Projects to be based on people’s needs: Adviser Rashed  

RAJBARI, Aug 8: Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance and Planning Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir has said the government will take up projects based on people’s needs and implement them for their welfare.

“The current government is a government of the people. Projects will be taken based on their needs and implemented for their benefit,” he said.

He made the remarks at an exchange meeting with officials of various government offices at the district and Sadar Upazila levels in the conference room of the Rajbari deputy commissioner (DC)’s office at around 3:30pm on Friday.

Rajbari Deputy Commissioner Afroza Parvin chaired the meeting.

Culture State Minister Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam, who is in charge of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, and District Council Administrator Md Abdus Salam, among others, were present.

As the chief guest, Rashed said the government wants to establish a politics of accountability to the people.

He said projects promised by elected local representatives before elections based on local people’s needs would be scrutinised and prioritised before being implemented.

He criticised the previous government’s budgeting practices, saying there had been widespread misuse of public funds.

“We must move away from a culture where plans are made when the rainy season begins and completed when it ends,” he said.

Rashed also stressed the need to introduce sports activities in every educational institution under the Notun Kuri programme.

“The ousted government blocked the path to self-development for our young children. Through Notun Kuri, we want to restore the glory of sports that we have lost,” he said.

He said new sports disciplines, along with music and other cultural activities, should be introduced through the programme.

“Sports must become a profession through which young people can establish themselves. We also want Bangladesh to gain recognition around the world through sports,” he said.

Referring to another longstanding concern, Rashed said most schools lacked hygienic toilet facilities for female students. He urged authorities to install toilets at every school on an urgent basis.

He said the government had introduced the Farmer Card and that such cards would be introduced based on people’s livelihood conditions and needs.

He also said the upcoming budget would place greater emphasis on creative and innovative initiatives.

“Culture is about bringing everyone together and working collectively,” he said.

Culture State Minister Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam said the Awami League government after 1971 had pursued a politics of plunder and that it would take some time to restore the country’s fragile economy to a sound footing.

He called for cultural programmes to be introduced in every school in Rajbari.

He also called for professional athletes to be developed through the Notun Kuri programme.

Later, Khaiyam attended a programme at the Sadar Upazila Auditorium where educational materials, bats, balls, drums, harmoniums, napkins and other musical instruments were distributed among students of various educational institutions.

The materials were distributed to 181 schools.

In the evening, he attended a scholarship distribution programme at the Rajbari Municipality Auditorium, chaired by District Council Administrator Md Abdus Salam.

At the end of the programme, educational scholarships were provided to 91 school- and college-level students.