Prime Minister (PM) and Leader of the House Sheikh Hasina said Wednesday that registration letters against 306 industrial projects were issued during the previous Awami League (AL) government from 2009 to 2013, reports BSS.
"The total investment of these projects is about Tk 65 billion," she said in reply to a tabled question from Awami League lawmaker Nurul Islam Sujan during her question answer session in the House.
Besides, she said, 556 registration letters against joint venture projects were issued during the period and the total investment of these projects is Tk 820 billion.
The Leader of the House said during the period, France, Australia, Japan, China, Italy, Germany, South Korea, India, the United States, Spain, Thailand and Singapore invested in industrial and commercial sectors.
"The entrepreneurs of these countries have expressed their interest to invest in agro-based industries, textiles, chemical, engineering and service industries, food and allied and leather products," she said.
The PM said her government is providing different utility services related to infrastructure and investment to the investors through the "one stop service cell".
"We are giving water, electricity and gas connections and environment certificate and other relevant facilities to the investors speedily and easily," she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the registration of industries and factories is given through online which enables an investor to get registration within a quickest possible time.
The PM said the investors are being apprised of other investment services and important information through the updated website of the Board of Investment (BoI).
The entrepreneurs could invest in Bangladesh easily thanks to introduction of online investment services, she said, adding steps have been taken to make "one stop service" more effective.
Sheikh Hasina said the process for setting up industries has been made easier. Besides, she said the process for name clearance and registration of the companies has been introduced through online.
The Leader of the House said private EPZ cell and Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority were constituted under the Prime Minister's Office with a view to providing more support to the private investment.
"The work on setting up two private EPZs and five economic zones is ongoing," she said.
Public library will be set up in every dist
Minister for Cultural Affairs Asaduzzaman Noor said Wednesday the government has taken an initiative to set up public library in every district headquarters in the country.
"Afterwards, such public library will also be set up at every upazila in phases," he said while replying to a tabled question from treasury bench member Muhammad Golam Mostafa Biswas in parliament.
Besides, he said the government has a plan to establish Shilpakala Academy at every upazila headquarters after completion of the project at the district level.
Moreover, Noor said the present government has taken different steps for modernisation of the National Museum. "Short-middle-long term plans have been taken for overall modernisation of the museum," he added.
Govt supplies 30 varieties of medicine free of cost
Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim said the government supplies 30 varieties of medicine free of cost among the rural poor.
"A project titled Revitalisation of Community Healthcare Initiative in Bangladesh (RCHCIB) is in operation to ensure healthcare services to the poor and the under privileged people," he said while replying to a tabled question of treasury bench member Begum Fazilatun Nesa.
Nasim said the health ministry has been distributing 30 varieties of medicine to the community clinics free of cost under the project for rural people, especially the poor and the under privileged people.
On another question from treasury bench member Nizam Uddin Hazari, the health and family welfare minister told the House that the government has upgraded 285 upazila health complexes to 50 bed complexes.
