A new division – emergence of hope for neglected millions

Govt steps required to turn Rangpur division into leading economic region

Courtesy The Financial Express

RANGPUR, Mar 19 (BSS): Experts, politicians and academicians have stressed the need for paying maximum importance to ensuring proper utilisation of a large number of human and natural resources and agriculture sector of the newly formed Rangpur division.

Rangpur division has the brightest prospects in becoming the country’s economic backbone if its gigantic natural resources could be explored, human resources utilised and due attention were paid to the prospective agriculture sector, they said.

They said that the region, having a large number of mineral resources and enormous economic prospects, was not paid due administrative and political attention that put its people in poverty and economically backward due to the discriminations for decades.

Rangpur division produces huge quantities of surplus foods and meets the country’s food demand, will now get due administrative attention towards attaining sustainable development in all sectors, they said.

The present pro-people government has fulfilled the long- cherished demand of the people of greater Rangpur and Dinajpur making them grateful to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The politicians and academicians told the news agency that people remained neglected for decades due to regional and political discrimination to the region despite its vast contribution to meet the national food demand.

“If the natural resources including coal are explored, power stations set up, natural gas supplied and gigantic manpower utilised, Rangpur division will soon emerge as the most industrialised and developed region to steering the country’s economy,” they said.

Besides, the new division will change the socio-economic scenario, communications, international trade and commerce with the neighbouring countries, expedite poverty eradication, increase agro- productions and boost industrialisation, they added.

The politicians, socio-cultural activists, business community leaders, elite, public representatives, farmers, housewives, students, labourers, NGO executives, teachers, commoners and professionals expressed their gratitude for making Rangpur division.

They thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for fulfilling the long-cherished demand of the people by realising its another pre-poll pledge by making Rangpur a division and taking speedy steps for activating the division very soon.

Convener of district Awami League (AL) Abul Mansur Ahmed, joint conveners Advocate Rezaul Karim Raju and Mosaddek Hossain Bablu, AL leaders Safia Khanom and Tauhidur Rahman were also seeing brighter prospects of Rangpur division.

Convener of Rangpur Swechchha Sebok League Moazzem Hossain Lablu, Chhatra League (BCL) vice-president Jashem Bin Hossain Jummon, BCL leaders Saiful Islam, Rashedunnabi Jewell, also expressed their views.

Former State Minister and AL Treasurer HN Ashikur Rahman MP, AL central leader Tipu Munshi MP, Abul Kalam Azad MP, Anisul Islam Mondol MP, suggested for taking further steps to ensure rapid development of the region by utilising the prospects.

Leaders of Jatiya Party, JSD, CPB and many other political parties, socio- cultural organisations and professional bodies also thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and asked for ensuring sustainable developments of the neglected region.