PM asks public reps to work for people, not for own fortune

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked the public representatives on Monday to work for the welfare of people, not for making own fortune, reports UNB.

"You're elected representatives. People cast votes for you. You'll have to evaluate every voter. You'll have to be sincere so that all can enjoy civic amenities," she added.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said this at the oath-taking ceremony of newly- elected mayor of Barishal City Corporation Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah held at Shapla Hall of her office in the city. She administered the oath.

Local Government Division Senior Secretary Dr Zafar Ahmed Khan conducted the oath-taking ceremony.

Later, the newly elected 30 councillors of general wards and 10 female councillors of the reserved seats of Barishal City Corporation were also sworn in at the same venue.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain administered the oath to the councillors.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister urged the newly- elected mayor and councillors to be sincere so that every penny of development allocations can properly be used for the wellbeing of people.

"We've taken massive development programmes. You'll have to be sincere so that every penny of the development allocation we provide is used for the welfare of people," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said Awami League has been in power for nearly 10 years from 2009-2018. "We announced 'the Charter of Change' in the election manifesto. Today, the change has truly come in the lives of people. The poverty rate has declined, while the per capita income increased."

She said now 90 per cent of the national budget is implemented with the country's own financing.

Hasina also urged them to work for protecting the young generation from terrorism, militancy and drugs. "We want to build terrorism- militancy and drug-free Bangladesh."

Thanking those who cast votes for Awami League's election symbol 'Boat' in the city election, Sheikh Hasina, also the AL President, urged the public representatives to convey her message to people that she seeks their votes for the Boat in the next general election.

AL general secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader was present.

Awami League mayoral candidate Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah was elected mayor in the Barishal City Corporation election held on July 30 last.

Sadiq Abdullah won the election with a big margin defeating his nearest rival BNP contestant Mujibur Rahman Sarwar.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said the government has taken a plan to expand the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) for providing healthcare services to 4,000-5,000 patients at a time.

"I've already taken a plan for Dhaka Medical College Hospital. This time we've prepared a design so that at least 4,000-5,000 patients can avail of services from the hospital at a time," she said.

The Prime Minister was distributing ambulances, jeeps and motorcycles to different government hospitals and educational institutions.

"If we can return to power, we'll do it (expand DMCH)," said the Prime Minister adding that the Awami League government constructed the 2nd unit of DMCH to upgrade it from 1000-bed one to 1,500-bed one in the past.

The Prime Minister handed over 33 ambulances, 10 river ambulances and 10 jeep cars to different hospitals, educational institutions and health officials, while one motorcycle out of 200 being provided to statisticians engaged in healthcare services.

The ambulances and jeeps were distributed under the Health Services Division as part of the government's decision taken in 2017-18 fiscal year to provide 88 ambulances and 98 jeeps to the field-level health services institutions and officials, while the river ambulances were given to hospitals in the river and haor areas as per the assurance of the Prime Minister.

In 2016-17 fiscal year, 98 ambulances were handed over to different hospitals and institutions.

The Prime Minister said her government is striving to take healthcare services to the doorsteps of people.

In view of this, Hasina said a number of beds were increased in the existing hospitals in addition to providing support for constructing private and specialised hospitals in the country.

The Prime Minister said the government will construct multi-storey buildings at upazila level for the residents of the government officials. Public Works department has already been asked to prepare a plan in this regard.

About distributed ambulances and other vehicles, Sheikh Hasina asked the users to take care of the vehicles so that they can use those for a long time as those are public property.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammed Nasim also spoke at the event conducted by Health Services Division Secretary Md Serajul Islam Khan.

State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Zahid Maleque was present.