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BSS-07
PM-PROJECT-SPEECH
PM asks businessmen not to hike prices of essentials during Ramadan
DHAKA, April 3, 2019 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today called upon
the businessmen not to hike the prices of essentials during the upcoming holy
month of Ramadan.
The prime minister made the appeal while opening and laying foundation
stones of 65 uplift schemes, including 24 economic zones, through a video
conference from her official residence Ganobhaban here.
“Don’t hike the price of essentials including oil, onion, pulse and sugar
during the month of Ramadan as the people could practice roza (fasting) in a
good manner,” she told the businessmen at the function.
She put emphasized on joint efforts of the public and private
organizations to maintain the upward trend of the country’s advancement.
The premier requested the businessmen to work for development the people’s
livelihood of the particular areas and give jobs to the disabled at their
mills and factories.
Sheikh Hasina also requested all particularly the Bangladeshi expatriates
and foreigners to invest in 100 economic zones in the country.
The premier asked the businessmen not to damage arable land while setting
up industries.
In this context, she said the government will fix the places for setting up
mill and factories to save the crop land as the country is mainly driven by
agriculture and opined that there is no alternative of going for
industrialization for overall development.
So, it is necessary to work for industrialization saving the arable land,
she mentioned.
The premier said the country has already achieved the status of a
developing country due to huge development works carried out by her
government in the last decade since 2009.
She said her government has been relentlessly working to make Bangladesh a
middle-income country by 2021 and a developed one by 2041 following the
footprints of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who
dreamt of a poverty and hunger free country.
In 2020, Bangladesh is set to observe the birth centennial of Bangabandhu,
under whose charismatic leadership the country achieved independence in 1971
after a nine-month battle. The Golden Jubilee of the Independence will also
be observed in 2021, she said, hoping to observe both the events in a hunger
and poverty free Bangladesh.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated and laid foundation stones of 65
uplift schemes including 24 economic zones, opening up a new horizon in
industrialization and employment for the country’s overall development.
The inaugurated eleven economic zones (suitable for setting up industries)
are: Mongla Economic Zone at Mongla in Bagerhat district, Meghna Economic
Zone and Meghna Economic Industrial Economic Zone at Sonargaon in
Narayanganj, Abdul Monem Economic Zone at Gazaria in Munshiganj, Bay Economic
Zone at Gazipur Sadar in Gazipur, Aman Economic Zone at Sonargaon in
Narayanganj, City Economic Zone at Rupganj in Narayanganj, Kishoreganj
Economic Zone at Pakundia in Kishoreganj, East West Special Economic Zone at
Keraniganj in Dhaka, Karnaphuli Dry Dock Special Economic Zone at Anwara in
Chattogram, and Sreehatta Economic Zone at Moulvibazar Sadar in Moulvibazar.
The premier also laid foundation stones of 13 economic zones and work on
five development projects under the initiative of BEZA (Bangladesh Economic
Zones Authority).
They are: Miresharai, Sitakunda and Feni Economic Zones at Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujib Industrial City in Chattogram and Feni districts, Miresharai
Economic Zone-2A at Miresharai in Chattogram, BGMEA Garments Park at
Miresharai in Chattogram, Mongla Economic Zone-2 at Mongla at Bagerhat,
Moheshkhali Economic Zone (Dhalghata) at Moheshkhali in Cox’s Bazar ,
Jamalpur Economic Zone at Jamalpur Sadar in Jamalpur and Sirajganj Economic
Zone at Sirajganj and Belkuchi in Sirajganj, Akij Economic Zone at Trishal in
Mymensingh, Cumilla Economic Zone at Meghna in Cumilla, Bashundhara Special
Economic Zone at Keraniganj in Dhaka, Standard Global Economic Zone at
Gazaria in Munshiganj, Hosendi Economic Zone at Gazaria in Munshiganj and
Arisha Economic Zone at Keraniganj in Dhaka.
Sheikh Hasina also opened the commercial production of 16 mills and
factories and laid foundation stones of 20 others at the function.
The premier earlier opened 10 economic zones in 2016.
PM’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman was
present on the dais.
Md. Abdul Kalam Azad, Principal Coordinator for Sustainable Development
Goals (SDG) Affairs in the Prime Minister’s Office moderated the function
while BEZA Executive Chairman Paban Chowdhury gave a brief presentation on
the 65 uplift schemes.
A video presentation was screened on the event.
The premier earlier unveiled the cover of a souvenir of the development
schemes.
She later exchanged views with the cross-section of people including public
representatives, businessmen, government officials, teachers, students, and
guardians through the video conference.
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