Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Minister Bir Bahadur Ushwe Singh said, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina does not only dream, rather she ensures that the dreams come true. The minister said, on the instructions of the Prime Minister, various development projects worth Tk 10,000 crore have been implemented in the three hill districts. Another rTk 1,000 crore power project is awaiting approval in the planning department. If it is approved, electricity will reach most of the unelectrified areas in the hilly regions. The minister said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's every directive is being properly followed, the proof of which the countrymen can see. Everything is visible. Minister Bir Bahadur Ushwe Singh wants everyone's cooperation to keep the development trend in the three hill districts moving by electing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the upcoming elections.
Minister Bir Bahadur Ushwe Singh said these things in the chief guest's speech at the distribution ceremony of totally free solar home panels among 639 beneficiary families of remote areas at Maurishya Bill Private Primary School premises of Balukhali Union under Sadar Upazila of Rangamati district on Friday.
Chaired by Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board Chairman Nikhil Kumar Chakma, among others Hill Development Board Vice-Chairman Nurul Alam Chowdhury, Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board Member-Administration Iftekhar Ahmed, Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board Member-Implementation and Project Director Harun-or-Rashid, Rangamati Hills District Upazila Executive Officer Najma binte Amin spoke.
In the speech of the chief guest, the Minister Bir Bahadur Ushwe Singh also said that 40 thousand backward poor families living in remote areas of the hills are being provided completely free electricity facilities through the Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board with the financing of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts. He said that solar electricity will reach the houses of 639 families today. Yesterday, 115 families of Durgam Wagga Union under Kaptai Upazila started enjoying solar panel light. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is making arrangements so that the boys and girls of the hilly areas get light and air. He said, solar panel electricity is being distributed completely free. No one has to pay any money for this. He said to the local residents and beneficiaries, if anyone wants money to buy solar panels, then don't hand them over to the law and order forces, call me directly.
Minister Bir Bahadur Ushwe Singh said, in the first phase, solar home systems have been distributed and installed to 11,000 families deprived of electricity. Another 31,000 solar home panels have been distributed in the second phase. The distribution and installation of the remaining 9,000 solar home systems will be completed within this year. The minister said that if these solar panels are used properly, every family will get free electricity light, fan and mobile charger for at least 20 years. The minister said that there is a training system for the beneficiaries to know the rules of use of solar panels well. The hill minister said that each beneficiary receiving training will be given another 650 rupees in cash.
Minister Bir Bahadur Ushwe Singh brought up the issue of Hill Peace Agreement and said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has solved the long-standing problems of Chittagong Hill Tracts through peaceful political issues without firing a single shot or causing any violence. He said that during the past 200 years of British rule, 23 years of Pakistan's rule and 51 years of Bangladesh's rule, no government cared about the welfare of people living in hill areas.
At that time, there were old people, widows, disabled people, but no government provided any kind of allowance or financial support to those helpless, poor, miserable people.
But the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, after taking charge of the government in 1996, has arranged old age allowance, widow allowance, maternity allowance, disability allowance, freedom fighter allowance for all these poor, distressed and helpless people. Presenting the development picture of the government to the people, Minister Bir Bahadur Ushwe Singh said that Bangladesh Awami League government has come to power in the three hill districts, schools, colleges, universities, shrines, churches, mosques, roads, bridges, culverts, electricity, people's quality of life has been improved. He firmly said that 144 schools in hilly areas will be brought under the purview of government within the tenure of this government.
The Minister then visited the grave site of Bir Shreshtha Lance Nayek Munshi Abdur Rouf and laid wreath at the grave site.
