Give befitting reply to anti-country campaign

"We've received recognition as a liberal state for our unflinching commitment to democracy and democratic tolerance. But an interested quarter is engaged in a false and evil campaign at home and abroad to push Bangladesh and Bangladeshis into difficulty," she said.

Khaleda, now in United Arab Emirates (UAE) on a two-day state visit, said her government has arrested those who were engaged in terrorism in the name of Islam and they are being tried in accordance with the laws of the land.

She said Bangladesh is working unitedly with Muslim Ummah and all countries in the East and the West in fighting the global war against terrorism.

"Bangladesh earned international praise for institutionalising our democracy, efforts for socio-economic development, our firm position against terrorism and our active role in maintaining regional peace and stability," she said.

Describing expatriate Bangladeshis as the country's "goodwill ambassadors", Khaleda said, "the prestige of the country depends on your activities abroad."

She said expatriate Bangladeshis are not only contributing to improve the condition of their families but also the socio-economic development of the country.

Khaleda said the government, when it assumed power this time, inherited a near-destroyed economy with almost an empty national exchequer and lowest-ever foreign exchange reserve.

A relentless effort of the government during the last four and half years took the GDP growth to a satisfactory level close to 7 per cent, per capita GDP and national income rose to a record level of 445 US dollar and 470 US dollar respectively, she said.

She added that foreign direct investment (FDI) also registered a record growth to 2.5 billion US dollar during the present government, which is three times more than the previous five years.

She added that companies from different countries including UAE, Egypt, India, Singapore, UK and USA have come up with investment proposals worth Tk 33,000 crore while approval or negotiation on investment proposals worth Tk 70,000 crore remained in the pipeline.

She said a foreign company alone came up with a proposal to invest Tk 21,000 crore. "Such huge investment proposals were made never before," said the Prime Minister, adding that local investment proposals of Tk 62,000 crore in 9,000 projects were registered during the period.

"We have created an investment-friendly environment in the country despite anti-development conspiracies by different quarters," she said, adding that the government has reorganised and strengthened the Board of Investment.

Khaleda said the RMG sector has achieved a remarkable growth during this period despite abolition of quota-system. The overall export earning has also increased by 14 per cent as well as remittance by NRBs registered a record growth to reach 3,890 million US dollar in last 10 months.