'Supply gas or face agitation'

Several thousand people attended the rally, held at Paira Square with Mozaffar Hossen Chad in the chair.

The speakers threatened that tough programmes would be Announced soon to realise the demands.

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They included Anwar Hossen Bablu, Advocate Firoz Kabir Gunjan, Hayat Mahmud and Asraf Hossen Kiron.

Hayat Mahmud alleged that the eight northern districts are deprived of development since 1990.

Gas supply could promote setting up of agro-based industries in the area.

Many small and medium industries in the districts have been closed down over the years because of an uneven competition from units in other areas having gas supply.

Investors are not coming forward for setting up industries in the district only for lack of gas supply, he said.

The Jamuna Bridge had raised great hopes among people about industrialisation of the area. But their hopes have been shattered due to non-supply of gas, he said.

He said steps have been taken to supply gas to Bogra by 2006, ignoring Rangpur and other northern districts.

Anwar Hossen Bablu told the rally that their demand for

Rangpur division is justified to ensure balanced development of the eight northern districts but no government took any initiative to fulfil that.

Firoz Kabir claimed that BNP chief Khaleda Zia at a public meeting before the 2001 election had declared that Rangpur Education Board would be set up.

"But a conspiracy is now going on for setting up the proposed board in Dinajpur."

He said a tough agitation would be launched if that is done.