Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called for focusing the supply of electricity to rural areas over affluent neighborhoods like Gulshan, Baridhara, and Banani, indicating a shift towards equitable distribution. She made these statements during the concluding remarks of the second session of the Twelfth National Parliament on Thursday night.
"We have instructed our Power Minister not to curtail electricity supply in villages when there is a deficit of 1,000 or 2,000 megawatts. It should be avoided in areas like Gulshan, Baridhara, and Banani, where the affluent reside and consume more electricity," said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The Prime Minister emphasized the need to ensure uninterrupted power supply to rural areas, even if it means implementing short power cuts in elite neighborhoods. "I feel much relieved when I see lift, television, and air conditioning are off for a couple of hours in affluent areas. But my farmers should not suffer. From now on, this will be ensured. I have told the Minister, wherever you are, if you see power supply disruptions, ensure there are power cuts," she added.
Regarding infrastructure development, Sheikh Hasina defended the government`s spending on road construction, saying, "Some people question why so much money is spent on building roads in Bangladesh. They have no idea about our soil. Our soil is soft. If we want to do anything here, it takes more than two or three days."
She further elaborated, "We are modernizing roads by lifting soil. When roads are elevated, costs naturally rise. The softer the soil, the higher the cost. It`s natural. There`s nothing to question about it."
Responding to criticisms about the Metro Rail project, the Prime Minister pointed out its significance. "Why was the Metro Rail necessary? With an investment of 3,000 crores, it provides a hassle-free commute. Today, 60,000 people can travel by Metro every hour. Those who criticized it are now feeling ashamed," she stated.
Comparing the development initiatives of her government with previous ones, Sheikh Hasina highlighted the progress made. "In fifteen years, we have achieved what others couldn`t in twenty-one years. They couldn`t and won`t be able to. Projects used to eat up funds before, but now we complete projects without extra costs," she affirmed.
Addressing critics of her government, the Prime Minister emphasized their focus on national welfare. "We work with the goal of public welfare. People will enjoy, while others will continue with their criticisms and questions. Before raising questions, they should ask themselves what they have done. Starting from the narrative of their party, they should contemplate the misdeeds," she asserted.
Sheikh Hasina`s remarks preceded the speech of the opposition party leader and National Party Chairman GM Kader. The session was chaired by the Speaker of the National Parliament, Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury.
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