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.

Eminent Rabindra Sangeet exponent Rezwana Choudhury Bannya has sought the support of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) in nurturing the slum children with education and life-changing competencies and skills. Rezwana, also principal and chairman of Shurer Dhara and team leader of the Music for Development (MfD), paid a courtesy visit to BGMEA President Faruque Hassan in the capital Sunday. During the meeting, Rezwana informed Faruque about the objectives and activities of MfD, a project of Shurer Dhara, to change the lives of children growing up in Dhaka slums. Read More: BGMEA urges global brands, buyers to adopt strategies for promoting mutual growth BGMEA President Faruque Hassan expressed the interest of the trade association in supporting slum children under the Music for Development Project. This project aims at providing a cultural platform to underprivileged children by bringing them under the umbrella of Shurer Dhara. Faruque highlighted the initiatives and activities of the BGMEA in supporting the backward sections of society, especially in creating opportunities for higher education for female garment workers. He said the BGMEA in collaboration with Asian University for Women (AUW) has created higher education opportunities for girls working in garment factories. "Currently, more than 90 young female workers have enrolled in the Asian University for Women to pursue higher studies." Read More: Bangladesh's apparel shipment to US rises 51% during January-September Also, the trade association runs five schools in Dhaka, Gazipur and Chittagong for workers' children and provides free books, study materials and stipends to meritorious students.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate some development projects at Payra Seaport on Thursday to equip it with better facilities for smooth operations. The development projects include—capital dredging of the port, inauguration of eight ships and vessels, inauguration of the first terminal and construction of a six-lane approach road and a bridge. The disclosure came at a preparatory meeting of the Payra Seaport Authority in Patuakhali. State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury chaired the meeting. “PM Sheikh Hasina has built the Payra Seaport to develop the long-neglected southern region of Bangladesh. I’m already witnessing a surge in economic activities in this region brought about by this seaport,” Khalid said. Through the capital dredging of the seaport’s Rabnabad channel, a 75km-long, 100-125meter-wide and 10.5meter-deep channel will be created. Once operational, a total of 40,000 tons of cargo or 3000 container-laden ships will be able to dock. The channel will cost an estimated Tk 5,000 crore and will be built by Belgian dredging company--Jan De Nul. Among the eight vessels to be inaugurated on Thursday, two are pilot vessels, two are heavy duty speedboats, one is a buoy laying vessel, one is a survey boat and two are tugboats. These ships and vessels will help the port authority to monitor the arrival and departure of foreign ships and maintain the channel. Read: Maintenance dredging work underway at Payra port Once the construction of the first terminal, the six-lane highway and the bridge is completed, a total of three foreign ships carrying containers or bulk cargos will be able to dock simultaneously at the Payra Seaport. The terminal will cost Tk 4,500 crore and will be opened for operation in December, 2023. The 6.35km-long, six-lane approach road is being built by the Roads and Highways Department (RHD). Spectra Engineers Limited has been given the responsibility of the construction at a cost of Tk 655 crore. The road will also be opened to traffic in December, 2023. A 1,180 meter-long bridge is being built over the Andharmanik river to transport goods of the Payra Seaport. The bridge will cost Tk 780 crore and will be constructed over a period of two and a half years. Muhibur Rahman Muhib, Member of Parliament (MP) from Patuakhali-4 constituency and Rear Admiral M Sohael, Chairman of Payra Port Authority, among others, were present at the meeting. The Prime Minister inaugurated the Payra Seaport on November 19, 2013.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday stressed the importance of keeping the environment in mind while taking any development project. “We always focus on the  environment while taking any project. We always take  measurers to protect  the environment while taking any step,” she said. The Prime Minister said this while speaking at a programme to inaugurate five power plants with a total electricity generation capacity of 779 MW. Hasina inaugurated the power plants through a videoconference from her official residence Ganobhaban as the programme was held at the Bijoy Hall of Bidyut Bhaban. The five power plants are the Bibiyana-III 400MW Combined Cycle Power Plant in Habiganj, Zulda, Chittagong 100MW Power Plant Unit-2, Meghnaghat 104MW Power Plant in Narayanganj, Modhumoti 100MW Power Plant in Bagerhat and upgradation of Sylhet 150MW Power Plant to 225MW Combined Cycle Power Plant in Sylhet. Also read: PM for regional development through cooperation The PM renewed her call to people to maintain austerity while using electricity as the government provides power at a huge subsidised price. “The production cost of electricity is much higher. To provide services to subscribers, we’re giving huge subsidies. The billing price is much lower than the production cost.” Requesting all to be careful about unnecessary usage of electricity, Hasina said, “If you don’t have any need, please turn the electricity switches off.” She said how much the government could provide subsidies if people do not maintain austerity. “That should be taken care of (by consumers).” Also read:Strictly execute ‘no mask no service’ policy: PM

The Alfadanga Upazila Parishad premises in Faridpur has taken on a gorgeous look thanks to a planned development project undertaken by its current chairman and upazila administration, marking the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation.

The household consumers of five more areas in the capital are going to get prepaid gas metres within this year as Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has approved an additional funding for an ongoing project of Titas Gas.