DHAKA: The government is working to reduce the gap between urban and rural areas through boosting the rural economy, the Prime Minister told parliament Wednesday, citing a revised pro-poor development recipe.

“The amended second poverty reduction strategy paper (PRSP) has already been introduced as ‘initiatives for changing the day’ to strengthen the rural economy,” Sheikh Hasina said while replying to a query from Abdul Latif MP.

The objective of the PRSP is to attain higher growth by reducing regional discrimination and poverty in parallel, she added.

She mentioned that a total of 55 projects in different sectors are under implementation through the revised Annul Development Programme (ADP) in the current fiscal.

Another 12 projects are under process. Those are Rural infrastructure development, Rehabilitation in Aila-affected areas, Optical fiber installation in 1000 union parishads, Rural water supply and Rural electricity extension.

In reply to another query from Jhalkati-1 MP Bazlul Haque Harun, Sheikh Hasina said the government would set up fire stations in every Upazila to strengthen the fire service and civil defense department.

“Two projects have been taken up at a cost about Tk 259 crore to procure latest firefighting equipment,” she added.

The parliament session, now devoted to discussions on the new budget in the final stages, started at around 11am with deputy speaker Shawkat Ali in the chair.

BDST: 1332 Hrs, June 23, 2010
Corr./BK/SA/AK/SMS/MUA