Pre-budget discussion
Allocation of adequate fund for development of Khulna urged
STAFF REPORTER, Khulna
The Greater Khulna Development Action Coordination Committee (GKDACC), a committee floated by local people of Khulna region, yesterday demanded allocation of adequate fund in the next national budget 2016-17 for implementation of different development projects in Khulna region.
Sheikh Mosharraf Hossain, secretary general of the committee, made the 18-point demand while addressing a press conference held at the VIP lounge of Khulna Press Club in the city.
In his written statement he demand implementation of several development projects including supply of natural gas through pipelines to south-western part of the country, establishing modern railway station in Khulna, installation of a full-fledged BTV centre, establishing a Marin Academy and a Cadet College in Khulna, gearing up of Khulna WASA activities, modernisation of Mongla Seaport and Bhomra Landport, establishment of deep-seaport at Akram point, completion of the ongoing airport project at Foyla, reconstruction of Khulna district stadium, reopening of all closed jute mills and Khulna Newsprint Mills, Dada Match Factory, shrimp industries and poultry industries, setting up a textile village, solving water logging in the Khulna city, construction of IT village and Shilpakala Academy, preserving biodiversity of the Sundarbans, development of all power generation plants and second submarine cable landing station in Mongla.
They have been demanding structural development of Khulna City Corporation (KCC), an agriculture university in Khulna, completing the works of Mohila Krira Complex in Khulna city, appointment of more specialist physicians at Sheikh Abu Naser Specialised Hospital, capital dredging Mongla sea port, investment facilities in the Mongla EPZ on easy terms and construction of sustainable embankments in the Sidr and Aila affected districts and rehabilitation of the affected people there, excavation of the Kapatakkha and Betna rivers.
They have announced a programme including submission of memorandums to the Prime Minister, Finance Minister and Planning Minister through District Commissioner (DC) of Khulna tomorrow.
President of the organisation Sheikh Ashraf-uz-zaman, former lawmaker of Khulna sadar constituency Nazrul Islam Manju, Advocate Md Saiful Islam, Shaheen Jaman Pon, Advocate Sheikh Hafizur Rahman, Mizanur Rahman Babu, Moniruzzaman Rahim, Md Fazlur Rahman, Mizanur Rahman Zia, Sikder Abdul Khaleque, Afzal Hossai Razu, among others, were present in the press conference.
President of GKDACC Sheikh Ashraf-uz-zaman alleged implementation of the development projects is being delayed due to lack of coordination between the lawmakers and the government officials concerned.
Formation of a separate monitoring cell directly under control of the Prime Minister is very important at this stage to gear up necessary works for implementation of these development projects, he added.
Sheikh Ashraf stressed since the independence of the country in 1971, the people of the south-western have ever remained deprived of development. Terming its treatment to Khulna region a discriminatory one, they urged the government to implement the development projects without any further delay.
GKDACC started its movement since 1984 to realize these demands for greater economic interest of the people of the south-western region of the country, the organisers said.
