Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked engineers to work out a master plan for each upazila so that people could avail themselves of all public services from one point.

She came up with the instruction while inaugurating the four-day 56th convention of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB), held at the capital's IEB centre, with the theme "Engineers for Sustainable Development".

Hasina suggested keeping a provision of water bodies or ponds before taking plans and constructing large structures, and also playgrounds and walkways before constructing any big housing complexes.

She also sought all-out cooperation from engineers in attaining seven percent GDP growth this fiscal year saying that the key to development is in their hands and steering the country towards progress depends on their skills, sincerity and quick implementation of projects.

"When you formulate a plan, please make sure it does not entail high costs…it should be inexpensive and serve the maximum number of people," the premier urged.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina bestows IEB gold medals on Prof AMM Shafiulla, vice-chancellor of Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology for their contributions to their respective fields at the inauguration of the 56th convention of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, held at the capital's IEB auditorium yesterday. Photos: PID

She said building a poverty-free nation is not possible without educated people and the government gives top priority to education, especially multipurpose vocational education.

Earlier, Hasina awarded IEB gold medals to Prof AMM Shafiulla, vice-chancellor of the Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, and Nurul Huda, former Rujuk chairman, two eminent engineers, for their contributions to their respective fields.

She also inaugurated a 15-storey IEB Bhaban.