Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday asked the public representatives of the local government bodies to work with utmost sincerity for the welfare of the people.
“Don't lose public trust and confidence in any way. So, work for the people accordingly standing by them,” she said.
The premier was addressing the oath-taking ceremony of newly elected mayors of two city corporations – Cumilla and Mymensingh— and chairmen of five Zila Parishads, and councillors of Mymensingh City Corporation here in Shapla Hall of her office in the morning.
She said her government made development of every area in the country and the grassroots people are in the focus of the development works.
“Every village would be transformed into a township. A radical change has already been there, which you can see,” she said.
PM seeks China's support for developing Bangladesh’s southern region
The prime minister asked the public representatives to work for the continuation of the current development trend by keeping the promises they made to the people.
She cited that Bangladesh would finally be graduated as a developing country in 2026.
“In this context, I'm urging you to stand beside the people with sincerity, serve them and work for them in a bid to continue the current trend of socio-economic development,” she said.
Earlier, she administered oaths to the first female mayor-elect of Cumilla city corporation Tahsin Bahar Suchona and mayor-elect of Mymensingh City Corporation Ekramul Haque Titu.
The PM also administered oaths to the newly elected chairmen of five Zila Parishads -- Kurigram, Thakurgaon, Sirajganj, Brahmanbaria and Habiganj – in the same function.
The five chairman of Zila Parishads are ANM Obaidur Rahman of Kurigram, Abdul Majid of Thakurgaon, Shamim Talukder of Sirajganj, Billal Miah of Brahmanbaria and Aleya Akhter of Habiganj.
Later, some 44 newly elected councillors of general wards and female councillors of the reserved seats of Mymensingh City Corporation also took oath at the same venue.
Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam administered the oath of the councillors.
Local Government Division Secretary Muhammad Ibrahim conducted the oath-taking ceremony.
Cumilla City Corporation has got the first female mayor as Tahsin Bahar Suchona, daughter of Cumilla-6 MP AKM Bahauddin Bahar, won the by-election to the city corporation on March 9 last.
Ekramul Haque Titu was elected the mayor in the Mymensingh city corporation election held on the same day.
Talking about climate change, Hasina asked the public representatives to conserve water bodies – rivers, canals, beels and ponds.
She also directed them to ensure waste management system in their respective areas in a bid to protect environment.
PM sends Eid, Pahela Baishakh greetings to leader, deputy leader of opposition in parliament
Besides, the PM called upon them to be vigilant so that the young generation would stay away from corruption, drug, militancy and terrorism.
She mentioned that her government enhanced the budgetary allocation eight fold to the local government sector as the allocation was only Tk 5,799.36 crore in 2006-07 fiscal year during the BNP's regime, which is now Tk 46,704 crore.
She said every area has witnessed development and the communication system has been improved significantly.
“So, you should work so that the development trend of communication system would continue and the standard of works would be maintained,” she said.
About the community clinics, the PM said the government provides 30 types of free medicines to the rural people particularly women and children from the clinics.
She asked the public representatives to pay attention so that the people can avail the healthcare services properly from the community clinics.
Besides, the prime minister asked them to raise public awareness for exercising austerity in using water and electricity as well as encourage the people to raise food production.