UNB, Dhaka : North Bengal Development Council has demanded proper government measures for the development of the backward North Bengal region, remained neglected for long. The council made the demand at a press conference at the National Press Club yesterday. Council’s secretary Shairful Islam read out a written statement elaborating the prospects and problems of the Northern region and demanded government measures to solve the problems of the region. The statement referred that the north Bengal region is plagued with multifarious problems including desertification. But sufficient and planned measures have not been taken yet to solve the problems, it added. It also mentioned a survey report by the Board of Investment (BoI) that revealed the huge potentials of establishing various industries in different districts of the region including of Rajshahi, Rangpur, Chapainawabganj and Natore. The press conference said that no measures were taken to extract the mineral resources despite having huge reserves.
Shairful Islam also presented a set of demands to the Prime Minister. The demands include establishment of industries for creating employment opportunities for the people of the region, ensuring supply of gas and power, construction of gas transmission line from Bogra-Ranbgpur-Sayedpur EPZ to Dinajpur-Panchgarh, establishing rail communication between Jamuna bridge and Bogra, announcing Rangpur as a separate division and steps for eradicating Monga. The demands also included establishment of Export Processing Zones (EPZ) in various places of North-Western region including Rajshahi, establishment of separate Investment Board and resumption of Chilahati, Mogolhat, Banglabandha and Birol land stations.
Among others, former Adviser Dr AB Mirza M Azizul Islam, senior vice-president of Mutual Trust Bank M Habibur Rahman, senior vice chairman of North Bengal Development Council Abul Hashem Khan were present in the press conference.