Nagorik Committee warns of Kansat style agitation

Kansat can be a model for launching a movement for allocation of more funds in the next national budget for implementation of development projects including that for pipeline supply of gas.

They demanded laying of pipeline from Ishwardi to Khulna and installation of a 210 mw power plant in Khulna to meet the power crisis.

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"We will convince the people to boycott next parliamentary elections, if necessary, as part of our movement in case of government's failure to fulfil people's aspirations in the south-western region", said Dr Kudrat-e-Khuda, member-secretary of Khulna Nagorik committee (KNC) at the press conference held at Khulna Press Club.

The KNC leader said smooth supply of electricity, fuel and water are basic needs of people. "We are deprived of these basic needs", he said sounding a note of warning to the government to face agitation as was in Kansat and at Shanir Akhra in Dhaka city.

President of Khulna Press Club and convenor of Khulna Divisional Press Club Federation (KDPCF) Liaquat Ali, KNC convenor Engineer Azadul Huq, chairperson of Khulna Citizens' Forum Shaikh Abdul Kayyum and secretary general of Greater Khulna Development Action Committee Shaikh Ashrafuzzaman were present at the press conference.

Engineer Azadul Huq termed Khulna a 'gate of economy of south- western region' and said corruption, nepotism and non-allocation of fund for development projects has thrown thousands of workers and employees out of jobs and made the entire Khulna-Jessore industrial belt a barren land now.

"We will be forced to launch a movement to stop payment of electricity bills, if load shedding continues at the present rate", he warned.

Poverty and unemployment are other factors for creating social unrest, giving rise to murders, terrorism, extortion and women repression, he said.