Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday asked the authorities concerned to formulate any new township plan keeping in mind the context of at least 20-25 years and the country’s population at that time and its needs to ensure smooth development and avert future complexities.

‘Whenever you (authorities concerned) take any plan, you’ll have to consider what will be the population in the next 20 to 25 years, what will be the extent of economic activities and our need. Now we’ve a mindset of thinking about the present context, but we’ll have think with farsightedness to avert future complexities,’ she said.

The Prime Minister said this in her introductory remarks at a meeting at her office relating to planning on the newly formed Mymensingh Division.

Sheikh Hasina said whenever any new township will be built, there should be enough provisions for water bodies and water reservoirs so that water is easily found in case of any fire incident, addressing water logging problem and protecting the environment.

Asking again the authorities concerned to think about the environmental aspects and geographical location before taking any development plan, Hasina said she has already given specific directives to keep the provision of water bodies or water reservoirs while establishing countrywide economic zones and any township.

The Prime Minister said now the country’s the total population stands at 16 crore, and there is a need for decentralising power further to reach the services to the common people.