UNB, Dhaka :
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday asked the newly appointed public servants to take a vow to maintain the country’s development momentum as the defeated forces of 1971 are still hatching conspiracy against the national interests.
“This pace of development must not be stopped. Because, the defeated forces of our Liberation War (in 1971) who never wanted our Independence is hatching conspiracy like before. I don’t care as I’ve no fear for my life,” she said.
The prime minister said this while addressing the closing ceremony of the 127th, 128th and 129th law and administration training courses at Bangladesh Civil Service Administration Academy in capital’s Shahbag area. She also distributed certificates among the participants.
The prime minister mentioned the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15, 1975 and frequent attempts on her life as the work of the conspirators.
She said when Bangabandhu started rebuilding the country and taking it ahead in the face of mounting challenges after the Independence tragedy of August 15 took place.
“All our aspirations were ruined. All our development momentum stopped completely for 29 years (1975-1996 and 2001-2008),” she said.
She asked the officers to ensure that the general public always gets justice.
“Make sure that people get rid of drugs, militancy, terrorism and corruption as these menaces destroy a society and families. You should keep your eyes open on these issues,” she said.
Hasina also reiterated her call to the people to maintain austerity and stop wastage of public wealth as the whole world is under economic recession.
“We have to maintain austerity considering our economic condition. We have to make optimum use of our resources so that we could maintain our present economic growth,” she said.
She said that the positive changes that happened in the last 14 years must not be hindered.
She said that since taking office in 2009 the government has been able to put the country in a dignified place through hard work and sincerity.
The PM asked the officers to maintain honesty, love the country and its people in all their work.
In this connection she said that public servants must not forget that their salaries and wages come from the pockets of the farmers, labourers and mass people of this country.
“All our salaries and allowances come from the money earned by the people by their hard labour. So it is the duty of all of us to work to improve their condition,” she said.
She also told them that serving the people of the country is the biggest task of their lives.
Putting emphasis on undertaking innovative plans for the development of various regions, Hasina said the officials will have to make sure that no area remains behind.
She said that far-sighted plans are needed for the development of the country and steps should be taken considering needs of the respective localities.
In this regard, she mentioned that the new officials of the administration are the main architects of implementing long-term perspective plan 2021-2041 to keep up the development momentum in the country.
PM Hasina said that the government has been able to bring about a major change in the country through implementing various projects in infrastructure, education, health and communication sectors.
As a result, she said, the country is now 35th largest economy in the world, while its GDP growth rate is 7.5 percent, poverty rate 18.7 and extreme poverty rate is 5.6 percent.
The PM said the government wants to bring down extreme poverty rate to zero percent in the days ahead, and steps have been taken to ensure nutrition security of the poor people.
She stated that the aim of her government is to lift the poor people at the grass roots.
Highlighting role of Union Health Complexes, community clinics and digital centers, Sheikh Hasina said, necessary initiatives should be taken so that these could function properly to render services to the rural people.
State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain, Public Administration Secretary Mohammed Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury and BCS Administration Academy Rector Mominur Rashid Amin also spoke at the programme.
The PM also gave away awards to the trainees of the 127th, 128th and 129th law and administration training courses.
Earlier, she unveiled the plaque of souvenirs of 127th, 128th and 129th law and administration training courses and research works publications.
