Creating employment crucial for development of Rangpur: Tipu

Staff Correspondent: Dhaka, Feb-19,

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, a heroic freedom fighter, today said creating employment alongside ensuring quality education and gender parity is crucial for the development of the Rangpur region.

He was speaking as the chief guest at the Rangpur Dialogue on ‘Commitment to National Development: Education, Decent Employment and Gender Equality held at Begum Rokeya auditorium of RDRS Bangladesh in the city.

The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) and Shushashoner Janno Nagorik (SHUJAN) jointly organized the dialogue with assistance from the United Nations Democracy Fund.

Presided over by CPD’s Research Director Khandaker Golam Moazzem, Secretary of SHUJAN Dr. Badiul Alam Majumder delivered an introductory speech in the dialogue that continued for three hours.

Badiul Alam Majumder said the people of the Rangpur region have been deprived of their proper development for a long time.

Mayor of Rangpur Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa, President of Rangpur district unit of SHUJAN heroic freedom fighter Akbor Hossain, Rangpur city unit President heroic freedom fighter Sadrul Alam Dulu, District Awami League President Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed, Women Organizer and Development Worker Mosfeka Razzaque and Head of Development Program of RDRS Bangladesh Abdus Samad, among others, spoke.

Apart from the Rangpur district, people from different walks of life from Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha, and Kurigram of Rangpur division joined the dialogue.

The Commerce Minister said the Rangpur region is lagging behind due to lack of employment generation and no heavy industries.

“Big companies do not want to come here and invest. Because the production cost will be higher due to the communication system, transportation cost and lack of gas connection,” he said.

However, the workers of the Rangpur region are very hardworking and disciplined and they have a reputation at the national level.

“At one time even half of the people did not come to Saidpur Airport when adequate passengers could not be found for the operation of flights,” he said.

“But now there are 13-16 flights a day at Saidpur Airport. The number becomes more than 22 during Eid festivities. In the next year, there will be at least 30 daily flights to and from Saidpur Airport,” he said.

He said the government has already allocated Taka 650 crore and construction of the main building of Saidpur Airport is completed. Lounges, bank booths, and other facilities have also increased at the domestic airport.

“However, there are talks of operating flights to Nepal and Bhutan from Saidpur Airport after upgrading it to an International Airport,” he said.

Tipu urged the people of the Rangpur region not to be disappointed with the proposed Teesta Mega Project at a cost of Taka 8,500 crore on both sides of the river Teesta.

“The Teesta Mega Plan will be implemented. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is very serious about this. It will be possible to build huge economic zones on both sides of the river,” he said.

Tipu Munshi also discussed various issues including education, health, communication, and other sectors of the Rangpur region.

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