'Fulfil 13-pt demand of Satkhira people'

They urged the finance minister to allocate funds to fulfil the 13-point demand of Satkhira Unnayan Committee (Satkhira Development Committee), contained in a memorandum addressed to him on June 4.

They criticised successive governments for not allocating required funds in national budgets for development of Satkhira.

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The discussion on "Demand of Satkhira People and National Budget', held at the Khan Market on Thursday, was organised by the Committee, a civil society body formed last year.

Former State Minister Dr Aftabuzzaman was the chief guest at the function with Principal Sheikh Abdul Wadood in the chair.

The speakers included local daily Satkhira Chitra's Editor Anisur Rahim, Principal Asit Kumar Majumdar, Principal Khairul Islam, Principal Tamizuddin, Action AID Bangladesh Policy Analyst Shahidur Rahman, local NGO Uttaran's Co-ordinator Mahtab Uddin, college teachers Gazi Abdul Kashem, Prof Mainul Hsaan and Tahsina Begum, journalist Mizanur Rahman, Parulia Union Parishad Chairman Golam Farooq Babu, Saifullah Sarker, Advocate Abul Kalam Azad, Mainul Islam and Mobaserul Haq. A large number of people from all sections including educationists, lawyers, NGO men, local government representatives and civil society members were present.

Dr Aftabuzzaman in his speech said Satkhira earns foreign currency for the country by producing shrimp and frozen food but it is deprived of the due share of development funds.

He urged the government to include the 13-point demand for welfare of 20 lakh people of the district. "These are legitimate demands".

Other speakers said, Satkhira being a remote district has been ignored in annual development plans by successive governments. So the Satkhira Unnayan Committee prepared the 13-point demand. But those have been ignored again.

The demands include setting up of a 132 KV sub-station and an agriculture college, extension of telephone facilities, creation of a tourist spot in the district near the Sundarbans, re-excavation of silted Kabodakh, Betna, Marichap and Kakshiali rivers, conservation of bio-diversity of the Sundarbans, rehabilitation of the poor affected by shrimp cultivation, rail link with the district and turning Bhomra custom station into a land port.