Will overcome all economic challenges: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday vowed to overcome all economic challenges despite global economic downturn and other hurdles at home, report agencies.
Briefing journalists at her official residence Ganabhaban on her recent participation in the UN General Assembly, she said that she wants to maintain the economy's growth momentum despite the challenges of Covid pandemic, Ukraine war, sanctions and counter-sanctions.
The PM said she found no major risks in the long-term, short-term or immediate for the country's economy, and there was nothing to worry about the dwindling foreign currency reserves.
"The growth target we have set, we will be able to achieve that," she said.
Prime Minister said that she urged the United Nations to take steps to resolve the Rohingya crisis.
She also said that Bangladesh's participation in this year's United Nations General Assembly was very much successful.
"Considering overall (aspects of engagement), I think Bangladesh's participation in this year's United Nations General Assembly was very much successful," she said.
Sheikh Hasina said at the conference that the world would face even more difficult times in 2023 and countries may face severe crises such as famines.
These discussions were part of her interactions with world leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Hasina said at the conference.
"Our country is already disaster-prone. On the one hand, we have to deal with natural disasters, and on the other, we have to face man-made ones," she said.
She left Dhaka for London on Sept 15. After attending the funeral at Westminister Abbey and the accession ceremony for King Charles III, she flew to New York on Sept 19.
At the UN headquarters in New York, the prime minister took part in nine high-level meetings and side events.
Hasina addressed the UNGA in Bangla on Sept 23.
In her speech, the premier emphasised the economic fallout from the war in Ukraine for developing nations such as Bangladesh, particularly the effects of the measures and counter-measures taken by the warring sides in Europe and their allies.
On Thursday, she urged the people of Bangladesh to give greater consideration to food security. "Whatever agricultural land or water bodies you own, make use of them.
Hasina also highlighted the importance of ensuring food security in the face of the current economic and environmental challenges.
She called on her countrymen to utilise every bit of arable land at their disposal. "Not a single inch of [fertile] land should go unused," she said while reiterating the need to practise austerity.
Hasina said she was completely prepared to give up the leadership of the Awami League if the party called for her to do so.
"If a single Awami League councillor does not want me to lead the party, I will step aside," she said in response to a question about the upcoming Awami League party council.
Hasina said that she was ready to retire because the timing was appropriate.
She said she had helped to restore democracy in Bangladesh after overcoming many hurdles and had served as prime minister for three consecutive terms.
The 75-year-old Awami League president said several times that she was ready to retire, but continued in the role at the urging of her party's activists.