Coordination of all agencies for planned dev of Ctg underscored

CHITTAGONG, Feb 26: Speakers at a roundtable in the port city emphasized on the coordination of all the service-providing government agencies and formation of a city government in the port city for its planned development.
Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry arranged the roundtable titled 'Urban Governance in Chittagong: Problems and Prospect' at the CCCI auditorium on Wednesday.
Vice president of the CCCI Syed Jamal Ahmed, Honourary Consul of Japan Nurul Islam, Professor Obaidul Karim Dulal of Chittagong University and Dr Shawkatul Meher of the CU told the meeting that execution of planned schemes through concerted efforts by all services and utility providers could ensure proper development in the port city.
President of the CCCI Mahbubul Alam said problems of infrastructure facilities like gas, electricity, water and communication that are vital for civic life and economic prosperity are acute in Chittagong.
They have urged the government time and again and drawn the attention of the concerned authorities to address the problems but to no effect, he said.
Stating that industrialisation is the precondition to economic development he said many countries including Japan and Korea are eager to invest here. He sought government's help to ensure availability of these utility services.
"Because of its geographically advantageous location and the prime seaport the development of the country will be speedier through the development of Chittagong," Alam said.
Engineer M Ali Ashraf of Southern University requested the concerned authorities for taking planned schemes to face global warming. Chief Town Planner of Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) Shahinur Islam Khan said that the rights and interest of the general consumers or stakeholders should be prioritized in preparing development plans.
CCCI director Mahfuzul Hoque Shah blamed the political leaders for non-development of Chittagong. He urged all concerned authorities to form a coordination committee for planned development in Chittagong.
Shahidul Islam, research fellow of the Institute of Governance Studies of the BRAC University presented the keynote paper while representatives of the BGMEA, BKMEA and different non-government organisations and ward councilors of City Corporation also addressed the roundtable.