SANGSAD BHABAN, Jan 26, 2020 (BSS) – Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid
Malique today said the country is marching ahead and hopefully it would be a 15th economic
power soon across the world.
“Bangladesh is now holding 35th position in economic index across the world and we hope that it would reach to 15th economic power soon under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina,” said the minister while taking part in the discussion on thanksgiving motion on
President Abdul Hamid’s address in the house here.
Country’s economic growth has reached to 8.5 per cent and per capita income is more than US$ 1900, he said, adding that country’s foreign reserve stands at 33 billion US$ and export earning is more than US$ 70 billion.
Regarding the significant development in different spheres, the health minister said Bangladesh has achieved a tremendous success in all sectors, including food production, housing, social safety-net, health and law and order, under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, adding the country is now ahead of many nations in all socioeconomic and development indexes.
In water and sanitation sector, he said the country now has achieved cent (hundred) percent progress while it is 50 percent in India and 60 percent in Pakistan.
After the independence, Malique said country’s literacy rate was only 20 percent, but now it has been reached to 80 percent. “Constructions of Padma bridge, metro rail, nuclear power plant and Bangabandhu satellite are our remarkable success during the regime of the present government,” he added.
Taking part in the discussion, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said, “ The country’s tomorrow’s challenge is to make a reliable, sustainable and affordable power and energy management.
Ahead of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on March 17,2020, he
said the ministry concerned has declared the year as the ‘service year’ for the people.
A total of 10 power stations have been established in the past one year and 2,012 megawatts electricity has been generated during this time, the state minister told the parliament.
Criticizing the role of the opposition BNP lawmakers in the parliament, former minister and ruling party lawmaker Mustafizur Rahman said the target of the BNP is to eliminate the
incumbent Prime Minister as the party is maintaining close association with all the wrongdoers including the suspected militants and the perpetrators of the holey artisan incident.
Calling the government to take necessary steps for controlling the population, opposition Jatiya party lawmaker Raushan Ara Mannan said increasing population coupled with infiltration of large number of people from neighboring India would deteriorate situation of the country in coming days.
Awami League lawmakers Nasiruddin, Sultana Nadira, Khandoker Mamata Hena Lovely,
Tahmina Begum, Syeda Zohra Alauddin and Gono Forum’s lawmaker Sultan Muhammad
Mansur Ahmed, took part in the discussion.
The lawmakers thanked the President for his time-worthy speech, saying that President Abdul Hamid in his 163-page speech has projected the government’s success in all sectors in the last 11 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and outlined the government’s future plans for transforming the country into a developed and prosperous one by 2041.
Highlighting the President’s speech on the celebration of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the lawmakers said celebration of Bangabandhu’s
birth centenary will remain as a milestone in the country’s history.
Earlier, the lawmakers paid rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman for his sacrifice and contribution to establish an independent Bangladesh.