Shawdesh Desk:

The visiting executive directors of the World Bank Group on Monday said they will provide all sorts of support for displaced Rohingyas living in Bangladesh, UNB reports.

Highly appreciating the incredible development that Bangladesh achieved in the last one decade, they also said they will continue support for its further progress.

The WB officials said they witnessed ‘incredible development’ in Bangladesh and the country is much ahead in all social indices than other countries in South Asia.

They made the remarks when they met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganobhaban.

PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.

The WB officials expressed satisfaction at and praised the Bangladesh government for properly implementing its development policies as well as projects funded by the bank.

They said they are highly pleased to see that the local people of Cox’s Bazar opened the door to accommodate and help the forcibly-displaced Rohingyas.

The WB officials informed Sheikh Hasina that they have visited Cox’s Bazar to see the condition of the Rohingyas.

They also said the World Bank will provide all sorts of support for the displaced Myanmar nationals.

The Prime Minister said the policy of the government and Awami League is to ensure that people living in rural areas could enjoy the fruits of development.

After assuming power, she mentioned, the government had decided to ensure food security, healthcare, development of communication and energy sectors. “That’s why we’ve opened all these sectors to the private sector,” she said.

Briefing the WB executive directors on the country’s development in various socioeconomic sectors, Hasina said the poverty rate was 82 percent after the country’s independence which now has come to down to 21 now.

She said the aim of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the emancipation of the common people. “He struggled throughout his life for building poverty- and hunger-free Golden Bangladesh,” she said.

The Prime Minister said the primary goal of her government is to materialise the dream of the Father of the Nation, and mentioned that it is improving rail, road, water and air communications of the country.

While implementing any development project, she said the target of the government is to ensure the creation of employment opportunity.

Hasina said the government is establishing 100 economic zones across the country for the local and foreign investors.

The Prime Minister also briefly described various incentives for the foreign investors, and said the government has expanded the social safety net programmes.

Hasina said the government is constructing mini stadiums in all upazilas to engage the youth in sports which will keep them away from terrorism, militancy and drugs.

PM’s adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi, State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Principal Secretary M Nojibur Rahman, SDG Affairs Principal Coordinator Abul Kalam Azad, ERD Secretary Monowar Ahmed and Finance Secretary Abdur Rouf Talukder were present.

Earlier, World Bank Executive Director Aparna Subramani met the Prime Minister at Ganobhaban.

Subramani said she visited some rural areas and digital centres, and witnessed women empowerment in the country.

Talking about the bank interest rate, the Prime Minister said the government has already instructed banks to bring it under the single digit.