Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday told the parliament that her government took an initiative to resist terrorism and militancy in partnership with the US.
“The government has taken a fresh initiative with the US to resist terrorists and suppress militants under the Global Fund for Community Resilience and Engagement where Bangladesh will play an active role,” the premier said.
Sheikh Hasina, also president of ruling Awami League, said the ongoing security dialogue and partnership with the US would continue, and expressed hopes that the bilateral cooperation would be very strong. Meanwhile, replying to the supplementary question of independent candidate Rustam Ali Farazi, the premier hinted that the electricity tariff might be increased.
“You must pay the production cost of electricity,” the prime minister said.
The premier also requested all to compare the country’s power tariff with the other countries. She also instructed the countrymen to reduce power expenditure through decreasing consumption.
“It will not create any problem if all reduce their consumption of electricity,” she said.
The premier said her government increased the power production to 11,000MW in last five years, although the government started its journey amid power crisis.
“We have set our new target to produce 24,000MW,” she said.
Replying to a query by independent lawmaker Haji Selim, the prime minister said: “As the world community has taken the result of the recently held national elections positively, the evil attempt of the vested quarters has failed. People did not respond to the call of BNP and Jamaat-Shibir.”
Sheikh Hasina also mentioned many initiatives taken by her government, and said a congenial atmosphere had been created for business with the formation of the new government in line with the constitution. She expressed hopes: “With support from all we will be able to bring a new dimension in the economy increasing the country’s business.”
The country’s economy was put in a crisis with the destructive activities by the BNP-Jamaat over the last three months, she claimed, and added that the country would be able to achieve 6.5 gross domestic products in the year end despite the crisis.
The government would provide financial support to those sectors that had suffered during the political actions by the BNP-Jamaat, the premier asserted, saying: “Measures will be taken to cover up the loss.”
Responding to a written question by Awami League lawmaker Enamul Haque, the prime minister said some 37 countries and their heads and 11 international organisations, including the United Nations already welcomed the new government and pledged to work with it to maintain the ongoing progress of democracy, rule of law and development activities.