The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, Saturday came down heavily on the 'National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports', posing the question: who is more patriotic and thinks more for the country's welfare than her?
'My question: who is more patriotic and look after the interest of the country more than me?' Hasina said while laying the foundation stone of the head office building of the Board of Investment at Agargaon in the city.
Without mentioning any name, she indicated that the 'National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports' which is opposing the government's signing of a production sharing contract with an American oil company.
The government on Thursday inked the deal with ConocoPhillips for exploring oil and gas from two deep-sea blocks in the Bay of Bengal.
The US oil company won the two deep-sea blocks — DS 08-10 and DS-11 — after taking part in an international tender floated by Petrobangla in 2008.
The PSC allows ConocoPhillips to conduct exploration in the undisputed part of the two blocks that cover an area of 5,158 square kilometres. The two blocks are located at a distance of about 280 kilometres from the port city of Chittagong.
The prime minister said these groups often cry out loud in the name of protecting the interest of the country. 'Where were they when there was no production of electricity and no gas exploration? Investors were waiting for years to go into production as there was no gas and electricity supply.'
She said: 'These groups were silent when the previous governments did not do anything for the development of the country. When we are moving forward they are opposing us.'
Hasina categorically assured that the present government would not do anything against the interest of the country and welfare of the people.
She said that her government, soon after taking the office, had given priority to creating investment-friendly environment in the country to attract foreign direct investment and simplified the investment related laws and rules.
The premier said despite resource constraints, the government was providing money for implementing massive development projects in the infrastructure and service sectors.
She informed that various industries, mills and factories would be set up in different corners of the country by establishing seven economic zones in the seven divisions.
The government, she said, has formulated the National Industrial Policy identifying 32 sectors that include agricultural products, readymade garments, shipbuilding, tourism, ICT goods and services, jute and leather goods, plastic goods, and ceramics industry as the thrust sectors. Investment incentives are being given to these sectors.
Hasina said the public-private-partnership policy had been formulated to encourage private investments in infrastructures and in service sectors while tax holiday facilities had been ensured for 17 sectors in the proposed national budget for the next fiscal (2011-12).
She said: 'Bangladesh has become the most attractive investment destination in South Asia for the foreign investors and as a result foreign direct investment is increasing gradually.'
Despite worldwide decline in investment flow in the recent years caused by economic recession in the developed countries, Bangladesh got over $910 million FDI in 2010 alone, she mentioned.
The prime minister said foreign investors become attracted to investment in Bangladesh due to its geographical location, cheap and easily trainable labour, easy regional connectivity, increasing domestic market and attractive incentive package.
As the country's image has brightened following the establishment of good governance, she urged the foreign investors to invest more in Bangladesh.
Hasina said the present government had provided two incentive packages to the export sector to cope with the negative impacts of world economic recession.
She said two closed jute mills had been reopened through reviving the BJMC and five more jute mills will be reopened soon. As a result, jute, the golden fibre of Bangladesh, has regained its past glory.
State minister for housing and public works Abdul Mannan Khan and BoI executive chairman SA Samad also addressed the function, chaired by the Secretary in-charge of the housing and public works ministry.
The Public Works Department is implementing the 14-storey BoI head office building project at an estimated cost of around Tk 100 crore from the government's own resources.
Source: New Age
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