Rajshahi people for gas, power supply
Threaten to stop supply of cereal, corns
People from all walks of life in Rajshahi yesterday demanded immediate pipeline gas supply and uninterrupted electricity supply to the district.
Under the banner 'Rajshahi Rakkha Sangram Parishad', around a thousand people, including socio-cultural and political activists, placed the demands at a human chain programme at Saheb Bazar zero point intersection in Rajshahi city.
They also staged a demonstration and blocked roads in the area for an hour and half to press home their demands.
Speakers at the programme alleged that the district had been experiencing 8-12 hours of load shedding every day, causing immense sufferings to its people, especially farmers, students and officials.
They also said, despite Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's assurance of ensuring pipeline gas supply to the Rajshahi city by January this year, they are yet to get it.
They threatened of not tolerating any superficial assurance by the authorities by setting up pipelines only but not supplying gas through them.
They declared State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Muhammad Enamul Huq and Energy Adviser to the PM Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury unwanted in Rajshahi for failing to ensure the gas supply.
The speakers demanded immediate pipeline gas supply to the district's industrial units and residences and said a memorandum in this regard will be submitted to the PM and the state minister for power on April 12.
They also threatened of tougher agitation programme, including demonstrations and strike in the city, and stopping the local cereal and corns supply to the country, if their demands are not met.
Rajshahi Rakkha Sangram Parishad President Liakat Ali and General Secretary Jamat Khan, Awami League Rajshahi district unit Joint Secretary Asaduzzaman Asad, BNP Rajshahi city unit Vice-President Alahi Bux Mandal, Jatiya Party Rajshahi city unit General Secretary Zoha Sarkar, Jasod Rajshahi city unit General Secretary Abdullah Al Masud Shibli, National Awami Party Rajshahi district unit General Secretary Mustafizur Rahman Khan Alam, among others, addressed the programme.
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