PM inaugurates bridges on Sangu river

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday inaugurated two newly constructed bridges over the Sangu River ushering in new hopes for development of tourism and socio-economic life of the people in Bandarban.

One of the long cherished bridges has been constructed on Chimbuk-Ruma road and the other on Chimbuk-Thanchi road under the supervision of Army Engineering Corps at a cost of Taka 26 crore.

The prime minister, in her first visit after the Awami League-led Mahajote government took office in 2009, arrived Bandarban by an air force helicopter in the morning.

The prime minister first inaugurated the 217.15-metre Ruma bridge and later flew to Thanchi to open the 216.44-metre Thanchi bridge.

Addressing a meeting on the occasion at Sadarghat here, the prime minister said peace is now prevailing in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) as her government signed the peace treaty in 1997.

She urged the people not to be misguided by any quarter to do anything which might be detrimental to peace in the CHT.

She said, CHT Regional Council, district administration and Bangladesh Army are working together for development of the CHT.

The prime minister said since signing of the CHT accord, the Awami League government is making relentless efforts for upliftment of the socio-economic condition of the CHT people.

“The two bridges would be a great boost to this end through connecting remote areas of CHT and spurring economic activities in the areas,” she said.

The bridges would help carrying the agricultural products to marketing centers as well as reaching education, health and other services to hilly people, she said adding it will also help development of small and medium industries in the CHT.

Communications Minister Obaidul Qader, PM’s Adviser Gowher Rizvi and Major General (retd) Tareque Siddiqui, State Minister for CHT Affairs Dipankar Talukder, Chairman of CHT Development Board Bir Bahadur, President of Chittagong north district unit of Awami League Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, MP, Army Chief General Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan, PM’s Principal Secretary Sheikh M Wahid Uz Zaman and Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad accompanied the prime minister.

Sheikh Hasina thanked the Bangladesh Army for their efforts for construction of the bridges and people of the CHT as well for their support in this regard.

She said the Awami League government has chalked out development programmes for the CHT according to local perspectives. “We want to build Bandarban as a hub of the country’s tourism,” she said.

Source: The Daily Star