PM opens new BAF base, work on railway project

FE Team | Published: April 04, 2011 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

COX'S BAZAR, Apr 3 (Agencies): During her visit in the district Sunday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated a new base of the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) in the beach town, laid the foundation of stone of Cox's Bazar Medical College and inaugurated the construction of Cox's Bazar-Dohajari railway and upgrading of the submarine cable of Cox's Bazar landing station. Sheikh Hasina opened the Air Force base around 11:30 am on the day. Five BAF fighter planes flew over the function spraying red and green colours when the Prime Minister inaugurated the base. Outlining her government's plan to modernise the Air Force, Hasina said, "The Air Force will guard the country's marine territory alongside its air boundary." The work on the Tk 18.52 billion (1,852 crore) rail line project will be completed by December 31, 2013. Of the total amount, the government will provide Tk 6.70 million while the rest Tk 11.82 billion will come as project aid. Under the project, there will be two metre gauge lines - one 100 km long will connect Dohajari in Chittagong with Cox's Bazar via Ramu and the other 28 km line will connect Ramu with Gundum (near Myanmar). There will be four bridges in the rail line over Sangu, Matamuhuri, Shankha and Banshkhali rivers. The first survey for the railway line was conducted in 1890 during the British colonial regime. But due to the first and second World Wars the construction works could not start. The first feasibility study on the rail line was conducted in 2001 during the previous Awami League regime. Later, at the same place (Jhilongjha), Sheikh Hasina also opened the work on the upgraded submarine cable connection of Cox's Bazar Landing Station, which cost Tk 500 million. The Prime Minister also directed the district administration to remain alert so that no one can grab khas land. She gave the direction while holding a meeting with the officials of the district administration. Deputy Commissioner of Cox's Bazar Gias Uddin Ahmed presided over the meeting. She asked the administration to go for afforestation in the khas lands for the sake of the environment. "The more you go for plantation the more lands you will recover and the more you will be kept safe from natural disasters," she said. In this connection she said that the present government will formulate a master plan for Cox's Bazar city.