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Hasina sees conspiracy to destabilise country

Staff Correspondent
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said in parliament that conspiracy and propaganda are going on in many ways to destabilise the country.
"People will have to remain alert. We will overcome all obstacles if we get people's cooperation and we will build a country free from poverty," Hasina said while speaking on the amended second Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). She blasted lawmakers of the main opposition BNP for not participating in the discussion.
Parliament yesterday discussed the draft PRSP for the first time.
On propaganda, Hasina said many newspapers write at their will, some giving true information and others false "1 urge people to keep faith in us. 1 will honour people's trust even at the cost of my life" she said.
In her 38-minute speech, the ruling Awami League chief said her party presented an electoral manifesto that aims at building "digital Bangladesh" free from poverty.
"People accepted our manifesto and voted us to power. We are always sincere in and aware of the responsibility people vested in us in the last parliamentary election," she said.
"I always remember our electoral pledges. I even keep a copy of the manifesto in my bag. We want to continue working as per our pledges," Hasina said, adding that the PRSP was drafted in line with those pledges.
The PM sought cooperation of all for the implementation of the PRSP and building agolden Banglaby2021.
Planning Minister Air Vice-Marshal (retd) AK Khandker, who placed the draft PRSP on September 15 in parliament, opened the discussion. Twenty-four lawmakers including the premier took part in the discussion, which continued for around four hours.
In the draft, the planning minister gave an estimated expenditure of Tk 3,108 billion to achieve the goals and targets set in the amended PRSP
Maintenance of macro-economic stability and control over commodity price hike in the face of the present global economic recession, effective action against corruption, ensuring adequate power and energy, elimination of poverty and inequality, and establishment of good governance have been identified as the five priority areas in the document.
The amended PRSP titled "Steps towards Change: National Strategy for Accelerated Poverty Reduction-H" has been proposed for implementation during2009-2011.
Blasting opposition lawmakers for their absence from parliamentary proceedings, Hasina said, "1 would have been happy had the opposition lawmakers participated in the discussion. The PRSP was drafted for people's welfare. The opposition lawmakers could have criticised it and given good suggestions. But, in fact, they do not think about people and the county"
The premier said her government will build six flyovers soon to reduce traffic congestion in the capital.
On the daylight saving time, Hasina said if schools, colleges and offices find it difficult to maintain the new timetable, they can adjust it.
The prime minister said many people may have many opinions about her cabinet but none can say this government is corrupt
Finance Minister AMA Muhith underscored the importance of PRSP while replying to the lawmakers who raised questions about the method of preparing PRSP
Muhith said cooperative banks and societies have failed to attain success instead they have turned into hubs of corruption.
Awami League lawmaker Suranjit Sengupta came down heavily on NGOs saying many of them are doing business in Bangladesh capitalising on the issue of poverty.
He said it is not possible to eradicate poverty as per the prescriptions of World Bank. IMF, local and foreign NGOs or bureaucrats.
He termed the PRSP an abandoned property of the previous BNP government that prepared it on the advice of donor agencies.
"Political goodwill and national unity are required to eradicate poverty," Suranjit said. Agriculture sector must be given top priority to this end, he said.
“We don't want any PRSP that relies on consultants and NGOs. We need proemployment and proagriculture strategy paper," Suranjit added.
AL lawmaker Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim criticised the civil administration saying most government officials think themselves as masters of the people, not servants.
"It is not possible to imple -ment the PRSP properly without an honest and efficient administration," Selim said.
He said in most cases, the government's development activities are hindered due to lack of sincerity of government officials.
Terming corruption the main obstacle to implementation of the PRSP he said, “Corruption has to be checked."