PM asks civil servants to keep country free from social menaces

1830

DHAKA, Dec 6, 2018 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today asked newly
recruited civil service officials of administrative cadre to discharge their
duties with utmost honesty and sincerity with a particular mission to keep
society free from menaces like militancy, terrorism, drug and corruption.

“Wherever you work, you must keep in your mind that society must be kept
free from militancy, terrorism, drug and corruption,” she told the closing
ceremony of 107th, 108th, and 109th Law and Administrative Courses of
Bangladesh Civil Service Administration Academy here.

She reminded the young officers about the danger of militancy and drug
abuse saying these two menaces could destroy a family which eventually affect
society.

“Our government has efficiently faced those hazards, but actions should
continue in future as well,” the premier said.

Sheikh Hasina said despite financial constraints her government
unprecedentedly increased all government employees salaries and all benefits
while in return they were expected discharge their duties with dedication and
honesty.

“My government has tried to create opportunities in many ways for
government employees to have your own residence, transport and other
facilities aimed at creating positive mindset in them to serve the nation,”
she said.

The premier said her government defied media criticism against rapid
enhancement of government employees’ benefits and privileges as “I was guided
by my own conscience and knowledge, not on newspaper reports”.

“The country is ours. We know it better what is good for the country. So
we take a decision on the basis of our understanding and out of our
responsibility, not being guided by the opinions of others,” she said.

State Minister for Public Administration Ismat Ara Sadeq and public
administration secretary Fayez Ahmed were present as special guests on the
occasion held at BCS Academy at Shahbag in the city.

Rector of the BCS Administrative Academy Mosharraf Hossain gave welcome
address while Rector’s Award recipients SM Azharul Islam Sonet of 107th
course, Sharif Asif Rahman of 108th course and Md. Mosharraf Hossain of 109th
batch spoke on the occasion on behalf of the trainees of their respective
batches.

The prime minister distributed certificates among the course trainees,
joined photo sessions with them and unveiled the cover of the magazines
published by different batches.

The prime minister also enjoyed a cultural programme performed by the
trainees.

Later she inaugurated the newly constructed administrative building of the
BCS (Administration) Academy.

Terming the newly recruited BCS officers ‘Soldiers of Vision 2041’, the
prime minister hoped that they would join the civil service as a government
employee with the mindset to serve the people.

Sheikh Hasina urged the officials to be curious to know about the
necessities of local people where they are posted and meet up those aiming to
improve their living condition.

“Bangladesh is coming out from poverty trap, and we’ve to make it
sustainable to build a prosperous nation as dreamt by the Father of the
Nation,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh has earned independence at the cost of
blood of millions of people to be a prosperous nation. But, she said, the
evil forces killed Bangabandhu in 1975 and repeatedly hatched conspiracy to
foil the independence.

The prime minister said Bangladesh is now on the ‘road of success’ after
passing a long-troublesome journey. This success should continue, she said,
calling upon all to come forward to ensure the pace of development.

“If I have done anything good for anybody, I will claim your support to
continue the country’s current pace of development,” she said.

Pointing out her government’s steps for reducing poverty rate by at least
five percent by 2021, Sheikh Hasina said every nation should have a goal and
direction.

“Without any specific aim and the course of action for realising the goal,
a nation can never become prosperous,” she said, adding a grassroots
politician always think of people.

The prime minister said Bangladesh is now self-reliant in food
production, and ranked third in producing food and fisheries and fifth in
producing fruits and vegetables.

“We’ve proved that determination is the power to achieve anything to take
forward the country. But, no government except the Awami League could show
this spirit as they usurp to power to make their own fortune,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said now the world community regards Bangladesh as a role
model of development in many indexes and Bangladesh would live in the world
community with this dignity and honors.

She said Bangladesh now has the capacity to implement 90 percent of its
annual budget with its own resources.

“A quarter had tried to tarnish the country’s image on false allegation
of scam in the Padma Bridge project. But, the government’s decision to build
the Padma Bridge with our own sources has played catalytic role in
brightening the country’s image abroad,” she said.

Congratulating the trainees, the prime minister said every government
employee should go through vigorous training to build his or her capacity.

In this regard, she urged the officials to change their negative mindset
about the posting of an efficient official to a training academy.

“Training academy should not be considered as a dumping place. Training of
the officials going to function for state machinery is highly important,”
Sheikh Hasina said, adding that most brilliant officials having creativity
and innovativeness should be placed in the training academy.

She said her government has given special attention to further
development of the training academies, create congenial atmosphere and more
scopes for training. In future, she said, more attention would be given to
the matter.

The prime minister said overcoming various complexities, her government
during its tenure from 2009 to 2018 has given promotion to 180 officials for
secretary posts, 1,150 for additional secretary posts, 2,025 for joint
secretary posts and 2,686 for deputy secretary posts.

No government in the past could give the large scale promotion, she said.