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.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Monday said leaders of Bangladesh and India pledged on the noble vision of inclusive socioeconomic development, scripting a golden chapter in partnership over the past few years. 

Bangladesh and Algeria have expressed willingness to strengthen bilateral ties for enhanced substantive cooperation in the fields of trade and commerce, socioeconomic development and people-to-people contacts to the mutual benefits of the two countries.