Graduation to developing country is outcome of 12-yr efforts: PM

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Describing the country’s graduation to a developing one as historic and a matter of pride, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said it has resulted from her government’s tireless planning, toiling and efforts in the last 12 years, BSS reports.

“Today’s achievement to a developing country from the least development one is the outcome of our 12 years’ tireless planning, hard working and efforts,” she said.

She was addressing a press conference joining virtually from her Ganabhaban residence in the capital marking the United Nation’s final recommendation regarding Bangladesh’s graduation to a developing country from the LDC one.

Younger sister of the premier, Sheikh Rehana, and Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader were also present at the Ganabhaban end.

The Prime Minister has given the full credit of the graduation to the countrymen, saying that the milestone has been achieved due to united efforts of all.

“The people of the country have done it and we have only created the scope giving policy supports,” she added.

Referring to the final recommendation relating to giving Bangladesh the status of a developing country from the least development country, she said, “We have achieved all the qualifications to turn Bangladesh into a developing country.”

The premier said that she fells proud being part of the achievement as a daughter of Father of the Nation and thanked the countrymen at home and abroad and the development partners.

The premier dedicated the achievement to the new generation and youths who move forward Bangladesh towards more prosperity and development.

She said Bangladesh has secured its position as a dignified and confident country in the world stage through to the graduation.

Describing the achievement as a special step to make Bangladesh a developed country, the premier stressed the need for making Bangladesh’s position firm and sustainable in the outer world.

“Let us all irrespective of parties and opinions make a commitment to turn Bangladesh into a “Golden Bangladesh” at the advent of the August moment of the Birth Centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as dreamt by Bangabandhu,” she said.

To make the development sustainable, she said that the government has formulated the eight five-year plan and included different strategies in it to ensure sustainable development.

The Prime Minister said the Bangalee is a nation of bravery and it had achieved its independence in only nine months, adding, “Bangladesh will soon establish as a developed, prosperous and dignified country in the world if the pace of development continues.”

The economy will gain pace further if the mega projects such as Padma Bridge, metrorail, elevated expressway, tunnel under the Karnaphuli river, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant and Moheshkhali-Matarbari coordinated development projects, 100 economic zones and over 200 high-tech parks and IT village are implemented.

Sheikh Hasina said that Bangladesh has achieved the status of a developing country after successfully fulfilling all the three criteria such as per capita income, human resources and economical and environmental vulnerability assessed by the United Nations in its this year’s triennial meeting.

Earlier, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal handed over the UN recommendation to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganobhaban.

The UN in its first triennial meeting three years back first recognised that Bangladesh has fulfilled all the three criteria in 2018, she continued.

Cabinet members, including Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud and Commerce Minister Tipu Munsi, were also present at the Ganabhaban end.

PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim moderated the function while cabinet members and the country’s senior journalists got connected to the event from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) at Tejgaon here.