Poverty rate to be brought down to a level less than US: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the government's target is to bring down the country's poverty rate to a level less than what the USA has.

"At present, we've brought down the poverty rate to 21.8 percent. I've a target to reduce it further. The poverty rate in the USA may be 17/18 percent. I'll have to cut down it to at least one percent less than that in the USA, at any cost," she said.

The Prime Minister made the remarks while addressing the closing ceremony of the 110th, 111th and 112th Law and Administration Courses at Bangladesh Civil Service Administration Academy here.

She urged the public servants to cope with the constantly changing technology and environment at workplaces. "The present world is changing constantly with invention of new technology. Many changes occur also at workplaces. You've to catch up with it," she said.

Sheikh Hasina, also the Public Administration Minister, asked the civil servants to render services showing affection and love for the country and its people.

"It's not only doing job just for job. If you nurture the feelings of responsibility, patriotism and affection for the country and its people, and accountability in your mind, the country will surely prosper," she said.

About the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the 2019-20fiscal year, the Prime Minister said now the government has undertaken development projects involving Tk 2.02 lakh crore which was merely Tk 19,000 crore in the past.

Referring to the development projects she said, "You'll have to pay greater attention to your duties always so that militancy, terrorism corruption and drug can't destroy our society."

Bangladesh Awami League was founded to establish the rights of people. "That's why the fate of people is changed (improved)when AL comes to power," she said.

State Minister for Public Administration Ministry Farhad Hossain, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Administration Ministry HN Ashequr Rahman, Public Administration Secretary Faiz Ahmed and Rector of the Bangladesh Civil Service Administration Academy Kazi Rowshan Akhter also spoke at the programme.

Earlier, the prime minister distributed certificates among participants of the courses.