Dhaka, Aug 06 (UNB) – Experts have called for more engagement of the private sector to attain the goals of the Bangladesh Delta Plan (BDP) 2100. They were speaking at the "Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100: Private Sector Involvement to achieve a Safe, Climate-Resilient and Prosperous Delta" organised by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) in Dhaka Saturday. FBCCI President Md Jashim Uddin called for direct involvement of the private sector for the effective implementation of the BDP 2100. Private sector engagement will enhance the pace and improve the quality of river management, water supply in urban and rural areas, waste management, flood control and drainage management, Jashim said. Read: PM seeks international support for Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 The BDP 2100 aims to ensure long-term water and food security, economic growth and environmental sustainability while effectively reducing vulnerability to natural disasters and building resilience to climate change and other delta challenges issues through robust, adaptive and integrated strategies and equitable water governance. And dredgers and other heavy machinery used in the implementation of the projects undertaken to achieve the Delta goals are heavily dependent on import. So, the FBCCI president urged the government to keep the tariff rate of these products at a reasonable level. "The total duty on dredgers is now 31 percent, which was earlier 1 percent." Planning State Minister Shamsul Alam also called for a review of the import duty on dredgers. "The government has only 30 dredgers, but more than 200 dredgers are needed for this work. So, the entire dredging work should be left to the private sector," he said. Brac University Emeritus Professor of Ainun Nishat suggested revising the BDP 2100 every five years. Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary Farhina Ahmed said a $230 billion private investment is needed to implement the BDP 2100. "So, more involvement of the private sector is a must."

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday asked secretaries to maintain the current pace of development in the country. “We have to continue our activities so that Bangladesh could maintain its forward march in the future like it is doing now,” she said. Read: Balanced development: Govt creates 3 new upazilas in 3 districts The Prime Minister said this while speaking at the meeting with all secretaries of the public service. Held at the NEC auditorium, the prime minister joined it from her official residence Ganobhaban. She said the government has laid the foundation to take the country forward  in the days to come. Referring to the perspective plan and delta plan, "We have to make much  progress in the future, we have taken that plan." Read:Report: Bangladesh among 3 top performers in sustainable development