The Prime Minister’s Office on Saturday (July 18) highlighted five areas as the BNP government’s principal achievements during its first 150 days in office.The PMO listed gaining public trust, implementing election-manifesto pledges, tackling economic and administrative challenges within a short period, safeguarding national independence and sovereignty, and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s leadership as the five key achievements.
Mahdi Amin, an adviser to the prime minister with the rank of state minister and a spokesperson for the PMO, presented the assessment at a press conference at Karabi Hall of the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon. The briefing marked five months since the elected government took office.
Prime Minister’s Press Secretary and PMO Spokesperson AAM Saleh Shibly, Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman, Deputy Press Secretary-1 Zahidul Islam Rony and other members of the Prime Minister’s Press Wing attended the briefing.
Amin said five months was a relatively short period, but the government had placed the highest priority on transparency, good governance, accountability and public welfare in running the country.
He claimed that the foundations of a democratic, humane and discrimination-free Bangladesh had already been laid after a prolonged period of political and institutional crisis.
Amin said the government’s achievements had been divided into five broad areas: earning the people’s trust, affection and support; fulfilling election-manifesto commitments; addressing economic and administrative challenges within a short period; prioritising national independence and sovereignty; and the statesmanlike leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
He cited efforts to control commodity prices, expedite judicial proceedings, implement a programme to plant 25 crore trees, introduce electric buses, establish AI-based traffic management, increase remittance inflows and strengthen foreign-exchange reserves.
He also cited cabinet members’ decision to forgo certain privileges as part of efforts to curb wasteful government spending.
Amin said separate facilities had been introduced for farmers, women, students, freelancers, athletes and expatriate Bangladeshis, while the government planned to launch an integrated “Universal Card” in the future.
Reform initiatives were also progressing in the health, education, agriculture, employment and social-security sectors, he added.
Amin said Bangladesh had reached new heights internationally through strategic partnerships with different countries, efforts to attract foreign investment, the creation of new overseas labour markets and a balanced foreign policy.
He also said the government had not merely addressed immediate problems during its first 150 days but had also begun laying the foundations for a democratic, equitable and prosperous Bangladesh.
The government would continue working with the same commitment and determination to meet public expectations, he added.