Greater Khulna iterates 7-pt demand ahead of PM's visit

The Greater Khulna Development Action Coordination Committee (GKDACC) has demanded early implementation of seven development projects in the southwestern region of the country.
Alhaj Liakat Ali, president of the committee, made the demand while addressing a press conference yesterday at Khulna Press Club on the eve of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's scheduled visit to Khulna tomorrow.
The seven development projects are supply of gas and its distribution through pipelines, reopening of closed jute mills, modernisation of Mongla Port, development of tourism industry centring Sundarbans, construction of a modern Shilpakala Academy, construction of an airport and a most modern rail station.
There are 11 other projects which are also important for economic development of this region, Liakat Ali said.
These projects include renovation of the Khulna stadium, installation of a full-fledged TV centre, construction of second landing station of submarine cable at Mongla, installation of a 300MW power plant, modernisation of Bhomra landport in Satkhira, upgrading of Daulatpur Agriculture College to a university, permanent measures to supply safe drinking water in the Aila-hit coastal belts and re-excavation of silted rivers.
The GKDACC president said 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.
Addressing the conference, Convenor of Khulna Cultural Development Committee (CKCD) Swapan Guha urged the government to introduce with immediate effect mid-day meal (school feeding programme) in all Aila affected coastal belts of the southwestern region to address malnutrition problem of school children.