'Solving all problems in 7 months is difficult, but restructuring is ongoing'

It has been seven months since the government took responsibility. After various damages of 16 long years, it is difficult to solve all of the country's problems fully in such a short time. However, the government is making its highest effort to rebuild the state anew—this is what Mahdi Amin, spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office, said.

He claimed that sincerity and goodwill are visible in every step of this government, which was elected by the people's votes and is accountable to constituents. Gas supply in the country has increased following the prime minister's directives. This positive trend will continue in the coming days.

Mahdi Amin remarks came at a briefing held at the Prime Minister's Office in Tejgaon in the capital today (Wednesday), marking the government's completion of seven months.

The prime minister's advisor said the prime minister has directed quick action to normalize gas supply to industries and factories and to keep the economy's progress going. Visible improvement in gas flow has already been noticed. There will be further improvement ahead.

Plan to increase Floating LNG terminal to 5

Mahdi Amin said a program to drill 150 new wells across the country has begun to permanently solve the gas crisis. There are plans to drill another 150 wells in the next phase.

He also said there is a plan to gradually increase the currently existing two floating LNG terminals (FSRUs) to five to increase LNG supply. At the same time, efforts are underway to launch the third FSRU before 2028.

In-principle approval has been given to import 18 cargoes of LNG through global institutions under the direct purchase method. Mahdi Amin mentioned that work on international financing has also begun to expand the Eastern Refinery in Chattogram.

He also said that after fixing technical faults in the power sector, 1,046.73 megawatts of electricity have been reconnected to the national grid. Mahdi Amin also mentioned adding 200 megawatts of new solar power to the national grid.

The government's 7 steps in the past month

The spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office also highlighted various steps taken by the government over the past month. These initiatives can be seen in seven major categories. Among them are youth empowerment, education and information technology, public welfare and quality-of-life improvement, women's advancement and social protection, environmentally friendly fuel, health infrastructure, communication and traffic management, and good governance and foreign relations.

Mentioning the approval of a new national pay scale for government officers and employees, Mahdi Amin said the minimum salary has been set at Tk 20,000 and the maximum at Tk 1,56,000. He also said net pensions for retirees have been increased by up to 100 percent, along with a monthly allowance of Tk 3,000 for children with special needs.

In addition, he highlighted various initiatives such as transparency in land management, professional protection for journalists, expansion of social protection programs such as family cards and farmer cards, welfare of tea workers, and making services easier for expatriates.
Initiatives for women's education and security

Mahdi Amin said a joint institutional framework is being created with the International Cyber Security Network to prevent cyber harassment and violence against women.

He also said there are plans to ensure universal stipends for female students at the primary and secondary levels and nutritious food in schools.

The spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office also said an initiative has been taken to provide modern raincoats to 20,000 tea workers in Sylhet, Moulvibazar, and Habiganj.

15-storey specialized hospitals in 8 cities

Mahdi Amin said there are plans to build 15-storey specialized general hospitals in eight divisional cities of the country, including the capital Dhaka.

A policy decision has been made to expand affordable dialysis services in every district and upazila of the country. An initiative has also been taken to increase the number of beds at Bogura Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital to 1,800.

In addition, he said there are plans to build a burn and plastic surgery center at Rangpur Medical College, launch a national e-health platform, and supply emergency medicines and medical equipment to community clinics.

According to Mahdi Amin, 1 crore 97 lakh 71 thousand children have been vaccinated against measles and rubella in the country over the past five months.

New initiatives in communication and traffic management

Mahdi Amin said work has been done on a feasibility study and detailed design for launching an electric train on the Dhaka-Chattogram route.

The prime minister's advisor also highlighted plans to build a four-lane uninterrupted expressway from Dhaka to Chattogram City Gate, expand the Mahanagar Express train on the Dhaka-Cox's Bazar route, and launch a cashless automated toll system within the next four months.

He also said work is underway to shift Karwan Bazar's wholesale vegetable market to Gabtoli and the Fulbaria bus terminal to Keraniganj to reduce traffic congestion in Dhaka.

Hope for positive impact on foreign investment

Mahdi Amin particularly highlighted in the briefing that international credit rating agency Moody's has changed Bangladesh's rating from negative to stable. He claimed this will have a positive impact on foreign investment and employment.

He further said the inflation rate has comparatively decreased, and the rate of increase in food prices has also fallen. At the same time, he claimed the supply situation for daily essential food items has improved compared with before.

Mahdi Amin also said that over the past five months, the government has repaid $204.76 crore, or about Tk 25,163 crore, in principal and interest on foreign loans. He also claimed that remittances increased by 13.1 percent in six months.

He also highlighted the opening of Malaysia's labor market, the creation of new opportunities for Bangladeshi workers in Oman, and the possibility of legal migration of 10,000 Bangladeshi workers to Italy every year.

'One Citizen One IT' project

Highlighting various administrative initiatives of the government, Mahdi Amin said initiatives have been taken to quickly form parliamentary standing committees and hold regular meetings. Work on the "One Citizen One IT" project has also begun to bring various government services for citizens onto one platform.

He said initiatives are underway to transform police stations in 64 district headquarters into modern service systems to make the police people-friendly and service-oriented. He also highlighted plans to gradually introduce biometric attendance in land offices.

In addition, he said various initiatives are underway to modernize the postal department, expand internet infrastructure, add new submarine cable connections, and revive state-owned industrial enterprises.

Jobs for families of 74 martyrs

Mahdi Amin said permanent government appointment letters have been handed over to qualified members of the families of 74 people killed in the July mass uprising.

"The government has stood by the families of army members killed and injured in various accidents. Financial assistance has also been arranged for them," the prime minister's advisor added.

Also present at the briefing were Prime Minister's Press Secretary Saleh Shibli, Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman, Prime Minister's Speech Writer ASM Mahfuzur Rahman, Deputy Press Secretary Zahidul Islam Rony, and officials of the Prime Minister's Office.