Our priorities
Azizur Rahim Peu / Driknews
Our long-term national development projects, especially the one for energy and mineral deposits, have not been planned on regional basis--the northern districts are less developed than the South and SE. Is the extraction of coal in the North being deliberately delayed by vested groups? The record of the political regimes since 1991 has been dismal (too much lobbying through the backdoors).
For example, there is evidence of mineral deposits and hydroelectric potentialities in the Chittagong Hill Tracks. The later (hydro, mini and normal plants) should have draft planned concept papers, starting immediately. The drafts on the tapping of the mineral resources are not getting the headlines. The CTG has a huge workload, but the ball has to roll, to keep up the morale.
Why so many NGOs are swarming the sparsely populated CHT? This is a border state, and its development would benefit the nation. Recently, the government took some decisions on primary education in the CHT. No Bangladeshi minority group should feel that they are sort of aliens. Tourism in CHT would bring economic boom.
The first phase of any new project is always thorny -- the later phases fall into routine level. There are sporadic TV documentaries on biogas plants working in the rural areas - but no integrated project (for injection of investment, and banking facilities).
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