Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has said that coordinated efforts are needed to reduce water-logging in Chattogram. He called upon all concerned to make their coordinated efforts in this regard.
He made the call while speaking as the chief guest at a coordination meeting of the district administration on different development projects taken for Chattogram including the water-logging lessening one tonight. The meeting was held at Circuit House in the port city on Saturday (August 12, 2023).
Divisional Commissioner of Chattogram Md Tofayel Islam presided over the meeting which was moderated by Deputy Commissioner (DC) of the Chattogram Abul Bashar Md Fakhruzzaman.
Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Noufel attended the event as the special guest, while Chattogram-8 MP Noman Al Mahmud, Zila Parishad Chairman ATM Peyarul Islam, Chattogram city Awami League General Secretary AJM Nasir Uddin, project director of Chattogram water-logging removal project Lieutenant Colonel Md Shah Ali, Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Commissioner Krishna Pada Roy, Chattogram Range DIG Nure Alam Mina, Police Super AKM Shafiullah, Chief Executive of Chattogram City Corporation Sheikh Touhidul Islam, and CDA acting chief Engineer Habibur Rahman also attended the meeting, among others.
Speaking at the meeting, Dr Hasan Mahmud, also Awami League MP from Chattogram-7 constituency; said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has made massive development in Chattogram. “No other government did so. All will have to work in a coordinated way to reach the benefits of development projects including the project for lessening water logging in the port city,” he said.
He said that around 40 per cent areas in Chattogram city went under water due to massive rainfall in the last one week causing massive sufferings for the people. Even an altercation took place among different bodies concerned but it is a collective responsibility of all to look after the matter, he added.
The minister said that they earlier held meetings several times to bring coordination among the institutions which are implementing different projects. Some coordination came through the meetings but too more is required. That is why they held the latest meeting, he added.
Besides, some other issues, including Jungle Salimpur of Chattogram, were also discussed.
Chattogram Development Authority (CDA), Chattogram City Corporation and Water Development Board have projects for lessening water-logging in Chattogram, he mentioned.
Highlighting different development works of the government in Chattogram, Dr Hasan Mahmud said that Bangabandhu Tunnel beneath river Karnaphuli will be opened to vehicles soon which is the first road tunnel under river in South Asia.
Besides, feasibility study work for constructing metro-rail in Chattogram has begun while Bangabandhu Industrial City is being implemented and a new city is being constructed where 10 lakh people will have employments in future.
The people of Chattogram never saw the developments in such a large scale, he said.