Dhaka/

Planning Minister MA Mannan has commented on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as the ‘Mahathir of Bangladesh’. He said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina started development in Bangladesh under much worse conditions than the conditions under which development started in Malaysia under the leadership of Mahathir. Social stability and sustainable development need the continuity of Sheikh Hasina’s leadership.

The minister made these comments during a round table discussion on investment in the infrastructure sector on Saturday. International Chamber of Commerce, Bangladesh (ICCB) organized this discussion meeting at Hotel Westin in the capital. Mahbubur Rahman, president of the organization conducted the meeting. Businessmen and infrastructure development experts from various sectors participated in the discussion.

The Planning Minister said that the World Bank did not give money for the construction of Padma Bridge. The bridge has been built in its own way. The Prime Minister presented a picture of the Padma bridge to the World Bank and explained, ‘Don’t give money, I have seen this.’

He said, in a meeting with the World Bank, the Prime Minister said, ‘We take loans, we pay them back with interest. Why do you give so many conditions?

MA Mannan said that loans have long been called assistance. Loan Bangla has been assisted. But the interest actually has to be paid.

Recently the British magazine The Economist referred to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasin as the ‘Iron Lady’ of Asia. Mentioning this topic, MA Mannan said that the people of her country used to honor former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as Iron Lady. Some people in the country may have objection to calling Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Iron Lady. The government sees such opinions as an exercise of democracy.

The keynote speaker in the discussion was the professor of Bangladesh University of Engineering, Director of Accident Research Institute (ARI). Shamsul Haq. Among others, the former Chief Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office Abul Kalam Azad, Vice President of ICC and Managing Director of Ha-Meem Group A. K. Azad, Mir Nasir Hossain, former president of FBCCI, an apex business organization, Fazlul Haque, former president of BKMEA, the association of manufacturers and exporters of ready-made garments, barrister Samir A Sattar, president of Dhaka Chamber, Abul Kashem Khan, former president of the organization, Mustafa, former director general of Bangladesh Development Research Institute, BIDS. K Mujeri, American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (Amchem) President Syed Ershad Ahmed, Dhaka Bank Chairman Abdul Hai Sarkar.