DHAKA, May 29, 2022 (BSS) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said her government has been working in planned way to ensure its main priority for overall development of the country.

"My party, Awami League, has prioritised the overall development of the country especially rural areas as desired uplift is impossible leaving the grassroots people behind," she said.

The premier made this remark while receiving "Azizul Haque Polli Unnayan Padak-2021 (Azizul Haque Rural Development Award-2021)" at a ceremony at her official residence Ganabhaban here.

Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) has honoured the prime minister with this prestigious award in recognition of her contribution to rural development.

CIRDAP Director General Dr. Cherdsak Virapat handed over the award to the prime minister.

Sheikh Hasina said it is the belief of her government that the country would achieve desired development and prosperity, once rural development is ensured.

She said Awami League had drawn up necessary plan even when it was outside of the state power and that is why, after coming to power, it has been able to take the country ahead through working as per its plan.

About "Amar Bari, Amar Khamar" (My Home, My Farm) project, the head of the government said that her brain child project helped in creating employment opportunities for the unemployed poor people and thereby ensured their socio-economic development.

To this end, she mentioned the digital centre that started from a remote area named Char Kukri Mukri.

She added the government is now implementing the programme "My Home, My Farm" so that the people living in rural areas could stand on their own feet and create employment opportunities for others.

Sheikh Hasina also referred to contribution of the community clinics to providing healthcare facilities to the doorsteps of the rural people.

She also highlighted various achievements of her government including establishment of digital Bangladesh, setting up of at least one educational institution in two kilometres of a locality, and reaching health care services at the door steps of the people.

She continued: "To ensure education for all, the government is establishing one primary school in every two kilometres so that children could go to the school on foot."

Following the footsteps of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the premier said her government has made education free of cost, provided stipends, sub-stipends and other supports to the students.

She mentioned that the government has also ensured safe drinking water and standard sanitation facilities for the rural people as well as other basic needs including health care, education and housing.

"We are almost reaching cent percent sanitation and pure drinking water to the people," she added, mentioning that cent percent children are now going to school.

To ensure the basic rights of people, Sheikh Hasina said the poor homeless people are being provided houses with ownership of land so they can find employments.

She said her government is also giving various allowances to the poor distressed people for maintaining their livelihoods.

The prime minister thanked the CIRDAP and its board of directors for honouring her with the "Azizul Haque Polli Unnayan Padak-2021" and dedicated the award to the countrymen.

"I think people of Bangladesh are the recipients of this award and I am dedicating this to them. I think nominating for this award means that Bangladesh is nominated for the award," she added.

The premier also said CIRDAP is always working on rural development in their respective countries, adding, "Getting an award from there is just as highly honourable for me as well as for my country."