Mass Work Abstention in Panchagarh
'Turn Banglabadha into a full-fledged port'
Nagorik Committee forms a human chain on Panchagarh-Banglabandha road yesterday demanding upgradation of Banglabandha land port to a full-fledged one and introduction of immigration service through Banglabandha-Fulbari land ports to facilitate journey to and from neighbouring India. Photo: STAR
Normal life in Panchagarh town came to a virtual standstill for an hour yesterday as locals stopped work, demanding Banglabandha Land Port as a full-fledged port. Calling for introduction of immigration service through Banglabandha-Fulbari land ports, thousands of people from all walks of life including leaders and activists of different political parties, professionals, teachers-students, cultural activists, farmers and workers also formed a 60-kilometre-long human chain on Panchagarh to Banglabandha highway for an hour from 11:00am. They also observed 'mass work abstention' programme during the period. All shops and business establishments from Panchagarh to Banglabandha kept their shutters down and all modes of vehicles including passenger buses remained off the roads while classes at all academic institutions were not held during the programme. Financial transactions in state-owned and private banks and insurance companies, works in government offices and autonomous bodies and mills and factories also remained suspended. During the programme, a discussion was held Panchagarh Sher-e-Bangla Park in the town where lawmaker of Panchagarh-1 constituency and also general secretary of district unit Awami League Mozaharul Haque Prodhan, former lawmaker and district unit president of BNP Md. Mozahar Hossain, Panchagarh Municipality Chairman Touhidul Islam, President of Panchagarh Exporters and Importers Association Mehedi Hasan Babla, general secretary of Panchagarh Nagorik Committee Harun or Rashid Babu, spoke. The speakers demanded immediate steps to upgrade Banglabandha land port to help flourish mills and factories which will be create employment in the region. They urged the government to discuss the issue 'seriously' with Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee during his upcoming visit to Bangladesh. Bangladesh agriculture minister Begum Matia Chowdhury inaugurated the trading through Banglabandha border on 22 January in 2011, while Pranab Mukherjee through Phulbari border in Jalpaiguri, on the same day. The main inaugural function of the land port was held at Phulbari in India where both Matia Chowdhury and Pranab Mukherjee spoke. Speaking on the occasion, both the ministers vowed to boost bilateral trade. Pranab Mukharjee said that Phulbari-Banglabandha land port was more potential than Benapole-Petrapole as it is very close to Shiliguri, the gateway to India's northeastern region. He also hoped that the immigration through the port will start 'very soon'.
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