Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina said that those who criticize - it is a pity that they do not present the correct information to the nation. It is their character to mislead people with false information against the country. It seems that the people of Bangladesh get frustrated when they see socio-economic development.
She said these things in her address to the nation on the occasion of the 12th JS elections on Thursday (January 4) evening.
She said, there is a huge gap between Bangladesh 15 years ago and today's Bangladesh. People's quality of life has improved. People today dream of a better life. They dream and live beautifully.
The Prime Minister said that in 2006, the last year of the BNP-Jamaat coalition government, how was the socio-economic condition of Bangladesh; And what progress has been achieved during the Awami League government from 2009 to 2023, I am presenting the picture:
She also said that the growth rate is 7.25 percent, the per capita income has increased by 5 times. 12 times increase in budget size. Annual development program 13 times increase. 12 times increase in GDP size. 36 times increase in foreign exchange reserves. 5 times increase in export earnings. 6 times increase in annual remittance. Foreign Investment FDI 5 times increase. A 3-fold increase in the purchasing power of an agricultural laborer. Wages of workers increased 9 times. 36 times increase in foreign exchange reserves. 5 times increase in export earnings.
Pointing out that the poverty rate has been reduced from 41.51 percent to 18.7 percent, she said, the ultra poverty rate has reduced by 5 times. Pure drinking water increased from 55 percent to 98.8 percent. Sanitary latrines increased from 43.28 percent to 97.32 percent. Infant mortality rate decreased from 84 per thousand to 21. Maternal mortality decreased from 360 per lakh to 156. The average human lifespan is 72.8 years.
Stating that the power generation capacity has been increased by 8 times, the Prime Minister said that the electricity consumption rate has increased from 28 percent to 100 percent. Literacy rate increased to 76.8 percent. 22 times increase in technical education. 4 times increase in grain production.
We have built Padma Bridge with our own funding. We launched metro rail in Dhaka, constructed an elevated expressway, and inaugurated subway operations. We set up the country's first nuclear power plant at Rooppur. The third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport has been inaugurated. We have constructed South Asia's first underground road - 'Bangabandhu Tunnel' in Chattogram.
She also said, we have established the Dhaka-Cox's Bazar rail route by establishing a beautiful railway station in Cox's Bazar. 'Bangabandhu Satellite-1' has been launched. In any economic index, the economy of Bangladesh has excelled in 2023 with a multifold growth compared to 2009. In 2009, the GDP was only 102 billion US dollars. In 2023, the GDP will increase to more than 450 billion US dollars.
The prime minister said that during the Awami League government, the total amount of bank loans increased more than 7 times. As of June 2009, there were bad loans of Tk. 22,000 crore; which is 10.5 percent of the total loan. At the end of September 2023, there were bad loans of Tk. 1 lakh 55 thousand crores; which is 9.9 percent of the total disbursed loans.