BD sure to gain MIC status by 2021: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Monday expressed her strong optimism that Bangladesh would celebrate its golden jubilee in 2021 securing the status of a middle-income country (MIC).
She asserted that none could halt the country's current march of progress.
"Bangladesh is marching towards development and the stride will continue. Nobody will be able to stop the progress.....,"she said, urging all to stand against "violence, anarchy and terrorism".
Such acts are hindering development of the country, the prime minister told a rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in the city, amid a countrywide blockade sponsored by a political alliance led by her political archrival, BNP chief and ex-premier Khaleda Zia.
"I have confidence that we can achieve the target much earlier and establish Bangladesh as a middle-income country by the year 2021 and a developed country by the year 2041," Sheikh Hasina told the rally.
Currently, she said, Bangladesh is one of the five countries which advanced for economical development and the country achieved on average a 6.2 percent steady growth over the last few years.
The rate of poverty was 41.5 percent in the last year of BNP-Jamaat rule. "We have reduced it to 24 percent. The income of people has increased. Employment has increased. We arranged employment of one crore people both in government and private sectors," she added.
Hasina pointed out that Padma Bridge is no more a dream. "We have started to construct the bridge with our own funding. The government has successfully brought the inflation to 6.1 percent from double-digit one and purchasing power of the common people has been increased. Prices of commodities remain within the limit. Nowadays, a labourer can buy 10-12kg rice with a day's wage."
Bangladesh, starving for less than 4000MW electricity just five years ago, is now producing 13000 megawatts of electricity.
Bangladesh has now turned into a "Digital Bangladesh," said the prime minister, adding that the healthcare services are now at the doorsteps of the people, average life expectancy has now increased to 70 and almost all of the children have been brought under the immunization programme.
She made it clear that the government is determined to ensure the safety and security of countrymen and that nobody will be allowed to disrupt the security of people as well as progress of the country.
Terming BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia 'queen' of militancy, terror and corruption, the prime minister urged her to stop the "violence in the name of blockade".
Otherwise, she warned, all-out steps would be taken to protect people's life and property.
"You will have to face a dire consequence if the countrymen get annoyed," she said, urging the BNP chairperson to stop violence and terrorism.
The ruling Awami League convened the rally to observe the Homecoming Day of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, marking the historic occasion of the leader's return to independent Bangladesh from captivity in Pakistan during the 1971 Liberation War.
The prime minister said that the BNP chairperson had made a big mistake by not participating in the January 5, 2014 polls. Now, she is letting loose anarchy in the country as she understood her fault and got repentant for her political mistake.
"So, they are creating anarchy in the name of blockades and hartals in order to hinder development of the country," she told her audience.
"The government will never let Khaleda and her party-men to unleash the reign of terror in the country. It will be handled strictly," she said, on a note of warning.   
Sheikh Hasina urged the people to find out those who are creating anarchy, making bombs and hand them over to the police.
Having failed to participate in elections, Khaleda started triggering violence. "You didn't participate in the election-and it's your fault. Why the people should recompense."  
Echoing her earlier statement, Sheikh Hasina said Khaleda has not been confined to her party office in Gulshan, she is staying there willingly.
"She's free. If she wishes, she can leave the office… but she won't as it is against her habit. She likes to live outside of home," the PM told her audience.
mzrbd@yahoo.com