As the haor areas are considered deriving economic benefits to the country, the government has planned to construct elevated expressway in Sunamganjto maintain proper road communication throughout the year that will bring about financial and social changes in the lives of the haor people.
The country’s haor areas are often exposed to natural disasters and also imbroglios, underscoring to go for integrated development of the haorregions to reap more economic attainments.
“We have planned to construct a highway from Sunamganj to Purbasha. However, considering overall situation, it is not possible to build road of about eight to 10 kilometers in the middle of this area. So, we have planned to construct elevated expressway (bridge) over the water,” said Planning Minister MA Mannan at a Webinar.
“The project design has already been made in this regard. I also talked to the prime minister. We will place it before the ECNECmeeting for approvalby January next year (2021),” the minister added.
He made the disclosure while addressing the webinar titled ‘Thoughts of life and development of Haor during the Corona period’ organised by the Save the Environment Movement on Sunday night.
The planning Minister said, “We have also planned to bring Sunamganj district under railway connectivity so that the hoar people can avail the rail services.According to the plan, rail line will be constructed at Chatok of Sunamganj.”
“Besides,the road construction works in different areas of Sunamganj and Habiganj, including Kherai to Habiganj via Ajmiriganj, is going on. The road connectivity of these areas with Dhaka will reduce by 60 to 70 kilometers after implementing these projects,” he continued.
About the improvement of sanitation forthe haor people, the minister said, “We know there is a scarcity of safe drinking water in haor areas. Two days ago, the ECNEC approved a project involving nearly Tk 700crore in order to improve hygiene and safe water forthe haor people.”
“We are working silently for the haor people. Once those projects are implemented, a remarkablesocio-economic change will take place in haor areas,” he added.
Chairman of Save the Environment Movement, also known as PoribeshBachaoAndolon (POBA), Abu Naser Khan said, “We want to retain the ecosystem of villages. Although the government is heading towards the development of villages like towns through ‘My village, my town’ project, we want to make our towns like villages.”
He also said, “To improve the lives of farmers, we have to evaluate the conditions of the poor or marginal farmers. In the government’s subsidy packages it has been said to provided big agricultural equipment to the farmers. I think small equipment will be more helpful for the poor farmers.”
General Secretary of POBA Dr Lelin Chowdhury said, “We want proper implementation of money allocated in different projects. We don’t want to see any corruption.”
“If haor people remain well, Bangladesh will also be healthy. The health of haor people is a part of its ecology,” he added.
Convener of Welfare and Relationship (Haor) Menon Chowdhury, Barsik Director Syed Ali Biswas and Supreme Court lawyer Subrata Kumar Pal also spoke, among others, at the webinar.
