Token hunger strike to realise 8-point demand

A large number of people including members of political parties, socio-cultural organisations and professionals observed a token hunger strike yesterday under the banner of Greater Khulna Development Action Coordination Committee (GKDACC) to press home its eight-point demand.
The hunger strike that began at 10:00am continued till 4:00pm at Shahid Hadis Park in the city.
Khulna City Mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque expressed his solidarity with the hunger strikers.
The eight-point demand included early implementation of the Tk 263 crore project for excavation of the river Kobadak to remove water logging, reopening of all closed jute mills and Khulna Newsprint Mill, capital dredging of Mongla Port, construction of Padma Bridge at Mawa and supply of gas through pipelines to south-western region of the country.
GKDACC started its movement since 1984 to realise these demands for greater economic interest of the people of the south-western region of the country, the organisers said.
But none of these eight points has so far been met by any government in the past and the one at present, said S.M. Daud Ali, president of GKDACC, while addressing a gathering at the park.
The agitation will continue to realise all the demands, he said.
Most of the projects undertaken for economic development of Khulna are yet to be implemented as files prepared for those are gathering dust in the ministries concerned, said former lawmaker of BNP, Nurul Islam Dadu.
Work for the project for supplying gas to Khulna through pipelines from Bheramara upazila of Kushtia that began in 2006 made little progress, he said.
Besides, there has so far been no positive move to reopen the closed state-owned Daulatpur Jute Mill, Khulna Newsprint Mill and Dada Match Factory, said Mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque.
He however said that the government is committed to fulfill all these demands during its tenure.
This government has taken necessary moves to modernise Mongla sea port by introducing capital dredging and automation, he said.
Setting up of a textile village on 23 acres of land of Khulna Textile Mill is also under active consideration of the government, the mayor said.