DHAKA: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her optimism saying that Bangladesh will become a middle income nation before 2021.

She made the hope while inaugurating the project of developing the domestic airport in Cox’s Bazar to an international level.

The PM was talking in a video conference from her office in city on Thursday.

Civil aviation and tourism minister Rashed Khan Menon was staying in Cox’s Bazar during the conference.

The premier said that her incumbent government had been leading the nation amid various violent attacks.

‘Those violent attacks could not sloth the wheel of the country’s economy. This is our achievement,’ she added.

Regarding rehabilitation of the people, who will be evicted due to the expansion of the airport, the PM said that the government will do its duty properly in Cox’s Bazar too as they did it earlier in other projects.

She also recalled her sweet memories with her father over their familial tour in Cox’s Bazar.

Meanwhile, the World Bank (WD) has upgraded Bangladesh to a lower middle-income country from a lower-income country.

Apart from Bangladesh, three other countries --Kenya, Myanmar, and Tajikistan -- now become lower-middle income countries, joining those with annual incomes of $1,046 to $4,125, according to the latest data published by the WB Wednesday.

BDST: 1256 HRS, JULY 02, 2015
RR/SMS