Khulna: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said Bangladesh’s position has improved in the world corruption index as the government took various steps to eliminate corruption.

‘After coming to power in 2009, the government tried to eliminate corruption from Bangladesh. Now Bangladesh got its recognition, Bangladesh advanced two steps in removing corruption,’ she said.

Sheikh Hasina was speaking at the 58th Convention of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) at Khalishpur here, reports the UNB.

During the BNP-Jamaat regime, she said, Bangladesh was on top of the world corruption index for five consecutive years.

Hasina said the government has taken steps so that the rule of law could be established.

‘We’ve taken proper steps so that people can get benefits of the rule of law,’ she said.

The PM also said the government has taken various measurers against militancy, terrorism and drug abuse.

Recently, Transparency International in its corruption perceptions index said Bangladesh has progressed by two positions and ranked 143rd out of 180 in the ascending order on the list of the most corrupt countries in the world in 2017. The country placed 17th on the descending list.

The Berlin-based organisation also revealed that Bangladesh scored 28 on scale of 0 to 100.

According to the data, Bangladesh ranked 15th, 13th, 14th, 16th, and 13th in 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, and 2012 respectively.

The Prime Minister urged the engineers to play more proactive role with their professional competence, honesty and sincerity to implement the development plans of the government. ‘The main responsibility of implementing the development activities of the government is entrusted upon you.’

She urged the engineers to devote themselves to the development of innovative strategies and technology to invent alternate energy, energy efficient technology and low-cost homes considering resource constraint.

Hasina also urged them to give importance to environment-friendly infrastructure and technologies used to minimise losses of earthquake and disasters to make the development works sustainable.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina assured of extending all support to the EIB saying the Awami League government always remained beside them.

She said Bangladesh is no longer lags behind in the areas of science and technology. ‘Bangladesh is now a role model of development with 7.28 percent growth last fiscal year.’

The Prime Minister also sought support of everybody to build Bangladesh as a country free from poverty and hunger.

She also distributed awards among engineers for their outstanding contributions to different areas, and also conferred degrees on successful students of vocational, masters and diploma engineering courses.

EIB President Kabir Ahmed Bhuiyan presided over the function while its General Secretary Abdus Sabur and its Khulna centre Chairman Abdullah Sadik and president of convention preparatory committee Moniruzzaman Polash, among others, spoke on the occasion.