Dhaka – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday warned government officials against corruption saying that there should be no dishonesty in any form. “I want work, I want work with honesty; corruption should be stopped, corruption shouldn’t take place in any way,” she said. -UNB
The Prime Minister came up with the tough warning in her introductory speech at the second Secretary Committee meeting in the present tenure of her government held at the Cabinet Division of the Secretariat. She gave 11 more directives to the secretaries for ensuring the overall development of the country. Sheikh Hasina also instructed the secretaries to formulate strategies for implementing annual development programmes (ADPs) from the very beginning of the fiscal year by completing necessary paper works of the projects during monsoon and immediately hold inter-ministerial coordination meetings, if necessary. She said her government would not compromise when it comes to quality of works in implementing development programmes. The Prime Minister directed the secretaries to undertake area-wise annual development programmes considering local needs and implement the projects faster so that the highest number of people could be benefited. She underscored the need for taking necessary steps for rural development, creating jobs, reducing the gap between the rich and the poor and ensuring equal distribution of resources from the very beginning of the fiscal year. The Prime Minister asked the secretaries to be more sincere in accomplishing the development works under Fast Track Projects within the stipulated time. She laid emphasis on ensuring good governance through making effective ‘reward for good works and punishment for bed performance’ system. Hasina directed the senior officials to take effective measures at the field level to contain terrorism and drug, and take awareness programmes in this regard alongside applying laws. The Prime Minister also highlighted massive developments in road transport and railways, education, power and energy, health, ICT and other infrastructure sectors. The ultimate goal of her government is to turn Bangladesh into a middle-income country by 2021 and a developed one by 2041 through establishing a poverty- and hunger-free country, she said. For the purpose, she mentioned that her government’s development goals as well as strategies have been fixed in line with the SDG strategic papers and the seven fifth year plan. Hasina hoped that senior officials of the Public Administration will work with utmost sincerity, efficiency and dedication to implement various development programmes of the government. She said five years for a government is not enough to finish all the development plans taken within this time. “As we’re elected for two consecutive times it was helpful for us to finish many of our development programmes.” Hasina said the government has a very short time as the next general election is likely to be held in December in 2018 as the election commission says. “We’ve a very short time in our hand, we want to give the highest service to people, especially the grassroots ones, and that’s our main goal.” Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam delivered the welcome address while senior secretaries and secretaries of various ministries and divisions were present.
