The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Tongibari

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday said his government is advancing towards attaining its goal of transfer of power to a democratic government through holding a fair, neutral and credible election.

He made the remark while addressing an opinion-exchange meeting with upazila-level government officials and people of different professions of Tongibari on the upazila parishad complex premises in the afternoon.

The Chief Adviser said the caretaker government is carrying out reforms to make the foundation of democracy stronger.

He said if the drive against corruption is accomplished, the country, which was engulfed by corruption in all spheres, would certainly come out of the vicious cycle gradually.

"People's cooperation is necessary to eliminate the corruption…people have to nurture such an attitude that they won't commit and tolerate corruption," he told his audience.

At the meeting Dr Fakhruddin reminisced about his childhood days in his native village Nagorkandi in this upazila.

He said following the construction of Mukterpur bridge, which he inaugurated earlier in the day, a long-cherished dream of the inhabitants of Munshiganj was fulfilled. In this context, he narrated his experiences in crossing the Dhaleswari river by ferry, wasting time.

Referring to abundant production of good-quality potatoes in Munshiganj, which constitutes about 35 percent of total potato production in the country, the head of caretaker government urged his compatriots to produce maximum amount of good potatoes and assured the producers all input supports.

He pointed out that there remained good scope for potato processing in the district and urged the private sector to come forward in setting up potato-processing industries in Munshiganj. He assured necessary government support.

Responding to demands of the locals he said he would talk to the authority concerned for giving two-kilometer new connection for gas supply to Tongibari.

He further said steps have been taken to upgrade Munshiganj Sadar Modern Hospital from 100-bed to

200-bed one involving a cost of Tk 12.50 crore. Instruction has been given to the authority concerned to immediately accomplish the task.

Regarding other demands he said those demands would be actively considered by the government.

He also listed some development works, including repairing and construction of roads and bridges, which he instructed during his visit to the district during last floods.

Informing the meeting about government plan to turn various existing schools in various districts to

model schools to improve the standard of education, he hoped that Tongibari High School would be one.

The CA emphasized cultivating fish on floodplains following successful examples of this type of fish production from other parts of the country.

He discouraged the catching and marketing of Jatka fish and called for finding ways how better the fishermen can be helped during the period of prohibition on netting the hilsha fry.

Representatives from different professions, including potato farmers, fishermen, teachers, journalists, traders, and cold-storage traders, union parishad chairmen and Munshiganj pourashava chairman and UNO also spoke at the exchange-of-opinion meeting conducted

by Munshiganj DC Md Moniruddin.

Earlier in the day, the Chief Adviser inaugurated the upgraded Tongibari Upazila Health Complex and unveiled the foundation-stone plaque of constructing new complex Bhaban of Tongibari Upazila Parishad.

On his way back from Tongibari to helipad in Munshiganj Sadar for flying back to Dhaka, he got down from his car and talked with some people and enquired about their wellbeing.