Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday outlined a 4-point objective of the proposed industrial policy of her eov ernment which would include creating Job opportunities, boosting exports and increasing quality production.

"Our industrial policy will be aimed at attracting foreign and loeal investment, increasing quality production, boosting export and generating employment." the Prime Minister told the House amidst thumping of desk by her party deputies

The government would take all steps necessary to attract foreign investment in the industrial sector. Hasina said. "Without ensuring new investments. the objectives of the policy could not be achieved" She added that the year 1997 will be observed as the year of investment.

The Prime Minister was winding up Xhr rUscum-

in the Jatiya Sangsad on the industrial policy.

Industries Minister Tofael Ahmed initiated the two and a

half-hour general discussion at 8:35pm. Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Nasim. Prime Minister’s Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Suranjit Sengupta, former president and Jatiya Party chief H M Ershad. Jamaat-e-Islami leader Moulana Delwar Hossain Say-eedi look part in the discussion.

Hasina said her government has already offered a package of incentives for foreign investors and taken steps to ensure infrastructure facilities and overcome bureaucratic complexities.

Referring to her government's present policy of "economic diplomacy." Hasina said she has instructed Bangladesh's missions abroad to work for attracting more foreign investment in the industrial sector.

About the process of disinvestment. she said special steps will be taken so that poor in dustrial workers are not af-lecled by the disinvestment She said arrangements would

be made for alternative jobs and due wages of the workers of the dislnvested industries.

UNB adds: Expressing dismay over the opposition BNP's abstention from the House. Haslna said her government wanted to formulate the industrial policy with opinion from all including the opposition in parliament but unfortunately they remained absent from the parliamentary debate on this important subject.

The Prime Minister said representatives from all concerned sectors including the opposition BNP and trade union bodies have been inducted in the committee for framing the industrial policy.

The parliamentary debate on the industrial policy was fixed for today at the request of opposition BNP but they remained absent. More discussions on energy, law and order and foreign policy will be held in the House, she said.

Responding to BNP Chairperson Begum Zia's threat that she would not give any time to the government. Haslna asked, “what do they want? Do they want to drive the country towards killing and confrontation?"

Hasina said she would run the country as long as her government enjoys people's mandate. Awami League came to power with people's electoral verdict. "We are ready to go back to the opposition side when we will fail to receive people's verdict for the next term."

The Leader of the House urged the Opposition to return to parliament Monday and Join discussion on the national issues. She said opposition's views on national issues including industrial policy will be accommodated.

Referring to the slogan for consensus government, the Prime Minister said US President Bill Clinton afte* reelection also called for consensus in running the state affairs.

The Prime Minister again appealed to the opposition to come back and resolve al) problems through discussion in the House. We have fought and established people's voting rights ... let us work together for people's right to food by waging struggle against poverty and hunger."

Tofael Ahmed said the government has offered necessarv facilities and taken historic de cisions to attract investment, both foreign and local.

He said the year 1997 has been declared as the year of in vestment and described the steps and measures which have already been taken for the interest of trade, industry and investment in the country.

In his lengthy deliberation the minister sharply criticised the past BNP government

which, according to him. did nothing for the country's industrialisation although it often talked about the wave of development.

He also charged the BNP. which was absent in the House, with blocking the ways of foreign investment in the country. Tney have deserted the House when a high-powered Japanese delegation is visiting the country." he said.

Emphasising on national consensus in formulating policies of national importance. Tofael said the opposition should help the government to formulate industrial and privatisation policies for the sake of the country.

'Let there be political stability. let there be consensus." he told the half-empty House. "The course you have chosen is not the right course." he said of the BNP’s decision to boycott the House.

The minister informed parliament that the government had reactivated the Privatisa tion Board, the Board of Investment and the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) which, he said, had started delivering results.

Referring to the opening of the American Chamber and the French Chamber in the country, he noted that foreign investors were denied the right treatment during last five years.

Referring to the losses in the state-run textile mills during the last five years, he said the mills, which earned profit of Tk 26.91 crore in 1972-75 period, registered losses to the tune of Tk 413 crore over the last five years.

He proposed to constitute a committee, headed by a Judge of the Supreme Court or High Court, to probe into the allegations of corruption during I he BNP rule.

Pointing at the remark by former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia that the opposition could not give more time to the government party. Tofael asked what was their fault.

He said the past government had been "contemplating to purchase power from India" while It had signed the SAPTA accord which allowed communication. transport, infrastruc ture and transit system within the region.

Participating in the discussion. Jatiya Party chairman General H M Ershad said this poor country is totally a hostage to the trade unions. "Each and every sector is hostage to the trade unions, which is hindering develop-

He termed the bureaucracy as one of the enemies in the way of development and urged the government to remove bureau cratic complexities for the nourishment of industry and the development of the country.

Ershad said Bangladesh is a

country wlrere formulation ol an industrial policy is very tough as the major opposition party already made a threat to oust the government which is only four months old.

The deposed president said that he had first taken the initiative of privatisation and started denationalisation of the state-owned enterprises.

He urged the government to take bold steps in disinvesting the Industries which were incurring huge losses year after year.

"You (government) are carrying a legacy of the past. You must break it immediately." Ershad said and laid importance on improving the law and order situation and putting a halt to terrorism and extortion of tolls.

Referring to the issue of power import from India, the JP supremo suggested the government to cal) a referendum to ascertain public opinion. "Never take the high responsibility alone of importing power." he told the government.

Delwar Hossain Saidee of Jamaat-e-Is)ami suggested to activate the country's foreign missions to attract investment and help the domestic companies in marketing their products in the world markets.

He said import of power from India would be a suicidal step and international opinion would have to be mobilised to realise the due share of the Ganges water.