Prime Minister's Adviser and spokesperson of his office Dr Mahdi Amin -File photo

DHAKA, August 12, 2026 (BSS) – Prime Minister's Adviser and spokesperson of his office Dr Mahdi Amin today said the accumulated administrative and infrastructural problems of the past 16 years cannot be resolved fully within five or six months.

“The energy sector is now facing a huge challenge due to the accumulated administrative and infrastructural problems of the past 16 years. In reality, it is not possible to fully resolve such longstanding problems within just five or six months,” he said.

The adviser was speaking at a national conference titled “Implementing a Five-Year Strategic Framework for Achieving SDGs: Policies, Partnerships and Priorities” at Bangladesh China Friendship conference centre (BCFCC) here.

Mahdi Amin, however, expressed optimism that a sustainable and realistic solution to the energy crisis could be ensured in the medium term through effective measures.

He said relevant officials and stakeholders are working under the clear guidance of the Prime Minister to increase direct foreign investment in the energy sector.

“At the same time, maximum efforts are being made to extract and utilise our own domestic natural resources,” he said.

The Prime Minister’s adviser said the government is working to launch an “Employment Exchange” to connect local employers and job seekers directly at the district level.

“We will reach the districts directly and bring local employers and job seekers—those who create employment and those who are looking for work—under one platform,” he added.

He said both online and offline platforms would be used to create new employment opportunities, while technical skills development, capacity building and an effective referral system would be established.

The private sector would also be directly involved in developing institutional skills and qualifications, he added.

The initiative will initially be launched at the divisional level and later expanded to every district of the country, Mahdi Amin said.

The adviser said the government is giving the highest priority to ensuring that no citizen is left behind in the country’s growth and development process.

“Fully integrating disadvantaged people into the mainstream of the national economy and social protection is one of the government’s major objectives,” he said.

He said the government’s main goal is to ensure the social, political, economic and family empowerment of every citizen.

“Not merely temporary development, but an administrative structure is being established where citizens’ problems are permanently resolved while enabling them to improve their own livelihoods,” he said.

Highlighting positive aspects of the government’s first budget, Mahdi Amin said taxes and VAT on essential commodities including rice, pulses, edible oil, sugar and flour had been reduced on the Prime Minister’s directives to strengthen the economic empowerment of grassroots people.

As a result, no unscrupulous syndicate could create an artificial crisis in the market, he said.

Despite the rise in international fuel prices, the government has kept domestic fuel prices under control through strict management so that low-income and working people can remain relieved, he added.

Mahdi Amin also announced that one lakh new posts would soon be created and recruitment made in the health sector. Women would receive priority in 80,000 of those posts, he said.

The Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson said every person of Bangladesh, irrespective of whether they live in the hills or plains, their religion, ethnicity, political ideology or physical and social abilities, is a citizen of the country.

“We have to move forward with full respect for differing opinions and diversity,” he said.

“Bangladesh’s true identity lies in its diversity. Therefore, the government is working to ensure that every citizen enjoys equal rights, freedom and an equal share in development,” Mahdi Amin added.

The conference was chaired by Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, convener of the Citizen’s Platform for SDGs, while Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Prof. Dr. A Z M Zahid Hossain attended as the chief guest.

BNP Standing Committee member and lawmaker Begum Selima Rahman and lawmaker Madhabi Marma, among others, were present at the event.