Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said her government has a plan to
introduce Dhaka-Chittagong express train service for easier and quick
communications between the country's two major cities.
The prime minister said this while inaugurating and laying foundation
of 51 projects of various ministries in ten districts through video
conference with local representatives and officials from her Gono Bhaban
residence in Dhaka today.
The prime minister inaugurated newly constructed 48 projects in
Kotalipara of Gopalganj, Patiya of Chittagong, Comilla, Gazipur,
Brahmanbaria, Patuakhali, Sunamganj, Bhairab of Kishoreganj, Narayanganj
and Joypurhat district. She also laid the foundation of three projects
in Joypurhat.
Sheikh Hasina urged the party leaders at all level to work together
in their areas to implement the development projects taken by the
government. She also urged the local representatives to work in
coordination of the people for smooth running of the projects.
She said the present government is working to materialize the dream
of Bangabandhu to build a hunger and poverty free nation. She expressed
her firm optimism that Bangladesh would be a middle income country by
2021 and a developed one by 2041 with the united efforts of all.
The prime minister inaugurated five projects of the power division.
The projects are- power supply to 6000 families of 90 villages of
Kotalipara upazila of Gopalganj, a 108 MW duel-fuel power plant in
Patiya, Chittagong, a 150MW duel-fuel power plant at Kadda of Gazipur,
225 MW combined cycle power plant at Ashuganj of Brahminbaria district, a
52.2 MW duel-fuel power plant at Jangalia of Comilla district.
Eighteen projects of the road division are: Sheikh Kamal Bridge and
Sheikh Jamal Bridge on Patuakhali-Kuakata highway and newly constructed
five bridges in Zakiganj, 11 bridges in Sunamganj of Sylhet zone under
Eastern Bangladesh Bridge Improvement Project.
Other projects include - second rail line under Tongi-Bhairab Bazar
double line project, seven projects of Local Government Division (LGD)
in Narayanganj including a water supply and Sonakanda water treatment
plant and four projects of LGD and projects of education, law, women and
children affairs, home and youth and sports ministries in Joypurhat.
Minister for Road Transport and Bridges Division Obaidul Qader, PM's
advisors HT Imam, Dr Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, state minister for youth
and sports Biren Sikder, and senior officials of the ministries were
present at Gonobhaban while PM's principal secretary Abul Kalam Azad
conducted the programme.
Later, the prime minister exchanged views with the local
representatives, political leaders and government officials from 11
venues in those districts where the project were implemented.
Sheikh Hasina said her government has embarked upon massive
development programme and wants to develop the country to provide people
with a prosperous life for which the nation was liberated.
The present government is holding on the spirit of Bangabandhu to
build a hunger and poverty free nation. "Bangabandhu has clearly
mentioned in the constitution about the ways of socio- economic
development of the country and our duty is to implement the plan and
take forward the country in this way," she said.
In this regard the prime minister said it's a demand since 1954 to
construct Dhaka-Chittagong double rail line. But, no government in the
past has taken the initiative to fulfill the demand.
Awami League government after assuming office in 2009 has taken the
project, she said adding, "The double rail line on Dhaka-Chittagong
route would make way to introduce express rail between the two cities."
Sheikh Hasina said her government has implemented massive development
programmes in every field over the last seven years. "A total of 537
bridges were constructed during the time of Awami League government in
office," she said.
The prime minister said the government has chalked out plan to reach
electricity to every house and increase the production capacity to
24,000 MW by 2021 and 60,000 MW power by 2041.
The prime minister said Bangladesh is a beautiful country blessed with abound resources.
"Poverty rate has been reduced remarkably due to pragmatic steps of
the government to develop the country through optimum utilization of the
resources," she said.
The prime minister sought support of the countrymen in properly and
speedily implementing the development projects in their respective areas
for yielding better development outcomes.
"We are working with an aim to build a country where there would be
no poverty, none would remain homeless, none would die without
treatment," Sheikh Hasina said.
Renewing her commitment to build rail network throughout the country,
the prime minister said rail communication would be extended to Barisal
and then Kuakata, Payra Sea Port and Mongla port.
Later, the prime minister exchanged views with the ministers, local
representatives, political leaders and government officials from 11
venues in those districts where the project are being implemented.
