Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday urged people to remain vigilant against attempts to create disorder and spread confusion, saying peace and stability are essential for investment, industrialisation and job creation.

“Bangladesh cannot move forward without a peaceful environment,” he said while addressing a programme to rehabilitate recent flood victims at West Banshkhali High School and College ground in Baharchhara union of Banshkhali upazila.

The Prime Minister said both domestic and foreign investors would be reluctant to invest if they feared that factories could not operate smoothly, goods could not be transported to ports or raw materials could not be brought into the country.

“If factories cannot operate properly, is it possible to create employment? No,” he said, urging people to thwart attempts to disrupt peace and stability.

Tarique said Bangladesh had already lost too much time and could no longer afford to lag behind other countries.

“More than 50 years have passed since our independence. Now is the time to work for the people and build the country,” he said.

He said the government’s main focus is to improve people’s lives through employment generation, industrialisation, better education and healthcare, and increased agricultural production.

10-year energy plan

The Prime Minister said the government would place before Parliament a 10-year plan for the energy and power sectors to ensure reliable electricity and gas supplies for homes, industries, educational institutions, hospitals and transport.

Referring to what he described as misleading information about the energy sector, he said those who have alternative proposals should present them to the people instead of creating confusion and unrest.

“Do not create disorder in the country by spreading misleading information. Do not disturb the peace of the people,” he said.

Tarique said the government had inherited an unplanned energy and power system that benefited a limited number of people, and that restructuring it in the public interest would take time.

Jobs, social protection in focus

The Prime Minister said the pilot phase of the Family Card programme had been completed and its official distribution would begin on August 16.

He also announced plans to introduce the Farmers’ Card and bring salt farmers under government support programmes.

Tarique said Bangladesh’s vast maritime resources must be properly utilised to improve livelihoods and create employment.

Earlier in the day, he visited Matarbari in Cox’s Bazar’s Maheshkhali to inspect the deep-sea port, the coal-fired power project and activities of the Maheshkhali Integrated Development Authority.

He said the government wants to establish industries and factories from Matarbari to the wider Chattogram region to create jobs and expand trade.

Referring to discussions with Chinese investors, he said several hundred mills and factories would be established in the region, generating employment and increasing foreign currency earnings.

The increased earnings, he said, would help strengthen the economy and support improvements in education and healthcare.

Flood victims get assistance

Earlier, the Prime Minister handed over keys to newly built houses to flood-affected families in Baharchhara and launched the government’s rehabilitation programme for victims of the recent floods.

He also distributed financial and food assistance among affected people and provided support to 10 children with disabilities.

Tarique said the government wants to transform relief and assistance into sustainable employment by providing training to young people and sending skilled workers abroad when necessary.

“We want to turn every hand into a working hand so that every person can contribute to building the country and change the fortunes of themselves and their families,” he said.

The Prime Minister urged people to reject provocation and remain focused on development.

“Bangladesh will move forward. The people of Bangladesh will change their own fortunes and, at the same time, change the fortunes of the country,” he said.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu, State Minister for Land and Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Mir Mohammed Helal Uddin and local BNP leaders, among others, attended the programme.