Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina asked officials of her office on Tuesday to be prompt and smart while dealing with files so that time is not wasted in any way, report agencies.
"Sometimes it is seen a file comes and is sent back with some questions, and then again the file comes and sent back with more questions. There should be no waste of time in file sending and receiving," the PM said this in her introductory speech at a views-exchange meeting with senior officials of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
Sheikh Hasina said the PMO is connected with all ministries. "That's why I'll ask you to improve your communications with the respective ministries for accelerating all works."
The PM said the government will execute the new pay scale for public servants soon.
"Another pay scale was supposed to be executed from this month. By the grace of Allah, it's almost ready and we'll do it," she said.
Earlier, Sheikh Hasina said her government gave pay scale for public servants in 2009. "The salary and allowance hike for the government staff in that pay scale were not nominal…it was a handsome one," she said.
She asked the officials to visit the ministry concerned and keep in touch with the relevant official. "This is also necessary to complete the works in time."
The PM directed the government officials to be more active to take the country forward further by implementing the government's economic policies and goals.
Sheikh Hasina said the government officials have both advantages and difficulties while performing their responsibilities. "But they must think about people, especially the poor and working class."
The PM said her government's aim is to ensure overall development of every citizen of the country and asked the officials of her office to work in proper coordination to achieve the target.
She suggested them to complete government programmes and projects to achieve its vision 2021 and 2041 to be a higher middle-income and a front-ranking developed nation respectively.
The PM emphasised on reducing the income gap between the lower and higher-income group people, and said the government is implementing various programmes so that the lower-income people may graduate to the middle-income group.
She mentioned that over 50 million people have graduated to middle-income group over the last six years, while poverty has reduced to 22 per cent.
"I've the firm belief we could establish Bangladesh as a developed and prosperous nation in South Asia, and we're working with that self-confidence," she told the PMO officials.
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.
She mentioned that Bangladesh's foreign currency reserve now stands at US$25.2 billion and the government could go for any big development programme with its own resource. "We've achieved that capability," she said.
PM's Principal Secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad moderated the views-exchange meeting while PM's Advisers and heads and senior officials of the PMO-affiliated organisations were present on the occasion.
