.

She has also discouraged the import of non-essential and luxury goods and encouraged the manufacturing of these items locally.

Yesterday, Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam met with the secretaries at the secretariat for a follow-up meeting to instruct them on how to implement the directives sincerely.

"We have received reviews from all our secretaries on the cost reduction efforts," he said.

Since June, the electricity bill has been brought down by about 48 percent, he said, adding that the PMO has reduced it by more than 60 percent.

The PMO's fuel consumption is down 40 percent, Islam added.

"The prime minister gave us directives on how to deal with the coming challenges. The cabinet secretary instructed us on how to carry out the directives," Mosammat Nasima Begum, a planning commission member, told The Daily Star.

The PM held a meeting with the secretaries on November 27.

Following her meeting with secretaries at the PMO on November 27, she directed the secretaries to make efforts to attract foreign investment in her directive issued on Monday.

She directed that priority be given to devolvement projects, projects that could be implemented quickly, and foreign-funded projects, while also asking that cost escalations and time extensions of the projects be avoided.

The premier asked to practice austerity in government spending and follow the rules and regulations properly while importing vehicles and other items.

Hasina directed that exports be diversified and that exports of items other than garments be increased.

She also directed that the country be kept free of terrorism, militancy, and drugs and that measures be taken to ensure that militants and terrorists do not find shelter or money within the country.

The premier stressed the need to practice good governance and integrity at all stages. She asked for raising food production and bringing fallow lands under cultivation.

She called for a strong watch on the spread of misinformation and asked to publicise the government's achievements, success and development activities.