No project that does not benefit country and people: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday made it clear she won't approve any unnecessary projects taken up just for the sake of construction without calculating their benefits for the country and its people.
"There must not be any construction just for the construction. This is my request. If I see any unnecessary project, I will not approve that. I have already made it clear in the ECNEC," she said.
The Prime Minister underscored this while inaugurating the 61st convention of Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) at its premises in the city, reports UNB.
She said that while taking up any project the first thing to be considered was how the country and the people would gain from it.
"We have to look into the return from any project. How much the people will be benefited, what will be its return or whether the project will be useful for the country. We have to make these calculation," she said.
"You have to plan that way and I want this from you," she said.
She requested the engineers to take any plan or project considering its impact on environment, the sustainability and cost effectiveness.
"I have a request to you, whatever is the plan, it has to be environment-friendly, sustainable and cost effective," she said.
She said that the country had to be saved from the adverse impact on environment.
"That is our aim and it has to be done, we face drought, flood, tidal surge every moment, we have to prepare our plan keeping that in our mind," she said.
The Prime Minister once again asked the engineers not to take any plan for development filling waterbodies such as haor, beel and ponds.
"If necessary, we will build expressway. The vehicles will ply the expressway while vessels under the expressway," she said.
She also put emphasis on the preservation of rainwater during the monsoon and use that during dry season.