PM urges all to maintain austerity in using electricity

• Maintain austerity in using electricity
• Be alert to face impacts on products that we do not produce
• If any project profits, the amount must be deposited to state coffer
• Install sound breakers in front of hospitals to minimise sound pollution
• Ensuring adequate car parkings at metro rail stations

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged all, including the stakeholders in public and private sectors, to maintain austerity in all fields, including power consumption, in the wake of global inflation.

"If all could pursue austerity, the country would benefit [from it]," said the premier while chairing the first meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Eenec) in the current fiscal year yesterday.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan said the prime minister, who joined the Ecnec meeting virtually from Gonobhaban, has urged everyone to maintain austerity in all spheres of life.

"Let us all maintain austerity; the prime minister has asked the government machinery, including bureaucracy, and common citizens to maintain austerity," he added.

The planning minister said Bangladesh is being affected by the current global situation as well as the price hike of fuel oil.

"We will have to remain alert to face the impact on products that we do not produce. The prime minister has mainly suggested that as the reason for maintaining austerity," he said.

The prime minister has also suggested stopping misuse of utilities, State Minister for Planning Dr Shamsul Alam said. She had earlier suggested not wearing suites at offices in summer and not operating air conditioners in government offices below a certain temperature.

While giving approval to a gas supply project to Mymensingh Combined Cycle Power Plant, the premier said if any project gains profit, the amount should have to be deposited to the state coffer.

The PM also suggested installing sound breakers in front of establishments like hospitals to minimise sound pollution, and ensuring adequate car parkings in the landing stations of metro rail, said the state minister.

The planning minister said Sheikh Hasina has asked the Local Government Division to remain alert so that due standard is maintained in the construction of rural roads, culverts and bridges. He said more projects would be taken for the development of flood-affected areas.

Mannan said the government has noticed that prices of some items like rice and edible oil are on the downtrend which indicates that inflation would decline in the coming days.

He said the Ecnec meeting also discussed in details about distributing seeds, fertilisers and pesticides free of cost among marginal farmers so that they could yield a good harvest in future.