Hasina for unchanged WB dev policies

Wallich agreed to Sheikh Hasina's proposal for balanced development in all the 300 constituencies of Bangladesh, without discrimination on political considerations. The meeting was held at Hasina's Sudha Sadan residence in the city.

"The government may change but that does not mean that development polices will have to be changed," political secretary to the AL chief, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, told reporters quoting Sheikh Hasina. "The AL chief identified development as a continuous process," Saber said adding that Wallich welcomed the AL chief's suggestion. The opposition leader told Wallich that after assuming power the present government halted several development programmes initiated by the previous AL government, Saber said.

AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil, Member of the Advisory Council A M A Muhit and Jawadul Karim, press adviser to the party president, aided Sheikh Hasina during the meeting. Wallich told reporters after the meeting that she discussed different issues including Bangladesh's economic programmes and poverty alleviation strategies.

There was no discussion on political issues and export of natural gas, she said.

Saber told reporters that the previous AL government established about 12,000 community health clinics for rural people. He said another 6,000 clinics were in the process of being set up, but after coming to power the present government stopped the process. The meeting also discussed shutdown of state-owned mills and industries. The AL position on the issue is that before closing down a factory the government should identify the reasons behind its incurring losses and take the initiative to make it profitable, Saber said.

There might be problems in the factories, but wholesale closing is not the answer, the AL representatives observed at the meeting. Saber said Hasina stressed the need for investment in the social sectors like health and education.

Saber Hossain Chowdhury said Wallich expressed concern over corruption in the government when the issue was raised at the meeting.

Saber said the AL would develop relations with all donor countries and agencies through dialogue and opinion-sharing. "Such an effort will help both sides -- the donors will be informed of the main opposition's expectations and at the same time the AL can familiarise itself with their views on the country's development programmes," he added.