The five-year plans of all the previous governments could neither be successfully planned nor implemented which left most of the national goals in total disarray.
However, the current government, after taking office in 1996, planned things well in advance and therefore implemented the 5th-five-year plan in 1997, gave importance to the private sector, economy etc. Big floods were dealt with and peace treaties were made. All this has been possible under the leadership of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Professor Shamsul Alam, State Minister for Planning made the comments while speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled, "Sheikh Hasina: Leadership, Humanity and Foresight" on the occasion of the 75th birth anniversary of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The seminar was organized by the Bangladesh Progressive Columnist Forum on Monday morning.
The state minister said, “The prime minister had always believed in planning. There was no five-year plan till 2002-09. Later, Sheikh Hasina came up with a long-term plan. She took the far-sighted vision-2021 and set a goal to make Bangladesh a middle-income country.”
He added that the goals made the country self-sufficient in food, increased education enrollment rate, increased life expectancy and many more.
“We have changed from a low-income country to a middle-income country by 2015, way before the targeted year. Thus, all goals have been dealt with proper concern,” he said.
He added that the PM is taking the country forward as planned and Bangladesh is leading in all directions in South Asia. Maternal mortality and infant mortality rates are lower than before.
The state minister said, “We have received 12 awards for fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) target. We have completed 20 of the 21 MDG targets. We will achieve Social Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. In that case, we have prepared an action plan and are working on it.”
He mentioned that for plans to be more successful cleansing campaign needs to be implemented and it has already started.
“When the trial of Bangabandhu's assassination began, no one could believe that the trial of Bangabandhu's assassination would take place. Since then, our cleansing campaign has started,” he said.
He added that the PM has implemented a zero-tolerance policy on corruption. Even cabinet members were put to trial when sufficient evidences of corruption were found.
Former IGP and columnist AKM Shahidul Haq, Treasurer of Jagannath University Professor Kamaluddin Ahmed, physician and columnist Professor Mamun Al Mahatab and Daily Jugantar Editor Saiful Alam spoke as special guests.
Prof Mizanur Rahman, Convener of Bangladesh Progressive Columnist Forum, presided over the function and former Vice Chancellor of Islamic University (Kushtia) Professor Rashid Askari presented the keynote address at the seminar.
