ZCZC
BSS-04
PM-LGRD-VISIT
PM asks for making upazila master plan
DHAKA, Feb 10, 2019 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today asked the
LGRD ministry to sketch out a master plan to build up all upazila under a
specific development design aimed at protecting cropland and check sporadic
construction of buildings, roads and other structures.
“Unplanned development of the upazilas should be regulated and roads and
ways of the upazilas should have to be made in a planned manner to save
cropland as well as public money,” she said while visiting the Local
Government, Rural Development (LGRD) and Cooperatives ministry at Bangladesh
Secretariat here.
The master plan should have a complete layout for housings, hospitals,
markets, schools, collages, playgrounds, agricultural farms, industries and
other facilities, she said, adding that people would accept the concept if
“we can do this once properly”.
Referring to the Bangabandhu’s initiative to constitute 60 districts, the
prime minister said Bangabandhu made every district as an administrative unit
to carry out development works, adding that “We should also do something like
that to ensure development from grassroots level”.
Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Md Tazul Islam gave welcome address
while it’s State Minister Swapan Bhattacharjee, LGRD Secretary SM Golam Faruk,
Rural Development and Co-OPeratives Division Secretary MD Kamal Uddin Talukder
senior officials of the ministry and Prime Minister Office were present.
The prime minister said the government is mulling to prepare annual budget
separately for every district and upazila considering its size, population
and geographical aspects to meet the demands of the local people, reach the
services to the doorsteps of the people and ensure optimum utilization of
public money.
Pointing out the importance of the LGRD Ministry for country’s development,
the premier said her government wants to decentralize the administration
gradually aimed at strengthening the local government bodies, engaging them
in their local development initiatives and making all development
sustainable.
“We give highest budget allocation for the LGRD ministry. We will be able to
alleviate poverty to a larger extent if the LGRD ministry functions
properly,” the prime minister said, adding that the country would go ahead as
quick as “we can free the country from poverty”.
More/BSS/AKH/GMR/1359 hrs