Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday asked the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development (LGRD) and Cooperatives to work out a master plan for every upazila for protecting cultivable lands and checking the unplanned construction of buildings,  roads and houses on croplands.

‘If we design a master plan for every upazila setting aside places for fields, schools and colleges, small industrial estates and cultivable lands. If we can do it properly, people will accept (follow) it. I think we need to do such works,’ she said while visiting the LGRD and Cooperatives Ministry at the Secretariat in the city.

‘If we go ahead formulating master plans for grassroots levels as well, we’ll be able to gain faster development,’ said the Prime Minister.

She directed the officials of the LGRD and Cooperative Ministry to perform their duties properly so that Bangladesh can go far gaining further success in poverty alleviation. ‘Our country will march forward quicker, when we’ll get rid of poverty.’

Mentioning that Bangladesh is a very densely populated country, Sheikh Hasina said it is a big challenge to fulfill all the demands of so many people living in a small area. ‘But, we’ll have to do that.’

LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Md Tajul Islam delivered the welcome speech, while State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Swapan Bhattacharya, PM’s Principal Secretary Md Nojibur Rahman, Local Government Division Senior Secretary SM Ghulam Farooque, and other high officials of the ministry and the Prime Minister’s Office were present.