Extending her heartfelt greetings to all, including expatriate Bangladeshis on Pahela Baishakh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said everybody needs to exercise tolerance as it is essential for the country’s uninterrupted development.

‘There’ll never be any development unless there’s a peaceful environment in the country,’ she said when leaders and workers of her party met her marking the Pahela Baishakh 1423 at her official residence Ganobhaban.

Sheikh Hasina also said the country’s GDP growth is poised to reach 7.05 percent in the current fiscal year alongside a rise in the per capita income as there was a peaceful environment over the last one yea.

Amid the peaceful environment, she said, people across the country, including rural areas, are celebrating the Bangla New Year with much festivity.

‘The Pahela Baishakh is being celebrated across the country spontaneously. I hope this new year will bring more peace and prosperity for Bangladesh...we want the process of pace and development we’ve initiated to continue...we want the country move ahead further. We’ve been working tirelessly to this end.’

Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, AL Presidium Member Sheikh Selim, Advocate Sahara Khatun, Satish Chandra Roy AL, were, among others, present.