The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Galachipa

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed Friday called upon the people to exercise their valuable right to franchise by casting vote judiciously for honest, dedicated and active persons who think of development and welfare of the country and people.

The Chief Adviser made the call addressing an opinion exchange meeting with upazila level officers, local elite and masses of Galachipa upazila, a cyclone Sidr-hit area, at Galachipa Degree College premises. The local upazila administration arranged the meeting. He said the government is trying to prepare a flawless voter list with photographs, which is one of the prerequisites of holding a free, fair, neutral and acceptable election.

The Chief Adviser stayed overnight in Barisal after he chaired the council of advisers meeting at the Barisal circuit house and held opinion exchange meeting at Rajapur upazila of Jhalakati district on Thursday.

From Barisal, he flew into Galachipa by helicopter on Friday morning and returned to the capital in the afternoon. Earlier, on way from Barisal Circuit House to Barisal Airport, Dr Fakhruddin got down from the car at Gariarpar in Barisal Sadar and talked with roadside people about prices of essentials, and agricultural production and voter listing.

Representatives of farmers, fish traders, businessmen, teachers, journalists, Union Parishad chairmen, women, NGOs and government officials spoke at the function at Galachipa, which was conducted by Patuakhali Deputy Commissioner AGM Mir Mashiur Alam. "If we work en masse we will be able to accomplish many things," Dr Fakhruddin said about the success in facing the aftermath of cyclone 'Sidr through united efforts of civil and military administration and private sector, with the cooperation of people. On long term rehabilitation project in the southern coastal belt, he said work for preparing long-term rehabilitation project has started and after the implementation of the big project the look of the whole region would change. It will take few years to implement the project, he added.

In this regard, the Chief Adviser informed that in his meeting last December with ambassadors and high commissioners of friendly countries and the development partners, he placed the long-term rehabilitation proposal that included strengthening the coastal embankments, improving the road and river communication network and constructing multipurpose cyclone shelters. Assuring all necessary support from the government, he called for increasing agricultural production by using every inch of arable lands cultivating double crops on single-crop land and triple crops on double-crop land.

The Chief Adviser directed the officials concerned to do what the government can do for extending cooperation to the farmers in proper time. This will make it possible to launch an agricultural or green revolution in this region, he said.

He added that there is no alternative to raising agricultural production to keep prices of commodities at tolerable level overcoming the adverse influence of prices in the international market.

Dr Fakhruddin said the government is also trying to keep the prices of commodities at tolerable level through various measures. The objective of the government, he said, is to increase as quickly as possible the agricultural production along with increased production of fishes and milk.

He said a programme of Tk 600 crore agriculture loan has been launched under which Krishi Bank and four nationalized banks would disburse money for helping the farmers as well as the fishermen as far as practicable. Disbursement of loan has already started, he added.

Responding to the various demands of the local people, he assured to solve those step by step on priority basis and informed that many demands like Kalapara-Kuakata road communication remain in the long-term rehabilitation project.

The Chief Adviser, however, said the decision for operating a ferry service over Galachipa river would be taken as well as some bridges would be built quickly.

Regarding setting up of fish and agricultural products processing industries in the region having immense potential, he said the government would provide all necessary support to the private sector in this regard.