DHAKA, Jan 15, 2024 (BSS) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today issued

directive to ensure transparency and accountability in all areas, including
public procurement, saying any kind of corruption and irregularity will not
be tolerated.

"Alongside ensuring transparency and accountability, special attention has to
be given to government revenue, expenditure and procurement. I will not
tolerate any kind of corruption-irregularity here," she said.

The Premier made this directive while delivering introductory speech of the
maiden cabinet meeting of the new government formed after the 12th
parliamentary election.

Awami League won the polls held on January 7 with landslide victory, which
paved its way to form cabinet for the fourth consecutive term. Besides,
Sheikh Hasina became Prime Minister for the historic fifth time as well as
her consecutive fourth term after her party won the national election.

Mentioning that corruption is not good for the country, she said that "We
will utilise whatever resources we have appropriately, and we will move ahead
maintaining financial discipline."

Sheikh Hasina went on, "Our resources are limited but population is large. We
have to do the welfare of the people with our limited resources."

Directing the authorities concerned to ensure transparency in the social
security sector, the head of the government said that attention should also
be given to make sure that eligible people get the old- age allowance and
social security allowance.

She also asked the concerned authorities to take measures for controlling
drug abuse.

The Prime Minister also re-issued her directive to check wastage of public
money, even in taking up any kind of development project and maintain
austerity in every sphere of life.

She asked the concerned authorities to put the price manipulators under
strict supervision.

In this connection, Sheikh Hasina said that Ramadan is coming and a specific
number of companies import food products.

She added, "They always want to play a game here. In that case we have to
take our own preparations."

The premier said prices of products -- that are needed most during the
Ramadan -- should be kept under tolerable range and their availability should
be ensured in the market through uninterrupted supply chain.

She went on "appropriate measures should be taken in this regard."

Sheikh Hasina, also the President of ruling Awami League, put emphasis on the
implementation of the election pledges.

She asked to diversify the export items and search for new markets.

Regarding the inflation, the Prime Minister said although the prices of
various products are high but there is no shortage of those.

She laid emphasis on keeping the inflation less than the growth as only then
the common people of Bangladesh will get its benefits.

Sheikh Hasina said that the government since 2009 has been able to bring down
inflation and food inflation, which was around 12 percent, to nine percent.
"All others fell to 8 percent. But we have to reduce it further," she added.