Far away from Millennium Development Goals

Two NGOs--Good Governance and SODESH--jointly organised the seminar on ' Millennium Development Goals and Satkhira', held at Satkhira District Sports Auditorium.

Former minister Dr Aftabu-zzaman was the chief guest while former MP Habibur Rahman, Satkhira Chamber Ppresident Sheikh Azhar Hossain and its Treasurer Rafiqul Islam were special gusts.

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Officials, professionals, teachers, journalists, representatives of the elite, and NGO representatives attended the seminar presided over by AKM Anisur Rahman, Satkhira unit president of Campign for Good Governance.

It was addressed by, among others, Prof. Asit Kumar Mayumdar, Kamrul Islam Farooq, Prof Sheikh Abdul Wadood, Satkhira Chitra Editor Anisur Rahim, Kalyan Banerjee, Abdus Sabur and Aparesh Pal.

Aftabuzzaman said, the country earns over Tk 2000 crore in foreign currency every year by exporting shrimp and frozen foods, 60 to 70 per cent of which are produced in Satkhira. But successive governments did not take any step for eradicating poverty of over 18 lakh people in the district. They did not take up any mentionable development project in the district though it is playing a vital role in the country's development.

Expectation of the people of Satkhira was not reflected in any of the annual development plans in the past", he said.

The speakers urged the government to allocate more funds and to sanction more projects for development of 'neglected' Satkhira.

They also urged all political parties to sink differences and unite on the issue of development of the district.

The seminar adopted several suggestions and urged the government to implement those. These include power supply to remote areas at reduced tariff for growth of small and cottage industries, steps to improve law and order, training to shrimp growers, launching an all out campaign backed by resources to remove illiteracy, allocation of more funds for developing road network and steps to ensure transparency and good governance.