Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today sought all-out cooperation from engineers in attaining seven percent GDP growth this fiscal year saying that the key to development is in the hands of engineers.

"We want to attain seven percent GDP growth and for that we've to quickly implement the projects we've taken, and only then we'll be able to reach our target," she said.

The prime minister said this while inaugurating the four-day 56th convention of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB).

The inaugural session of the convention was held at the IEB with its president Engineer M Kabir Ahmed Bhuiyan in the chair. The theme of the convention is 'Engineers for Sustainable Development'.

Sheikh Hasina said her government wants to steer the country towards progress fast and it partly depends on the skills and sincerity of engineers, and quick implementation of projects.

The prime minister urged the engineers to undertake development plans in a planned way to serve the country's maximum number of people with minimum expenditures. "When you'll formulate a plan, please make it sure it doesn't entail high cost…it should be less expensive and serve the maximum number of people."

Hasina said it is her government's prime aim to change the fate of the country's neglected people. "And we're working tirelessly to achieve that goal."