Three dists agitate for gas link

27 December 2009, 17:00 PM

Star National Desk

Barsal Bibhag Unnayan Forum and Sushasaner Jannya Pracharabhijan jointly organise a human chain programme in front of Ashwini Kumar Hall in the city yesterday demanding gas supply to the greater Barisal from Shahbazpur Gas Field in Bhola, right, different organisations hold a similar programme in Chuadanga town demanding gas supply to the district. Photo: Star

Cultural and political organisations, trade bodies and NGOs in Chuadanga, Barisal and Chapainawabganj yesterday held agitation programmes demanding gas supply to the districts. In Chuadanga, at least 50 organisations joined a human chain programme at Shaheed Hasan Square in the town to press the demand for installing pipeline for supply of gas to the district, reports our Kushtia correspondent. The human chain was followed by a rally with Gas Link Implementation Committee (GLIF) Convener Riazul Islam Joardar in the chair. The speakers said production in 15 industrial units in the BSCIC (Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation) estate in the district is being hampered due to lack of gas supply. They urged the government to include the district in gas pipeline installation project (Kushtia-Khulna) approved recently by the Ecnec. The rally was addressed, among others, by district BNP President Haji Mozammel Haque, Chuadanga Chamber President and joint secretary of district AL Habibur Rahman Lablu, Chairman of Damurhuda Upazila Parishad Azadul Islam Azad and MuktiJoddha district unit Convener Nurul Islam Manik. Human chain was part of agitation programmes announcement by the GLIF on Friday. In Barisal, a human chain was formed in front of Ashwini Kumar Hall in the city demanding supply of natural gas to Barisal from Shahbazpur Gas Field in Bhola. People from all walks of life took part the programme jointly organised by Sushasaner Jannyo Pracharabhijan, an NGO, and Barisal Bibhag Unnayan Forum (BBUF), according to a correspondent. The forum leaders said natural gas supply from Shahbazpur to Barisal could be possible by constructing only 37 kilometres pipeline. Gas supply will help set up a power plant and industries in the greater Barisal, they added. Chapainawabganj Chamber of Commerce and Industry has demanded installation of pipeline to supply gas to the district. The chamber leaders made the demands at a press conference in the town yesterday, says our correspondent. They said if gas supply is ensued, businessmen will show their interest in setting up industries, especially agro-based units, in the district. The leaders also urged the government to immediately introduce intercity train between Chapainawabganj and Dhaka and expand the BSCIC area to set up more industries there. They also declared a human chain programme in front of the deputy commissioner's office on January 10 to press home their demands.