Chief Coordinator for SDG Affairs at the Prime Minister’s Office Professor Dr SM Abdul Awal has called for proactive involvement of field-level administration to ensure the effective implementation of the Prime Minister’s signature development projects.
Speaking as the chief guest at a views-exchange with divisional and district officials held at the Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner’s conference room on Monday, he said that shortcomings in grassroots implementation are a key reason behind reduced effectiveness of government initiatives. He stressed the need for strict monitoring so that projects undertaken for public welfare are not delayed or obstructed.
Dr Abdul Awal said he had been directed by the Prime Minister to visit Rajshahi to oversee progress on several flagship programmes being implemented across the country. He underscored that these initiatives require continuous supervision and coordination between administrative bodies to achieve desired outcomes.
The list of signature projects includes Family Card and Farmer Card programmes, canal excavation works, recruitment of 1 lakh health workers, youth employment initiatives, large-scale tree plantation drives involving 250 million saplings, and allowances for khatibs, imams, muezzins and heads of religious institutions.
Other initiatives include developing sports as a profession, revitalising cooperatives, establishing regional e-commerce hubs, setting up an agricultural export zone in the northern region, strengthening livestock and fisheries sectors, promoting entrepreneurship and startups, and creating an agricultural entrepreneur platform.
He said the government’s development philosophy is rooted in “Bangladeshi nationalism,” adding that citizens from all religious communities - Hindus, Buddhists and Christians - are equal stakeholders in national progress.
The SDG coordinator also instructed upazila executive officers to handle religious allowance programmes responsibly and ensure smooth implementation. He urged preparation of socio-economic reports on indigenous communities and called for further review of canal excavation challenges.
Highlighting healthcare initiatives, he said recruitment of health workers at union level and strengthening of health complexes are essential for improving rural healthcare delivery.
He added that the Family Card programme not only provides financial assistance of Tk2,500 per family but also encourages savings, increases purchasing power, and stimulates market demand, which in turn supports employment generation.
The meeting was chaired by Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Dr ANM Bazlur Rashid.
Senior police and administrative officials, including Rajshahi Range DIG Mohammad Shahjahan and Deputy Commissioner Kazi Shahidul Islam, were also present at the meeting.
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