Human chain in Khulna to realise 10-pt demand

26 December 2009, 17:00 PM

Staff Correspondent, Khulna

Greater Khulna Development Action Coordination Committee forms a human chain near Picture Palace in the city yesterday demanding steps for sustainable development of the region and its protection from the impact of climate change.Photo: STAR

More than 10,000 people formed a human chain in the city yesterday for realising the 10-point demand of the city dwellers. The Greater Khulna Development Action Coordination Committee (GKDACC) organised the programme in the morning. Committee President Liakat Ali led the programme which was also attended by city mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque, Nazrul Islam Monju MP, M Jalaluddin MP, former MP and BNP leader M Nurul Islam. The leaders and workers of different political parties, professional bodies, students and other people from all walks of life took part in the programme. The demands include reopening of the closed mills, including Khulna Newsprint Mill (KNM), arranging international cricket match at Khulna Abu Naser Stadium and upgrading 250-bed Khulna Medical College and Hospital to 500-bed one. The city mayor who led the programme said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is the only head of the government since independence to pay due attention to the needs of the people of the south-western region of the country. Hasina has approved the Tk 531 crore gas distribution project which includes Khulna, he said. The government allocated Tk 51 crore for development of Sheikh Abu Naser Divisional Stadium and making it suitable for World Cup cricket venue. Besides, Tk 13 crore have also been allocated for modernising Khulna railway station and Tk 75 crore for infrastructural development of Khulna City Corporation (KCC), the mayor said. GKDACC president Liakat Ali thanked the prime minister for approving gas distribution network project and said her government should put an end to the discriminatory moves that so long hampered economic development in the south-western region. He hoped that the government would now take up effective and positive measures to face natural disasters, rehabilitate Sidr and Aila affected people, save the Sundarbans from adverse impact of climate change.