PM inaugurates Dhaka-Ashulia elevated expressway constructionGovt doesn’t waste a single paisa from reserve: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday refuted BNP leaders' propaganda on the foreign currency reserve, saying the Awami League government never waste a single paisa from it, rather use money for the country and its people's interest.

"The Awami League government doesn't waste a single paisa of the country. It spends every penny for the interest and welfare of the people," she said.

The prime minister said the BNP leaders are always raising questions on the expense of the reserve money and trying to mislead the nation by giving false information.

"No paisa from the reserve money is misappropriated. They (BNP leaders) are always talking about this as their leader Tarique Zia was awarded seven years imprisonment and TK 20 core penalty in a money laundering case and he is now a fugitive accused," she said.

The prime minister said her government is using the reserve money to meet the import expenses including purchasing food, fuel, edible oil, wheat, capital machinery, medicine of cancer and Covid-19 vaccines despite the prices of goods, fuel and transportation cost are skyrocketing for global high inflation and economic meltdown stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic, Russia-Ukraine war, sanctions and counter sanctions.

The premier said this while inaugurating the construction of the 24 kilometre long Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway involving TK 17,553.4 crore.

She virtually joined the inaugural function held at the Construction Yard adjoining to Ashulia Bazar in Savar, from her official Ganabhaban residence here.

Once completed, the expressway will connect Hazrat Shahjahal International Airport with Abdullahpur, Ashulia, Baipail and Dhaka Export Processing Zone on the Nabinagar-Chandra highway and ensure quick entry and exit from and to the capital. It will connect up to Kutubkhali under Jatrabari Police Station in Dhaka.

Over four crore people from 30 districts including the North Bengal will be benefited from the expressway as it will make transportation of people and goods easier and quicker while it would help cut traffic congestion.

The expressway project document forecasts 0.217 percent boost of the country's gross domestic product.

China will provide the maximum fund of the total project cost.