Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday urged all to exercise austerity in suing electricity and water as the government provides these utilities at subsidised prices.

The Prime Minister also urged everyone to practise cleanliness in every step of life, reports the UNB.

‘We provide subsidy in providing power and water to you…thousands of crores of Taka are given in this connection as subsidy; you must be judicious in using these,’ she said.

The Prime Minister was speaking at separate functions organised to inaugurate the newly constructed multi-storey buildings having 928 flats at Motijheel and Azimpur government colonies for public servants.

She asked all to switch lights, fans, ACs and other electrical elements off while going out from a room in their offices or homes.

‘If you do that the bills be much lesser. We’ve digitised everything; now no one can temper electricity bills,’ she said.

About the scarcity of water when the AL government came to power after the 2008 elections, Sheikh Hasina said her government built Sayedabad Water Treatment Plant 1 in 1996. Later, the AL government constructed Sayedabad Water Treatment Plant 2 and 3 this time.

‘We’re constructing more water treatment plants,’ she said.

The Prime Minister said it takes a good amount of money to purify one litre of water while the same for producing one watt of electricity.

‘We ‘re giving subsidy…you’ve to exercise austerity.’

She also called upon all to practise cleanliness everywhere and regretted that people are little aware of that. ‘Let me tell you something with regret that the sense of cleanliness among the people of our country is too little…,’ the PM said.

 Hasina said people should clean up corridors, stairs and lifts of a building apart from keeping their own houses clean. ‘You have to do your own work…there’s nothing to be ashamed of; you have to practise cleanliness from roads to your home.’

Mentioning that cleanliness practice does not cost any money. ‘It only takes your sincerity. Your body and mind will be delightful if you remain clean,’ she said.

The Prime Minister said people voted Awami League to power and the only job of her government is to serve them.

Hasina said the government has been able to develop the country in real sense for being in power continuously since 2008. ‘We’ve been able to develop the living standard of people,’ she said.

The Prime Minister said the development across the country is so clearly visible because of the continuation of the government for the two consecutive times. ‘Our development is not limited to urban areas. Our aim is to ensure the socioeconomic development of the grassroots people in rural areas; we are working to that direction.’

Describing various development activities of the government for the public servants, the Prime Minister asked them to serve people. ‘Your salaries and wages are coming from taxpayers’ money. So, you must perform your duty keeping that in mind.’ 

Housing and Public Works Minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain presided over the programme.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith also spoke at the Azimpur programme while a written statement of Social Welfare Minister Rashed Khan Menon read out at the Motijheel programme as he is hospitalised.