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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday told the parliament that if her party can form government again its vision would be transforming every village into a township and the country into a ‘Smart Bangladesh’ by 2041.
The ‘Smart Bangladesh’ will be based on smart citizens, smart economy, smart government and smart society, she said.
“If Awami League forms the government in the future, our vision will be building a ‘Smart Bangladesh' by 2041,” she said replying to a starred question from Jatiya Party lawmaker Rustum Ali Faraji of Pirojpur-3 constituency, reports BSS and UNB.
Sheikh Hasina said Awami League's "Election Manifesto-2018: Bangladesh on the journey to Prosperity" which was presented before the nation on the eve of the 11th National Parliamentary elections outlined plans for building a 'prosperous and developed Bangladesh by 2041' and a 'safe delta' by 2100.
As the first step in the journey of a developed Bangladesh, the country has already become a developing one from a least developed country, she said.
The Prime Minister said that Bangladesh will become an upper middle income country by 2031 with average per capita income of above US$ 5,906 and Bangladesh will be a developed country in 2041 with per capita income of above US$ 12,500.
Mentioning that currently Bangladesh’s GDP growth rate is 7.25 per cent, she said that their target is to raise the rate to 8.51 per cent in 2025, 9.0 per cent in 2031 and 9.9 per cent in 2041.
In order to materialize the vision, different short, medium and long-term plans will be taken, she added.
Hasina said the agricultural production would be raised through promoting agricultural mechanisation; small, cottage, medium and large industries would be developed: all projects undertaken for road, sea, rail and air connectivity would be completed; a massive employment would be generated by ensuring local and foreign investment in 100 economic zones, and steps would be taken emphasising on agriculture and food processing industries.
She also said the overall living standard of all the people of Bangladesh will be improved by ensuring the basic needs of people - clothing, shelter, education and medicare - up to the grassroots level in the country.
The Premier said the production of digital devices and the own market for the devices would be expanded by increasing the purchasing power of the people of Bangladesh alongside finding new overseas markets for the items.
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul
