President Abdul Hamid on Sunday called for establishing transparency and accountable good governance in  government activities to make  democracy more effective. "Democracy needs to be made more effective ...... by ensuring proper participation of the people in all government activities," he said  addressing thecParliament in the New Year's first session. This was also the 16th session of the 11th parliament. The president said that the government’s expenditure has increased due to huge increase of government’s development activities over the past one-and-a-half decade. He also urged to maintain caution in all matters related to  projects to prevent misuse of government funds.  Read:Islamic Front and NAP discuss formation of EC with President Hamid "It is necessary to ensure 100 percent implementation of the project by adopting time bound action plan,” he added. According to the constitution, the president  addresses the House in the first session of New Year highlighting progrmmes and achievements of the government. The president’s speech was approved earlier by the cabinet. Mentioning people as the source of all power  the President urged the legislators to keep public interest over everything else. Hamid called upon members  of the treasury and opposition benches to play their due role in the House. The president called for building national conference on basic issues of democeacy. rule of law and development. He said  the new generation  should be gifted a safe, happy, beautiful and prosperous Bangladesh as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He  said peace and stability is prevailing in the country due to the zero tolerance policy of the government against terrorism and militancy,  He said that the government is trying to ensure that people from all communities of the country can practice their religion in harmony while religious festivals of all communities including Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians are  celebrated peacefully in a solemn and festive atmosphere.