The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rangpur

Experts at two seminars in Kurigram and Lalmonirhat underscored the need for adopting appropriate steps to exploit the bright prospects for industrialisation and uniform economic development in the northern region of the country.

They spelled out a number of suggestions for extracting coal and other mineral resources from different areas of greater Rangpur and Dinajpur and setting up coal-fired power plants to overcome the power crisis and accelerate the pace of industrialisation of the region.

On Sunday, Kurigram Press Club and Greater Rangpur Welfare Samity, Dhaka jointly organised the seminar at the conference hall of Kurigram Collectorate with Press Club President Mominul Islam Manju in the chair.

Kurigram Deputy Commissioner AR Mollah and Acting Police Super Soheli Ferdous were present as the chief and special guests respectively in the seminar that was moderated by President of Greater Rangpur Welfare Samity, Dhaka and former Executive Chairman of The Board of Investment Nazrul Islam.

Press Club Secretary Shyamol Bhowmik, Nazrul Islam and former member of Power Development Board Fazlul Haque presented three keynote papers on Power Management System in Bangladesh and Greater Rangpur-Dinajpur, Development of Northern Region and Fuel Resources of Bangladesh: Prospects Northern Region.

Former chairman of the BCIC and former Chief Engineer of LGED Monwar Hossain, former Income Tax Commissioner Siddique Hossain, former Joint Chief of Agriculture Ministry Enayet Hossain, addressed.

The speakers presented a 19-point demand including declaring Rangpur as a Division and setting up Education Board in Rangpur, establishing full-fledged land ports at Bango Sonahat and Roumari in Kurigram, construction of a Bridge- cum-Barrage on the Brahmaputra at Chilmari and Bogra-Sirajganj Railway.

Earlier on Saturday, a similar type of seminar titled

"Comprehensive Strategies for Development of Northern Region" jointly organised by Lalmonirhat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and the Lalmonirhat Welfare Samity, Dhaka was held in the conference room of Lalmonirhat Collectorate.

LCCI president Sirajul Haque presided over the seminar that was attended by Deputy Commissioner Rafiqul Islam and Police Super Jomsher Ali as the chief and special guests respectively.

The experts and speakers in both seminars elaborately discussed various prospects and problems regarding huge natural resources in northern region and its uniform development and recommended for a balanced national coal policy giving priority to uniform development in all regions.

They urged the government to formulate necessary policies in this connection giving priority to national interest and take legal actions against those who are spreading propaganda against coal lifting and obstructing to extract underground coals in the northern region.

They said the government should set up at least two urea fertiliser plants in the region and supply natural gas supply through pipelines up to the Uttara EPZ at Syedpur in Nilphamari to enhance industrialisation of the region.