Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud yesterday hoped that Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will lay foundation stone of Chattogram metro rail at the beginning of next year.
Dr. Hasan, also Joint General Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League (AL), said that the feasibility study of the metro rail is expected to be completed within this year and then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will lay the foundation stone.
The minister said these as the chief guest at a view-exchange meeting on the preliminary survey work for the study of the metro rail including transport master plan of Chattogram city, held at the conference room of Chattogram Circuit House this afternoon.
He said Bangladesh is becoming an industrialized country as work is underway to build 100 important economic zones across the country.
“Metrorail could operate from Bangabandhu Tunnel to Chattogram Railway Station and Chattogram University. Because, the shuttle train is being run there. In addition, planning should be done keeping in mind how to take the Metrorail across the river in the port city,” he added.
South Korean development agency `Koica’ is working on feasibility study for a metro-rail project in Chattogram.
A total of Taka 81 crore will be spent for completing the feasibility study. Koica will provide Taka 51 crore, while Ministry of Communications will provide Taka 20 crore, the sources said.
Divisional Commissioner of Chattogram Ashraf Uddin presided over the function while Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mominur Rahman conducted it.
City Mayor Reazaul Karim Chowdhury, Additional Secretary of Road Transport and Highways Department Md. Abdul Malek, Joint Secretary Mahbubur Rahman, Chairman of Chattogram Development Authority Zahirul Alam Dobhas, former city Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin, Chairman of Chattogram Port Authority Real Admiral M Shahjahan, President of Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCCI) Mahbubul Alam and Deputy Country Director of Koica Young Qin, among others, addressed the function.
Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Dr Hasan Mahmud said the Prime Minister has announced the construction of Metrorail in Chattogram and directed the Ministry of Communications to implement it.
Hasan said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced that he had taken responsibility of the development of Chattogram after the formation of the government in 2009. In fact, it is clear that she has taken the development responsibility of Chattogram on her shoulders.
He said the Bay-terminal is being built for increasing the capacity double of Chattogram port, it will be a regional port.
“Apart from this, Matarbari is becoming a deep-sea port, above all the urbanization of Chattogram will be much faster in the next 10 years,” he said.
Dr. Hasan said that the contribution of agriculture sector to the GDP in our country was 8 percent plus after independence.
“Today, the contribution of the agricultural sector has reached 12 to 13 percent,” he added.
The minister said the contribution of the industrial sector was 7 to 8 percent after independence, now the contribution of the industrial sector has become more than 40 percent.
“That means the country is developing industrially. With the establishment of 100 economic zones, the contribution of our industry will increase more,” he added.
Thanking Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, the information minister said he was also keen from the beginning to set up Metrorail in Chattogram.
Vice Chancellor of Chattogram University Professor Shirin Akhter, Vice Chancellor of Chattogram University of Engineering and Technology Professor Rafiqul Alam, Chattogram Metropolitan Police Commissioner Saleh Mohammad Tanvir and former Director of CCCI Mahfuzul Haque Shah, among others, spoke on the occasion.
First Secretary of Korea Zheng Yul Li, Professor Iljan Chang, Koica representatives Chaun Kim, Jing Bo Chui and Mo Zhen Kong and Chairman of the Chattogram Korean Association Jinhook Pike, among others, attended the function.
