The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

The speakers stressed the need for bring the neglected and underprivileged char people under all kinds of existing facilities of the state by ensuring overall developments including health, education, agriculture and commu-nication sectors thro-ugh the concerted efforts of GO and NGO working in the char areas of the district.

They said this in a day-long workshop entitled "Coordination of GO and NGO officials in the development of livelihoods of char people" at the auditorium of public library and club of the town here on June 30, sources said.

Friendship, a reputed non-government organization of the country working in the district since 2002 on different programmes inclucing health, Immunisation, education, family planning, relief, reconstruction disaster, watsan and income generating for the people of chars and riverine areas organized the workshop in cooperation with Manusher Jonyo Foundation.

Dr. M Reazul Islam, deputy director of family planning department, addressed the workshop as chief guest while Dr. Prodip Kumar Karmoker, Sadar Upazila health and family planning officer and Dr M Rafiqul Islam, medical officer of civil surgeon office, were present as special guests.

Presided over by Dr. Nazrul Islam, Fulchari upazila health and family planning officer, the workshop was also addressed among others, by project coordinator of Friendship M. Rafiquzzaman Pallab, Journalist Gobinda Lal Das, District Correspondent of the BSS M. Shahiduzzaman and social worker Abdul Mannan.

The speakedrs urged the officials of GO and NGO to ensure and to increase the services on health, educdation, agriculture and communication for the development of char p;eople giving the high importance on education for the children of char people to make them educated and worth citizens of the country. They laid emphasis on the establishment of schools and colleges in the char areas.

They also stressed the need for creating much awareness on different issues like family planning, early marriage and santitation among the char people to change their traditional attitudes.

More than 70 government officials, NGO officials and workers, public representatives, imams, teachers and local elite including the journalists took part in the workshop.