Northerners for increased subsidy in budget for dev of industrial sector

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RAJSHAHI, June 18: Discussants at an exchange of view meeting on Thursday entitled "Proposed Budget 2007-08" organised by Rajshahi district unit of Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) called for an increased subsidy in the budget for the development of the industrial sector of the northern region.
They mentioned, the subsidy is essential for keeping a balance in the production cost of the industries in the northern region with those of Dhaka and Chittagong. They further mentioned that such a subsidy would encourage investment and help generate employment in the region.
Presided over by Fazlul Haque, President of Rajshahi chapter of CGG, the report on the budgetary discussion was presented at the meeting by CGG General Secretary Hasan Millat.
The meeting was also attended, among others, by Ashed secretary Prasanta Saha, CCBVO General Secretary Sarowar-E-Kamal Swapan, Barendra Unnyan Prochestha Director Fayezullah Chowdhury, Mohila Parishad General Secretary Kalpana Roy, Women Journalists' Society (BWJS) President Monjuara Khatun and Secretary Shasmun Naher, ASAUS Director Debashish Pramanik Debu, ADAB Rajshahi Chapter Chairman SKL Lalon and the Daily Star Staff Reporter Anowar Ali Himu.
The discussants further demanded a special budgetary allocation for food, health and education of the non-facilitated aborigine community to preserve their social and cultural security.
To utilise the surface water wisely, a budgetary allocation has been sought for the implementation of North Rajshahi Irrigation Project and for keeping the water of the rivers of northern region pollution free. They further demanded a special allocation from ADB grant to ensure and generate employment opportunities, food and social security and to implement sanitation by 2010.