'Govt working tirelessly to change people's lot'

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (7 February) said her government has been working tirelessly to change the lot of the mass people.

"Our main aim is to improve the condition of the masses including farmers and workers and we are working ceaselessly to achieve the goal," she said when a three-member Swedish Left Party delegation led by Jens Holm, MP, called on her at her Jatiya Sangsad Office here this evening.

After the meeting, PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters.

Elaborating her government's various steps for the welfare of the poor and distressed people, the prime minister said the government has been providing various allowances to them under the social safety net programmes.

Sheikh Hasina said poverty rate came down to 22 percent from 47 percent, while extreme poverty rate has declined to 12 percent from 24 percent in the last eight years thanks to various government initiatives.

While talking about the development of the womenfolk, the premier said her government has ensured women participation in all spheres of the state.

She mentioned that the country's women are now in very high position in all sectors like administration, judiciary, education, administration, as well as in the armed forces and law-enforcement agencies. 

Sheikh Hasina said success of women is everywhere in Bangladesh and they are now at an equal stage along with their male partners in education, games and sports and creative works. 

She pointed out that 45,000 women directly contested for 12,000 posts in the election of union parishad, the lowest tier of the local government, while 60 percent primary school teachers are now women.

Pointing out that the country's economy is improving, she said Bangladesh achieved 7.1 percent GDP in the last fiscal year. "We have also been able to bring down inflation significantly," she said. 

In this connection, she said the country could not achieve desired development as it was ruled by the military rulers for a long period after 1975. "We had to struggle for a long time for restoring democracy in the country," she said.

The Swedish delegation put emphasis on further strengthening cooperation in various sectors, especially renewable energy and biogas plants. "We could share our experiences with Bangladesh in these fields," they said.

They mentioned that they discussed issues related to climate change, urban development and gender equality with the environment and forest minister and different non-government organisations.

The Swedish delegation said they visited Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhaka and became emotional by seeing various memorabilia of the Father of the Nation. 

PM's International Affairs Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi was present on the occasion.

Source: BSS.