HPM Sheikh Hasina inaugurates second bridge on Dharala river

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has inaugurated the second bridge on Dharala River expressing her firm conviction that Bangladesh would be a developed and prosperous nation by 2041 and none would be able to impede the evolution.

“Of course our dream of turning the country into a prosperous nation will come in reality and none will be able to impede it. I might not see it in my life time… but new generation will enjoy the benefit of our works,” she said.

The prime minister inaugurated the bridge built on Dharala River at Fulbari Upazila in northern Kurigram district, through video conference from her Ganobhaban residence here on Sunday.

The premier hoped that the newly constructed bridge will play an important role in socioeconomic development of the area, providing a better road communication with Lalmonirhat and Rangpur districts and connecting Nageswari and Bhuringamari upazilas.

“Awami League government had constructed the first bridge on Dharala River during its 1996-2001 tenure,” she said, adding Awami League keeps the word that it gives to the people.

Sheikh Hasina said her government is striving for development of every area of the country with working for ensuring access of the people to food, housing, education and healthcare services.

The land boundary agreement (LBA) and exchange of enclaves with India has exposed the opportunity of development of the frontier districts particularly the northern ones, she said, adding the peaceful exchanges of enclaves between two countries was unprecedented.

Sheikh Hasina said once Kurigram was a monga-ridden area. But the phenomenon was almost stamped out during 1996-2001 when Awami League was in power. But, the situation came back during BNP regime in lack of their attention to the problem.

“Now Kurigram district and other parts of northern region is completely free from ‘monga’ due to the pragmatic programmes and projects taken by Awami League government by engaging the local people with diversified occupation and jobs,’ she said.

The premier said lack of better communication was also one of the main reasons of poverty of the country’s northern region. Keeping it in mind, the present government is carrying out development activities in the region, she added.

The prime minister said the foremost goal of her government is to materialize the dream of the Father of the Nation Banagabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Engineer Khandker Mosharraf Hossain spoke and State Minister for LGRD Mashiur Rahman Ranga was present on the occasion, conducted by PM’s principal secretary Md. Najibur Rahman.

State Minister for Social Welfare Nuruzzaman Ahmed and Deputy Commissioner Sultana Parvin also spoke, among others, on the occasion from Kurigram side. Parliament members, local pubic representatives, senior government officials, political leaders and beneficiaries of different government projects and a cross section of people were present.

Local Government Engineering Department constructed the 950 meter long and 9.8 meter wide bridge at the cost of Taka 207 crore with own finance of the government, fulfilling a commitment of the Prime Minister to the people of the region in 2011, said senior secretary of the LGRD ministry Jafar Ahmed Khan, in a presentation on the project.

Urging the government officials to work with devotion and sincerity, the prime minister said continuation of the government and sincere work of the officials can make the country’s development possible.

“We have reduced poverty to larger extent. So none can ridicule us as far as the issues of poverty are concerned,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina urged the local people to go for extensive plantation program on the both side of the Dharala River for protection of its embankment, keeping the river navigational and tapping the opportunities of the river.