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Online Reporter/

Planning Minister MA Mannan made it clear that Bangladesh does not need any other country’s ‘matabbri’. He said, ‘We want to work seamlessly as much as the Creator has given us. We have no need for matabbari. There are many Matabbars in the world, walking around, giving advice to people. Because they have the same meaning as mountains in their house. We also understand a little about where the source of that money is.

He said these things while addressing a seminar organized by the National Skills Development Authority (NSDA) at the Investment Development Authority (BIDA) conference hall of Agargaon in the capital on Sunday on the occasion of ‘World Youth Skills Day’.

NSDA Executive Chairman Nasir Afroz chaired the meeting as special guest FBCCI President Md. Jasim Uddin.

The minister said, “I will sit and drink tea with my friends and listen to them. It is all right.” But friends will manage us? I know where I’m hungry. I feel where our feet hurt. We will make our own way. We understand our own good and bad. We have leadership, we have faith.

Minister Mannan pointed to various Western countries who made various statements about Bangladesh elections and said, “Let us do our work.” This is our appeal to the people of our country. Those who are coming into the world are our friends… come as friends, of course friends, I believe. I have no fear. Our request to them also, you let us work.

He asked what has not been achieved in any field including education, health, agriculture since the formation of the government in 2009 and said that people are surprised. How are these? This Bangladesh was a Bubuksu nation two days ago. How did it achieve this?

Mannan highlighted the progress in many indicators of development and said, “We have progressed in the signing of cotton, electricity distribution of our big neighbor.” Bangladesh has progressed in every field including women’s participation in society, business and trade.

Mentioning that development is the main task at the moment, he said, we have many problems. Poverty is our main problem. Mentally and culturally backward in thinking. We need to acquire not only physical skills but also mental skills. We have owned our country for only 50 years. So we could not think about our country.

At that time, highlighting the progress of the Awami League government, the minister said, ‘In the last 15 years, our per capita income has increased five times, national production has increased five times. Road-bridges have increased manifold; Electricity is unthinkable. Is this something to deny? Hunger in our country has not decreased a little during our regime? Poverty is not reduced a little? Where is the injustice in admitting it?’

He mentioned the need for a stable environment for development and said, “Sheikh Hasina has got the opportunity to work consistently as a result of her strong leadership in the last 14 years.” We worked with him. That is why we have solved many problems.