HAR1RAMPUR (Manlkganj), Apr 3: Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia today called upon the people to unitedly help maintain a. peaceful atmosphere for continuing the ongoing village development and people's welfare programmes to bring smiles on the faces of the teeming millions, reports BSS.

Addressing a public meeting at Patgram High School field she said her government, which inherited a ravaged economy due to the nine-year-long autocratic rule;, had started all its development programmes from the villages.

The Prime Minister said a wave of development was sweeping across the country due to the Initiation of pro-people development programmes and urged both the men and women to equally participate In the on-going development process.

She underlined the necessity of carrying out coordinated efforts to properly utilise the country's vast human resources and natural resources for making the nation self-reliant and building a bright and happy future for our children.

Presided over by Abdur Razzak. President of Hariram pur Thana BNP, the meeting was addressed, among others, by Health and Family Welfare Minister Chowdhury. Kama) Ibne Yousuf. Industries Minister Shamsul Islam Khan, Deputy Minister for Health and .Family Welfare Sirajui Hm»j, Harunur Rashid Khan Monno MP, Farida Hasan MP, Maksu-dur Rahman. President. Jubo Dal, Manlkganj district unit, and local leaders Abdul Baten and Golam Klbrta.

The Prime Minister criticised the opposition's agitational action programmes in a democratic atmosphere saying certain quarters were out to create indiscipline and disorder at a time when the BNP government was carrying out development programmes.

Begum Zia described the country’s people as peace-loving and patriots and said they (the peoplej were showing their willingness to get them selves involved in the devc) opment pursuits instead of re spending to the opposition's destruqttvc activities.

Referring to the Increased food production this year, she said the country was proceeding towards attaining food autarky The people are getting I heir fixxl due to the increase of production and the prices of the essentials including rice are within the buying capacity of the people, she added.

The governments Incentives in the form of waiving of tax upto 25 bighas of land and exemption of agricultural loans had led to the increase of food production, the Prime Minister said and hoped that the country would soon be able to export rice.

The Prime Minister said her government had also laid stress on the setting up of small and cottages industries in the rural areas side by side with the programmes of Increasing food production.

Thirteen Union Parishad Chairmen of Harlrampur thana led by the former Upazfla Chairman Shamsuddln today joined the BNP at the meeting. Local MP llarunur Rashid Khan Monno Introduced the newly joined chairmen to the Prime Minister.

Earlier, the Prime Minister inaugurated the newly constructed 31-bed Harlrampur Thana Health Complex.

She said the people of the locality would get medicare facilities with the completion of this health complex.