Development plans must have potentials of country’s benefits: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked the engineers to take the pro-people, pro-environment, cost-effective, suitable and sustainable strategy and development plans for the sake of the country.

"We have to make plans in such a way from which the people will get benefit, the country will get return or income and off-course, the plans will be suitable for Bangladesh," she added.

The premier called for not taking any plan for ‘only the purpose of construction and commission’.

"I will not approve if any such plan comes to me. I will only take into consideration the benefit of the country and its people," she said while addressing as the chief guest the 61st convocation of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB).

The premier advised the engineers to take the pro-people, pro-environment, cost-effective, suitable and sustainable strategy and plans to quicken development.

The prime minister asked the engineers to take environment-friendly plans to protect Bangladesh from the adverse impact of climate change.

"We should keep in mind that we always have to face drought, flood and flow tide," she said.

Sheikh Hasina reiterated her call to the engineers not to take any such plan for development which requires filling water bodies such haor, beel and ponds.

"If necessary, we will build expressways. The vehicles will ply the expressways while vessels under the expressway," she said.

Recalling the engineers' contribution to the country's development, she said her government will consider the logical demands of engineers after scrutiny.

The prime minister also handed over awards including gold medals and certificates to different levels of engineers, centre, sub-centre, engineering division and graduates of the AMIE examination.