Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday heavily castigated the criticism over the reserve, saying her government would not sit idle with the reserve money but rather use it for the people's welfare.
"It would not be proper to sit idle with the reserve money. We have to utilise it for people's welfare... We have to reduce the sufferings of the people," she said while administering oath to newly-elected 59 district councils’ chairmen at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in Dhaka.
A total of 623 members of the district council also took oath at the programme, according to BSS.
The prime minister asked the local government representatives to take prompt measures to make their localities self-reliant in food production by utilising every inch of land for cultivation.
She also asked them to clean their localities as the number of dengue patients is increasing across the country.
The premier too called for making people aware of dengue.
She said her government is working to make local government bodies pro-people.
Sheikh Hasina said the price of everything and the transportation costs have increased worldwide due to the Russia-Ukraine war, sanctions, counter-sanctions and the Covid-19 pandemic.
The prime minister said the government is importing necessary things to make those available and ease the sufferings of the common people.
She said her government is purchasing food, fuel oil, gas, edible oil, wheat and corn at a much higher price using the reserve.
“The reserve money is also used in purchasing capital machinery,” she added.
The premier said communication, transportation, import and everything was almost stalled during the coronavirus pandemic, for which, the reserve money increased to almost USD 48 billion.
She said that the government has invested USD eight billion in various purposes including infrastructural development and river dredging.
The premier said they have given a loan from the reserve to Biman Bangladesh Airlines to purchase planes and they are now repaying it with 2 per cent interest.
The prime minister heavily criticised the BNP leaders for their propaganda regarding the reserve money.
She added that they (BNP) will do it as their leader Tarique Rahman is sentenced to seven years of imprisonment with a penalty of Tk 2 million in a money laundering case.
Sheikh Hasina said the government is giving stimulus packages to export-oriented industries to continue rolling out their activities.
She said the government is also supplying essential items at a lower price through the 10 million TCB cards, while 5 million people are getting rice at the rate of Tk 15 per kilogramme.
"Those who are incapable to purchase essential things, we are providing them foods free of cost," she said.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader was present on the stage during the oath-taking ceremony.
Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam administered oath to the elected members of the Zila Parishads.
State Minister of the Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Swapan Bhattacharjee was also present while Local Government Division Secretary Muhammad Ibrahim gave the address of welcome.
The prime minister urged the local government representatives to win the hearts of the people by rendering required services and standing by them in their needs.
Sheikh Hasina also called upon them to give special focus on the overall development of their respective areas with the mentality of providing service.
Recalling the steps of the Father of the Nation for decentralisation of power, the premier said the great leader had upgraded all the subdivisions to districts.
In light of the initiatives of Bangabandhu, she said the government is working to fulfil all the basic needs of the people, including healthcare, education, housing, food and clothes.
She mentioned that steps have been taken to ensure food security for all and the government is working to provide housing to every homeless person.
She directed the chairmen, members and representatives of other local government bodies to find out whether anyone is homeless in their localities and come forward to help them get houses.
Sheikh Hasina said the Awami League government has created scopes for all the elected representatives to work for the development of their respective areas.
The premier said the incumbent government is working to reach the cherished goal of making hunger and poverty-free 'Sonar Bangla' as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
She said your responsibilities have increased as the people made you their representatives through votes.
She also said all the elections including the local government bodies are being held in a free and fair manner.
"You all have to think about the way of developing the fate of the countrymen. My request to you is to serve the people as you are not elected to enjoy luxury," she said.
She said that the elected representatives can remain in the heart of the people through their service. "Or, you can say goodbye (to politics) by looting people's properties," she added.
