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PM outlines jobs to do

Staff Correspondent
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday directed the deputy commissioners and divisional commis-
sioners to make a master plan for formulating a land policy that would increase arable land and discourage people from FROM PAGE 1
heading for big cities.
"There should be a master plan for the use of land in every district and upazila. The plan should detail where establishments such as public housing, industries, schools, colleges and hospitals can be built in a way that does not affect farmlands,” she said at the inaugural session of the DCs' conference at the Prime Minister's Office in the capital.
"You [DCs] must contribute to the expansion of agricultural land by converting barren ones into arable ones.”
The premier also advised the DCs to see if houses could be built around union centers across the country with modern facilities.
"If we can do that in the upazila and district level too, people can live there. They can thus be discouraged from coming to the city,” Hasina said, adding that such policies were important with a growing population.
“You must work on it so that
we can make plans in future based on the master plan.”
Stressing the need for decentralisation, Hasina said her government wanted to make district-wise development plans and provide budgetary allocations based on its population and productivity.
Also, the government has a plan to create seven economic zones in the seven divisions of the country as a way of infusing dynamism into the rural economy through setting up factories and specialized industries, especially the food processing ones, she said.
The prime minister also directed the DCs to create jobs at the district, upazila and union levels to stop the influx of rural people into the big cities.
Referring to the government plan of digitising land records, Hasina asked the DCs to ensure correct recordings of land so that the actual owners were not deprived.
She said she had received many complaints of such deprivation, and directed the deputy commissioners to implement the Vested Property Return (amendment) Act 2011 properly.
On the DCs' recommendation regarding the construction of more warehouses, the premier said the government was planning to construct modern warehouses to store adequate food grains for up to three years.
Hasina also directed the DCs to introduce school feeding programmes in their districts to increase enrolment and prevent dropouts.
She asked the DCs to discharge their jobs sincerely with special emphasis on rural development and job creation.
"Remember, our salaries, cars, houses and allowances come from the income of the common people. So your main objective should be to work for them.”
On the Padma bride project, Hasina said: “We’ll
stand on our own feet.... We've already decided in the cabinet to begin the Padma bridge construction with our own money. If the donors come forward by this time we'll take their assistance.”
She said she had received numerous phone calls from people of different categories. Teachers, students and upazila parishad chairmen and members have expressed their interest in giving parts of their savings and income for the job.
“Despite all the criticisms, we'll continue working for the welfare of the country,” she said.
Hasina, also president of the ruling Awami League, renewed her commitment to turn Bangladesh into a "middle income country" by 2021 when the country will observe its golden jubilee of independence.
Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan delivered the welcome speech on the occasion.