The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Finance and Planning Adviser Dr AB Mirza Md Azizul Islam yesterday said that the government has taken various measures for ensuring equitable growth and development in the country.

"We have constituted committees to prepare reports for addressing poverty and removal of disproportionate growth in different areas of the country through Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP)," he said as chief guest at a seminar on ' Importance of Local and Regional Planning to Achieve PRSP' organised by Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) at its auditorium in the city.

Prof Dr Sarwar Jahan, president, BIP presided over and Prof Dr AMM Shafiullah, Vice Chancellor, BUET also addressed it as special guest.

Prof Dr Salim Rashid of the Economics Department of Illinois University of USA presented keynote paper and Prof Dr AKM Abul Kalam, general secretary of BIP delivered the welcome speech.

Terming poverty as one of the hindrance to development the Finance and Planning Adviser said that as part of social safety net the government was planning to allocate necessary funds for poverty stricken people in the northern districts of the country.

He said that poverty and disproportionate growth in different areas of the country were causing inequitable developments.

Mentioning vulnerability to natural disaster as causing poverty the Finance and Planning Adviser said the government is taking projects by its own efforts for adaptation and mitigation of natural disaster. He said that an inclusive process was needed for narrowing the gap between development and disproportionate growth in different regions of the country.

Prof Dr Salim Rashid laid emphasis on pro- poor growth in the PRSP for maximising the employment of the marginalised people.

He said that political situation has to be developed for attaining high economic growth.

He suggested to built up Compact Township in the country with a view to save the country's precious arable land.

"Every year we are losing one and half to two per cent of agriculture land due to unplanned urbanisation," he said.

Prof Dr AMM Shafiullah highlighted proper planning concepts to address issues relating to multiple development purposes of the country.