Planning Minister MA Mannan urged the government officials to fully concentrate on their work which he said was greatly contributing to the massive development of the nation.
The minister was speaking in the context of the recent news report by the Qatar-based Al Jazeera television channel on Thursday and said that the progress on the development work cannot be slowed down or stopped by rumours and conspiracies from outside.
He said, “Close the doors and windows and concentrate on your work. There is no need to worry what is happening about outside. Don't leave work. Complete the day’s job,” he mentioned.
The Planning Minister came up with the statement while speaking as the chief guest at a consultation workshop at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) in the capital.
The workshop titled, “To Discuss and Validate Sector Re-Classification of ADP,” was organized by the Activities Department of the Planning Commission. Planning Secretary Zainul Bari presided over the workshop.
Saiduzzaman, Joint Chief of activities department, also presented the keynote paper.
MA Mannan said, “All the ministries and departments of the government have the same status. There is no such thing as super ministry and super division. But
there is a super minister. She is our team leader, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.”
“We are moving forward under her leadership, he said adding that, here the Ministry of Planning cannot warn anyone or instruct any other ministry.
“We will all work together. We must seize the opportunity we have. The country is ready now. The problems we have will be solved through discussion,” he mentioned.
He said that Japan is not only our development partner, but also a good friend. At the same time, we have regional and cultural similarities.
According to the workshop, the Ministry of Finance is currently allocating budget under 14 sectors. On the other hand, 17 sectors are being given allocation in the Annual Development Program (ADP) of the Planning Commission.
There is a kind of complication in this. Initiatives have been taken to overcome this bottleneck.
Dr Shamsul Alam said, “The government is one, the budget is one, but the sector is different. The problem may not last long.”
“We should be able to find solutions to the problems,” he said adding, “We are trying to make the sectors one through a five-year plan. Otherwise, there may be confusion in economic management. It's a good initiative,” he mentioned.
Zainul Bari said, “We want to create a unified structure in a budget, so that there is no difference between the budget and the ADP.”
Zakir Hossain Akanda said, “I have had this problem since the beginning of my working life. It is important to solve this sector -related problem in the interests of creating a beautiful ADP.”
“At the beginning of the formation of the Planning Commission, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka had various problems,” he said adding, “They have solved them gradually. We can do it too.”
DrShamsul Alam, senior secretary and member of General Economics Division at Planning Commission, Planning Commission members Zakir Hossain Akanda, Mamun Al Rashid, Moshammat Nasima Begum, Ramdrenath Biswas, Khandaker Ahsan Hossain, head of activities department and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Chief Representative HAYAKAWA Yuho were also present at the program.
