ZCZC
BSS-37
KHALID-RIVER-DEVOLVEMENT
PM sincere for river development: Khalid
DHAKA, Feb 27, 2021 (BSS) – State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury today said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been working relentlessly for the river development of the country as she announced in her election manifesto to dig 10,000 kilometers of waterways for restoring navigability of the rivers through dredging.
“No leader except Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman thought of river dredging in the country. Bangabandhu collected seven dredgers for digging waterways” he said .
Khalid said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has procured 32 dredgers since 2008 and process is underway to procure 35 dredgers more. She is cordial and sincere to bring back the navigability of the rivers through dredging,” he said.
He came up with the remarks while speaking at an inaugural programme of launching the ferry service on Aricha–Kazirhat route in the River Padma on Kazirhat High School premises in Pabna.
The Aricha-Kazirhat ferry service was inaugurated as a gift on the birth centenary of Father of the Nation for the commuters travel in the north-west of the country in fulfillment of the Prime Minister’s pledge.
He expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister and deep respect to Bangabandhu for getting the final recognition of the United Nations for Bangladesh’s transition from a least developed country.
“We have gone to a place of dignity under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” he said, adding that if Bangabandhu had survived, the countrymen would have got the happiness of independence long ago.
He added that the government has established rights at sea under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina.
The premier has announced a Delta Plan to keep the country’s rivers vibrant and active, he continued.
With Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Chairman Commodore Golam Sadeq in the chair, the programme was addressed, among others, by lawmakers Shamsul Haque Tuku, Ahmed Firoz Kabir and Naimur Rahman Durjoy and Zila Parishad Chairman Rezaur Rahim Lal.
BSS/PR/BKD/SRH/SKB /1845 hrs