Planning minister AHM Mustafa Kamal yesterday assured the people of haor areas that different development projects would be approved for them to enable them to upgrade their livelihoods.
“The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has already approved three projects, involving Tk 475 crore,” he said, while addressing a seminar on ‘Seventh Five Year Plan: Development of Haor Areas’ as the chief guest. The seminar was organised by CONCERN Worldwide, an international humanitarian organisation, at a city hotel.
State minister for labour Mujibul Huque Chunnu presided over the seminar. State minister for social welfare, Promod Mankin, state minister for fisheries, Narayan Chandra Chanda, Ishrafil Alam MP, AHM Jahangir Hossain MP, Kazi Rosy MP, Dr Enamur Rahman MP, Dr Rustom Ali MP, labour secretary Mikhail Shipar, rural development and cooperation division secretary Abdul Quder Sarker, and country director of CONCERN Worldwide AM Musa also addressed the seminar.
Mustafa Kamal said development would be undertaken for the haor region while preserving its main natural character.
“I believe the region will contribute to the national economy if a proper plan is chalked out,” he said, adding: “If tourism-related projects are economically viable, I will approve the project on the basis of my responsibility.”
Mankin alleged that some influential people were making money from the haors, by exploiting the water resources, depriving the poor people of the region.