Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday (February 13, 2024) put emphasis on the rural development along with building infrastructure. “I think besides the infrastructural development we also need the overall development of the rural areas,” she told the ECNEC meeting at NEC conference room in Agargaon. She asked authorities concerned to quickly finish the development projects which are being delayed due to allocation of small funds. “I will ask the cabinet secretary to convey this to all secretaries in different ministries so such projects are completed quickly,” she said. Read: Ecnec nods 44 projects worth Tk 39,094 crore She said with the finishing these projects it would be easy for the government to take up new development programmes. She also said that deadline of some development projects have been increased, but hose also have to be completed very soon. “Because, if that remains unfinished costs of the projects will increase unnecessarily and it also kills time. Make sure that this is done,” she said. Hasina said that for the socioeconomic development of the country the government must take development projects. In this regard, she asked all to remain cautious while taking any kind of development projects so that the government could attain its goal. Read: Ecnec approves 19 projects to cost Tk 18,067 crore She mentioned that due to global condition the countryis having some pressure on economy. Otherwise the country was moving fast towards prosperity. “The growth was increasing, development was expediting, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic the whole world came to a standstill, and when the whole world started to move from that situation, it was hit by the Ukraine-Russia war followed by sanctions, counter-sanctions,” she said. She also mentioned that the world is bracing for another phase of instability after Israeli troops launched heinous attacks on the innocent people in Palestine. “As a result, the cost and time of transportation has increased manifold," she said. She said that due to these external factors the pressure is on in Bangladesh. Read more: Ecnec nods setting up 50 technical training centres The prime minister said she has requested all to utilise every inch of arable land of the country for production of food grains. “And it has given us better results,” she said.

Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Md Tajul Islam warned that stern action will be taken if anyone creates anarchy in the country by vandalism and bombings in the name of the movement. He said, “Movement is democratic right of the people. But nobody has the right to create anarchy in the name of rights.” Tajul urged the opposition political parties to play a responsible role in this regard. The minister came up with the observation while addressing a discussion organised by Bangladesh Upazila Parishad Association marking National Mourning Day at Dhaka Reporters Unity on Saturday as the chief guest. A dua mahfil and blood donation campaign were also arranged on the occasion.     Criticising the opposition parties, he said, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been working relentlessly to fulfil the dream of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. On the other hand, an anti-liberation force is engaged to confuse the people.   Tajul also said Bangladesh never loses its destination led by Sheikh Hasina. Read: Quader asks party to be careful with words during crisis The senior Awami League leader said people from all over the world are struggling due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The government has temporarily hiked the fuel prices to face the crisis. All have to face the crisis unitedly. He also claimed that Bangladesh is still in a good position compared to the other countries in the world.  The minister said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina always wants the wellbeing of the people. “Whatever, she decides, it will be pro-people.” Regarding foreign loans, Tajul said international organisations and other development partners offer debt to Bangladesh as the country can refund it. He also urged the people to refrain from circulating propaganda about a Sri-Lanka-like situation in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Upazila Parishad Association president Harun-ur-Rashid chaired the function while Bangladesh Awami League Health and Population Affairs Secretary Dr Rebeka Sultana, among others, was present. Siful Islam Khan Biru, General Secretary of the organisation moderated it. 

The World Bank has expressed interest in providing USD 5-8 billion dollars in the development of rural infrastructure in Bangladesh, said Local Government and Rural Development Minister Md Tajul Islam on Tuesday. He was talking to reporters emerging from a meeting with a World Bank delegation at the Secretariat on Tuesday. Read: World Bank presents its areas of interest for future projects in Bangladesh Tajul said that Bangladesh needs foreign funding in implementation of “My Village, My City” project and building of roads, bridges and culverts.  'My Village My City’ is a coordinated project that seeks to develop urban facilities for the rural people. Roads, bridges, culverts, sanitation system and supply of safe water are major components of the project, he said. Read: World Bank approves $295 million to enhance Bangladesh’s digital economy The bank is interested in financing in rural development programmes, the minister said. He said the delegation also showed interest in providing financial assistance for building rehabilitation centres in cyclone-prone coastal areas.

The government is focusing on strengthening the local government system and rural development to make economic growth inclusive. According to a budgetary document, to ensure strengthening the local government system, total expenditure in the rural development sector will increase by an average of 8.7 per cent to Tk. 475.12 billion by 2023-24 fiscal. The estimation for the local government and rural development in 2023-24 fiscal is Tk 477.67 billion, while it will be Tk 435.34 billion for 2022-23 fiscal. Read:Tomato cultivation transforms lives of Bagerhat farmers The allocation for the sector is Tk 421.93 billion for the running 2021-22 fiscal whereas it was Tk 424.26 billion in the revised budget of 2020-21 fiscal, Tk 323.90 billion in 2019-20 fiscal and Tk 313.55 billion in 2018-19 fiscal. The government has adopted a realistic plan of action to ensure potable water supply across the country including the capital city of Dhaka, reduce water logging in urban areas, ensure 100 per cent sanitation, and conserve and use groundwater instead of underground water sources.  The government is implementing multi-faceted activities to develop the country's economy, according to the official document.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Bangladesh on Tuesday signed agreements for $200 million additional loans, including $130 million concessional loan, to improve access to efficient and reliable electricity supply in rural areas in Bangladesh.

The government plans to spend almost Tk 500 billion over the next 3 years in rural development and for strengthening the local government system.

The government plans to add some 5,550 kilometres to the rural roads network, alongside 31,000 metres of bridges/culvert extensions that help to make the roads more accessible while at the same time taking them into the heart of communities.

As majority of the country’s population live in 87,000 villages amid the lack of urban facilities, the government has undertaken a multidimensional plan to equip villages with civic amenities, and a pilot project,  ‘My Village, My Town’, in this regard will be launched in 15 villages soon.

Against the backdrop of escalating global instability, government and development leaders made an urgent call for greater investment in rural development to address hunger and poverty caused by conflict and climate change.