Govt wants to build poverty-free, knowledge-based nation: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said the aim of her government is to build a poverty-free, educated, developed, qualified, prosperous and knowledge-based nation.

"We’ll build a poverty-free, educated, developed, qualified prosperous nation imbued with knowledge and fulfill the dream of the Father of the Nation," she said while speaking at a meeting.

The meeting was arranged to approve the design and plan of a 20-storey Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Academic and Administrative Building to be constructed at Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre (BPATC) at Savar and the plan for constructing Mymensingh Divisional Headquarters.

The Prime Minister joined the event through videoconferencing from Ganabhaban.

Sheikh Hasina said the Father of the Nation liberated the country and the government wants to properly build the independent country and the nation.

"The world is moving forward…we want to go ahead as well coping with the pace of global advancement which was the dream of the Father of the Nation. The country will be developed and move in the world arena with its head high, we want to build the country like that," she said.

Sources said steps have been taken to strengthen the capacity of the BPATC to provide modern training to government officials aimed at developing more efficient and qualified manpower.

For this purpose, the government has taken a project titled “Strengthening the training capacity of the BPATC” under which a 20-stoery Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Academic and Administrative Building will be constructed.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in its June 20, 2017 meeting held with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair gave the approval to the project.

Under the project, a dormitory building, one medical centre and a cafeteria will be constructed along with the academic and administrative building at the BPATC complex.

On completion of the project, officials hoped it would be possible to develop more efficient and qualified manpower in the public services to materialise the dreams of the Father of the Nation for establishing a developed and prosperous Bangladesh.

Sheikh Hasina said the economy of the country is on the right track even in this corona situation due to timely and farsighted steps taken by her government.

Every institution in Dhaka, she said, will be re-established with new plans and designs to develop the capital city for the new generations.

As part of the move, she said, initiative has been taken to rebuild the Central Shahid Minar, Dhaka Medical College and TSC Square with eye-catching and archeological structures demolishing their old structures.

In this regard, she vowed to undertake more such plans in the future considering the greater interests of people.

The Prime Minister also laid emphasis on quick repair and renovation works of the Public Library, National Museum, student halls and ponds under Dhaka University. "We can start these works quickly and complete those quickly as the university is closed now."

She also asked the officials concerned at the Prime Minister Office to take care of this for expediting the works. "Bangabandhu was a Dhaka University student…me as well. So, a different sentiment works (for Dhaka University)," she said.

Sheikh Hasina went on saying, “The Public Library has turned old enough…the National Museum can be left as it is right now, but its pond should be renovated and the Public Library should be better shape integrating the landscape of the area with modern equipment, auditorium and cybercafe.

The Prime Minister said she wants the government to finish the job without waiting for an initiative to be taken by the university authority. "I want to do the job by myself before the university authorities take an initiative…the government will finance," she said.