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Bangladesh’s Food Security Remains Strong Amid Global Challenges: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has assured the Parliament that despite ongoing international challenges, Bangladesh’s food security remains robust. Responding to a query from Awami League lawmaker Md Shahiduzzaman Sarkar, she underscored that Bangladesh has not only successfully managed the COVID-19 pandemic but has also maintained food security during the prevailing global crises.
Sheikh Hasina commended Bangladesh’s achievement of food self-sufficiency, emphasizing the government’s relentless efforts in this regard. She acknowledged the disruptions in the global supply chain for various commodities, including food, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In response, the government has implemented a series of national and international measures to ensure food security in the face of these challenges.
The Prime Minister emphasized that Bangladesh’s food grain production has surged over the years, exemplifying the nation’s remarkable progress. She noted the construction and expansion of highways, bridges, and infrastructure during her three tenures, underlining Bangladesh’s commitment to development.
Additionally, Sheikh Hasina disclosed that the proposed investment in economic zones has reached $26 billion, with numerous companies initiating commercial production and creating jobs. The government has streamlined investment-related services through a one-stop service portal, enhancing ease of doing business.
Regarding the power and energy sector, the Prime Minister highlighted the development of the “Power System Master Plan (PSMP)-2016” aimed at ensuring quality and uninterrupted power supply at a reasonable cost. Bangladesh aims to generate 40,000 megawatts of electricity by 2030 and 60,000 megawatts by 2041, exploring various energy sources, including coal, diesel, furnace oil, nuclear, and renewable energy.
In response to a query about the recognition of the 1971 genocide, Sheikh Hasina explained international efforts to commemorate December 9 as the International Day for the Prevention of Genocide. While acknowledging the complexity of achieving international recognition of the 1971 genocide in Bangladesh, she affirmed the government’s commitment to continuing these efforts.
In a significant development, the government of Bangladesh has officially designated December 30 as ‘NRB Day’ with the aim of addressing issues faced by non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) and promoting their active involvement in the country’s development. Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen made this announcement during his visit to London.
The primary objective of ‘NRB Day’ is to foster greater engagement with the vast community of over one crore expatriate Bangladeshis worldwide, according to Minister Momen. He emphasized the importance of celebrating this day in a grand manner at Bangladesh’s missions abroad, including the Bangladesh High Commission in London. Momen highlighted that expatriate Bangladeshis are significant contributors to the country’s foreign currency reserves.
Foreign Minister Momen also underscored the potential benefits of establishing stronger connections with expatriate professionals who possess valuable skills across various fields and work in different countries globally.
During his visit to London, Foreign Minister Momen recalled the British Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BBCCI)’s dedicated efforts related to ‘NRB Day.’ He mentioned that the idea of celebrating this day was initially proposed at the closing ceremony of the historic NRB World Convention in Sylhet in 2017. The minister further suggested that the Mayor of Sylhet, Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury, organize a three-day festival in commemoration of NRB Day on December 30, a proposal to which the mayor agreed.
The meeting held in London included notable attendees such as Bangladesh High Commissioner Saida Muna Tasneem, Mayor of Sylhet City Corporation Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury, BBCCI President Saidur Rahman Renu, and former president Shahgir Bakht Faruk, among others.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has underscored her firm stance against any recurrence of the 2013-14 incidents of arson terrorism and inhuman atrocities in the run-up to the next national election. During a community reception held in her honor at the Methodist Central Hall Westminster, she emphasized that there would be no tolerance for such actions conducted in the name of a movement.
Recalling the events of 2013-14, Prime Minister Hasina pointed out that the BNP-Jamaat alliance had wreaked havoc across the country by setting people on fire, destroying public and private properties with petrol bombs hurled at various modes of transportation, including buses, trains, and launches. These actions led to severe burn injuries for many, including women, who continue to suffer from the consequences.
She clarified that her government had no objection to peaceful movements but highlighted the stark difference between peaceful protests and movements that involve killing people through arson terrorism and damaging the nation’s assets. She also referenced a past incident where 29 police personnel were killed, emphasizing that any attempt to harm innocent citizens would not be tolerated.
Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen and AL Publicity and Publication Secretary Dr. Abdus Sobhan Golap were in attendance during the event, presided over by UK AL President Sultan Sharif and moderated by General Secretary Syed Sajedur Rahman Faruk.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who also serves as the President of the ruling Awami League, criticized the BNP’s claims about democracy, citing their dubious election practices. She noted that the people of Bangladesh had swiftly removed the BNP from power within a short period after they conducted a controversial election on February 15, 1996.
Regarding voter lists, she pointed out that the BNP-Jamaat alliance had attempted to manipulate elections by creating a voter list with 1.23 crore fake voters. In contrast, Awami League leaders and activists had worked tirelessly to establish and protect the voting rights of the people, with some even sacrificing their lives in the process.
Prime Minister Hasina reiterated her commitment to holding free and fair elections, highlighting the reforms implemented by her government, including the establishment of an independent election commission and the introduction of transparent ballot boxes and voter lists with photographs.
She also mentioned that the BNP’s focus had shifted from political movements to seeking treatment abroad for Khaleda Zia. She clarified that she had acted within the confines of the law when allowing Khaleda Zia to stay at home after suspending her jail term in a corruption case.
Prime Minister Hasina called upon Bangladeshi expatriates to send remittances through official banking channels, acknowledging their contributions to the country’s progressive and democratic movements, including the War of Liberation in 1971.
In light of rising inflation due to global factors, she encouraged citizens to utilize every inch of land for agriculture to reduce dependency on food imports. She briefly outlined her government’s efforts to advance Bangladesh economically and digitally, with the goal of transforming it into a developed and prosperous nation by 2041.
In September of this year, the country’s export earnings from goods demonstrated robust growth, surging by 10.37 percent and reaching a total of $4,310.33 million. However, these single-month export figures fell short by 7.05 percent of the strategic export target set at $4,637 million, as reported by the latest statistics from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).
Comparatively, the export earnings for September in the previous year amounted to $3,905.07 million, indicating a noteworthy increase in the current year.
Taking a broader view, the data from EPB revealed that the overall export earnings during the first quarter of the current fiscal year (July-September) saw a significant growth of 9.51 percent, totaling $13,685.44 million. This exceeded the strategic target of $13,988 million set for the same period.
In contrast, during the same July-September period in the last fiscal year (FY23), the export earnings were recorded at $12,496.89 million, illustrating a noticeable upswing in the current fiscal year.
Among the various exportable items, the Ready-Made Garment (RMG) sector continued to dominate the overseas market during this three-month period, amassing an impressive $11,617.5 million with a growth rate of 13.07 percent.
Breaking down the RMG category, knitwear stood out as the frontrunner, securing the highest export amount of $6,762.59 million, followed closely by woven garments with earnings of $4,854.91 million.
For the current fiscal year, the government has set an ambitious target to export goods worth $62 billion, aiming for an 11.59 percent year-on-year growth. This follows a remarkable achievement in the previous fiscal year (FY23), where exports reached a record-breaking $55.56 billion despite challenging global conditions and uncertainties.
