PM says "Be more active to advance country further"

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today directed the government officials to be more active for achieving the government's goals of advancing the country further.

"I call upon you to be more active to take the country forward further by implementing the government's economic policy and goals," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while exchanging views with the senior officials of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) at the PMO here this morning.

PM's Principal Secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad gave the introductory speech, while advisers to the Prime Minister and heads and senior officials of the affiliated organizations of the PMO were present on the occasion.

Sheikh Hasina said: "I know that the government officials have to face both advantages and difficulties in performing their responsibilities. But they will first have to think about the people of the country, especially the poor and working class."

"It's not a big matter how we remain. We will have to focus on those who are less advantageous, poor and extreme poor. Changing their lot should be our responsibilities," she said.

The Prime Minister said: "What we get or not will not be seen as a big matter, if we think looking at the below. Our main consideration should be how much we could serve the people and the country."

Sheikh Hasina said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had dreamt of building a poverty and hunger-free Sonar Bangla and ensuring a better life of the people.

She said Bangladesh Awami League which has been founded to establish the rights of the common people have been working to materialize the dream of Bangabandhu.

"Whenever Awami League came to power, it worked to reach the fruits of the independence to the people by changing their lot and developing the country," she said.

The Prime Minister said Bangladesh has now been established as a role model in the world due to its impressive success on all socioeconomic fronts.

"I have firm belief that we could establish Bangladesh as a developed and prosperous nation in South Asia and we are working with that self confidence," she said.

In this connection, she referred to the construction of the much-awaited Padma Bridge. "There was a challenge before us regarding the mega project. We announced that we would construct the bridge with our own funding and we have been able to start its work by keeping our commitment," she said.

"As we are implementing such a big project like the Padma Bridge with our own funding, the government officials must have such a confidence," she said.