Gas supply, setting up an airport and a deep-sea port, establishment of an IT village, development of Mongla port and reopening of closed mills and factories were the major pledges for development of the region, he mentioned.

Tayebur was talking to journalists after a meeting with Adviser for Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Mohammad Anwarul Iqbal at the ministry's conference room yesterday.

"I had sent a number of letters to the ministries concerned about the committed projects but there was hardly any response," he said.

The previous government ignored development of Khulna since none of its cabinet members were from this region, the BNP leader said. But a lot of development projects were implemented in Sylhet and Chittagong regions, he added.

Tayebur said the immediate past prime minister and BNP chief visited Sylhet nine times during her tenure, and went to Khulna once only to inaugurate the Rupsha bridge.

Although the World Heritage Site-- the Sundarbans-- located in Khulna region, a STAL (short takeoff and landing) service of Biman could not be introduced to bring thousands of tourists there, he mentioned.

Closed mills and factories in Khulna could not be reopened due to lack of gas connection in the region, he alleged.

According to him, Akram point near Mongla port is the most suitable place for setting up a deep-sea port. But nothing was done in this regard, he regretted.

The BNP leader underscored reforms in the two major political parties. But any reforms excluding the two top leaders would not be effective, he said.

"Family dynasty exists in many countries but we have to see that competent people become successors to leadership. If incompetent people become leaders, it would not bring any good to the country," he observed.

The mayor attended an inter-ministerial meeting on handing over various establishments built by Khulna Development Authority (KDA) to Khulna City Corporation (KCC). The establishments include Khulna New Market, Sonadanga Bus Terminal and a number of bazars.

The KDA was supposed to hand over those to the KCC earlier but it was delayed due to opposition from an influential minister in the previous government.

At yesterday's meeting, the government formed a committee headed by a joint secretary to examine legal procedure for handing over the establishments to the KCC.

The committee has to submit its report within one month.

The meeting also decided to set up a water and sewerage authority in Khulna city (Khulna Wasa) for supply of pure water and for building a proper drainage system.

Donor assistance will be needed for the proposed Khulna Wasa. At least 157 people would be appointed to run it, the meeting was told.

The LGRD adviser later told journalists that the ministry would give a decision in this regard very soon.

The meeting also decided to establish a memorial at Gollamari graveyard in Khulna for the martyrs of 1971. The KDA will build it on the basis of the design made by the KCC.