Good ties with neighbours must for economy: PM

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FE Team | Published: January 09, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Thursday said maintaining good relations with the neighbours is important for making the country's economy more dynamic and alleviating poverty further, reports UNB.
She said that Bangladesh is now enjoying good relations with its neighbouring countries.
The Prime Minister was addressing the inaugural session of the three-day 19th Biennial Conference of the Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA) held at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh auditorium in the city's Ramna area.
Referring to the construction of the Padma Bridge, Sheikh Hasina said the government has started the works with its own finance overcoming all the conspiracies at home and abroad.
The Prime Minister mentioned that following various initiatives of her government, the per capita income and the country's foreign currency reserve have showed a marked increase while poverty has come down to 24 percent. "We also want to reduce poverty rate by 10 per cent further in the next four years," she said.
The Prime Minister also mentioned that the Land Boundary Agreement  (LBA) is awaiting Indian parliament's not and once it is ratified then its implementation would start.
Accusing the BNP activists of acting like their Jamaat counterparts, Hasina voiced her confidence that she will be able to tackle the country's ongoing situation as people are with her government and Khaleda Zia will have to pay the price for her political mistake.
"If any wrong decision is taken in politics, then the person concerned has to pay for that. Khaleda Zia had taken a wrong decision by boycotting the last general election (held on Jan 5 last year). Why should the nation and the common people pay for that? It's she (Khaleda) who will have to pay dearly," she said.
Hasina alleged when her party assumed office through the January-5 polls and thus strengthened democracy, BNP was moving ahead with its movement.
"The BNP chief has called for countrywide blockade and her blockade has caused arsons and killings-nothing else. BNP activists are acting the way Jamaat men do," she added.
Law Commission Chairman ABM Khairul Haque spoke on the occasion as the guest of honour with BEA President Dr Abul Barkat in the chair.  Convenor of the BEA Conference Preparatory Committee Dr Jamaluddin Ahmed gave the welcome address.