Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, today, urged Bangladeshi engineers living abroad contribute to the country’s ongoing development as "sons of the soil."
“Non-resident Bangladeshi (NRB) engineers can play an immense role in developing: the ICT sector, agricultural and industrial production, communication, and sea resources extraction,” she said while inaugurating the first NRB Engineer’s Convention, at a city hotel, in Dhaka.
The prime minister said NRB engineers can play role in overcoming policy and institutional- levels challenges to expedite the country’s ongoing development.
“Though now you are living abroad, you came from the villages of Bangladesh, which are the focal point of all our development. So, I will request you to find your roots and think particularly of your village's development,” the premier said.
Economic Resources Division (ERD), Bridge to Bangladesh and Access to Information jointly organized the two-day convention aimed at discussing the country’s development issues, and finding ways to support the government in making policy; including at the institutional level.
The prime minister said Bangladesh is moving forward and as an independent country and added: "It is a great fortune for us to take forward the country as dreamt by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in a planned manner."
Planning Minister MA Mannan presided over the function while National Professor Jamilur Reza Choudhury and Bridge to Bangladesh Chairman Ajadul Hoque spoke on the occasion; as ERD Secretary Monowar Ahmed gave the welcome address.
The prime minister said her government has focused on identifying an area for its specific development as well as the requisites to making the country developed overall. “Pragmatic plans helped Bangladesh to emerge as the 41st-largest economy of the world and fifth-fastest growing nation,” she added.
Sheikh Hasina said her government has concentrated its efforts on elevating the country’s growth to double digits in the future and further reducing the poverty rate.
“The country’s poverty rate dropped to 21 percent from 40 percent over the last ten years and it has already declined further, which will come to light after the census,” the prime minister said; adding that social safety net programs and the “one-house, one-farm” project are playing a big role reducing poverty.
Sheikh Hasina said the government has taken steps to augment food production through the conservation of agricultural land and application of modern technology.
Engineers of Bangladeshi origin living in around 30 different countries are attending the conference to discuss various development issues and facilitate professional communication between the NRB engineers and people within the engineering and technical fields—in the public and private sectors—of Bangladesh.
The prime minister said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman wanted to build a beautiful Bangladesh. But, he got only three and a half years to rebuild the war-ravaged country.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visits a stall at the first NRB Engineer’s Convention on February 26, 2019 |Focus Bangla“The future of the nation was smashed by the killing of Bangabandhu,” the premier said.
“You are the proud souls of the nation. You have not only established yourself by your work on foreign soils, but have also projected the image of Bangladesh around the world,” the prime minister said.
She thanked the NRB engineers for being united for the welfare of the motherland.
Recalling the significant role of expatriates during the War of Liberation, the prime minister said many of them extended their support to reconstruct the country after the war.
Sheikh Hasina said her government is prioritizing implementing several mega projects which include the: Padma Bridge, Metro Rail, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Rampal Coal Power Plant, Deep Sea Port.
Additionally, work on the: Dhaka Mass-Rapid Transit Project, LNG Terminal, Moheshkhali-Matarbari Integrated Infrastructure Development Program, Piara Sea Port, Padma Setu Rail Link, and Chittagong to Cox’s Bazar rail line project are progressing, she said,. She continued that the country’s isolated island, Sandwip, was connected to the national electricity grid line through an underground cable.
The prime minister said her government had given permission to establish three banks for the welfare of expatriate people so that they can invest and put in their efforts for country’s development through these banks.
Reiterating her commitment to ensure the civil rights of every citizen, the premier said steps have been taken to provide every village with the facilities of modern towns. As a part of this initiative, every household will be brought under electricity coverage soon and internet service will also be available everywhere, she added.
The prime minister said her government has formulated a 100-year plan titled "Bangladesh Delta Plan-2100" with a broader perspective for sustainable development of the country.
Welcoming any plan or suggestions from NRBs for the welfare of the country, Sheikh Hasina said, “You invest here and also work to augment foreign investments.”
The prime minister hoped that the conference will help identify the Policy Level Challenges and Institutional Level Challenges plus find specific ways to solve those quickly.
The suggestions from the conventions of NRB engineers 2019 will duly be considered and used to formulate national development policy, the premier said.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh will celebrate the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 2020, and the Golden Jubilee of the independence in 2021, as a hunger-and-poverty-free nation.
Bangladesh will be middle income country by 2021 and a developed and prosperous one by 2041, she added.
