NARI project training centre at Uttara EPZ demanded

Our Correspondent NILPHAMARI, Dec 11: The government has undertaken a project funded by World Bank to reduce poverty in the Monga prone five districts of Nilphamari, Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram and Gaibandha. The project named Northern Areas Reduction of Poverty Initiative (NARI) would facilitate employment of 11,000 poor women of the region. The total cost of the project is Tk 2.92 billion including World Bank's 2.17 billion. The candidates selected through a screening process will find employment in Dhaka, Ishwardy and Kaninaphuli EPZs after completion of requisite training. The three EPZs will have one training centre each. Sources said the residents of monga prone five districts including President of Nilphamari Chamber of Commerce and Industries Abdul Wahed Sarker and Nilphamari district Unnyan Forum President Abu Musa Mahmudul Hoque expressed surprise as Uttara EPZ at Nilphamari which is the lone EPZ of the monga prone zone has not been included as an employment and training centre although the selected three other EPZs are out of the monga zone and at a long distance. Residents of these five monga prone districts demanded that Uttara EPZ at Nilphamari should be included as employment and training centre which would reduce the distance and travelling cost of the poor beneficiaries and that Uttata EPZ would also be uplifted.