Resumption of BSCIC salt project sought
Tuesday, 26 October 2010
Our Correspondent
KHULNA, Oct 25: BSCIC salt project can create employment opportunity for the Aila affected people. But the project was suspended due to Aila hit and the government incurred losses of crores of taka.
Bangladesh Small and Corttage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) had taken a project under the name of "Development of Salt Industry in Khulna-Satkhira region" since 1993 in the southern part of the greater Khulna district for mitigating the shortage of salt of the country, official sources said.
This project was started in 1993 and concluded in 2002. Later it was extended. The production of salt in a planned way started under the auspices of the government through BSCIC in Chittagong and Cox's Bazar. At present the annual demand for salt in our country is more than ten lac metric tons, source said.
Greater Khulna was selected to produce salt to meet the local demand as well as Chittagong and Cox's Bazar.
The project was taken by the BSCIC in 1993 of this area as an alternative salt production area instead of Chittagong -Cox's Bazar. The aim of the project was the development of socio economic condition and creating new job opportunities of the local people.
A project office had been set up at Binerpota of Satkhira district. Four display centers (production) have been set up on 18 acres of land. The centers are Burigoalini under Shamnagor Thana, Chakla under Assasuni Thana of Satkhira district, Modinabad and Dakhin Bedkashi under Koyra Thana of Khulna district.
From the beginning of the project the officers of BSCIC motivated the local people of the project area for cultivating salt. But the local people thought that their land would be damaged by producing salt and it would not be possible to produce any crop there in future. However, now they feel it is possible to produce of Aman paddy, shrimp and other white fish after salt cultivation on the land in dry season, that is, from January to May.
Maftun Billah project director of the salt project said that 315 persons were trained under this project. At present the trainees are passing their livelihood by working in the private salt industries. If the project resumes the unemployment problem will be solved in this area, he expects.
5 more coast guard
stations
Another report adds: The Coast Guard force is being modernized to resist pirates and smuggling in the coastal area. As a part of this initiative has been taken to set up five more stations for Coast Guards in the Sundarbans to face foreign aggression in the sea territory, said the Director General of Coast Guard Commodore S A M A Abedin while he was addressing an inaugural function of a new station at Shupati, adjacent to the Bay, recently. This coastal guard station was set up in deep forest of Sundarbans, 80 kilometers away from Mongla Port.
Concerned source said that the coast guards are unable to curb crime in Sundarbans and coastal area of southwestern region due to lack of modern equipment and water transports. As a result dacoity in the Sundarbans area has been increasing day by day. The fishermen are being subjected to regular abduction, toll collection and drug trafficking.
Zonal Commander Captain AFM Shaiduzzaman and other officers were present during the inauguration of the new coast guard station at Shupati area under west zone of coast guard.
KHULNA, Oct 25: BSCIC salt project can create employment opportunity for the Aila affected people. But the project was suspended due to Aila hit and the government incurred losses of crores of taka.
Bangladesh Small and Corttage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) had taken a project under the name of "Development of Salt Industry in Khulna-Satkhira region" since 1993 in the southern part of the greater Khulna district for mitigating the shortage of salt of the country, official sources said.
This project was started in 1993 and concluded in 2002. Later it was extended. The production of salt in a planned way started under the auspices of the government through BSCIC in Chittagong and Cox's Bazar. At present the annual demand for salt in our country is more than ten lac metric tons, source said.
Greater Khulna was selected to produce salt to meet the local demand as well as Chittagong and Cox's Bazar.
The project was taken by the BSCIC in 1993 of this area as an alternative salt production area instead of Chittagong -Cox's Bazar. The aim of the project was the development of socio economic condition and creating new job opportunities of the local people.
A project office had been set up at Binerpota of Satkhira district. Four display centers (production) have been set up on 18 acres of land. The centers are Burigoalini under Shamnagor Thana, Chakla under Assasuni Thana of Satkhira district, Modinabad and Dakhin Bedkashi under Koyra Thana of Khulna district.
From the beginning of the project the officers of BSCIC motivated the local people of the project area for cultivating salt. But the local people thought that their land would be damaged by producing salt and it would not be possible to produce any crop there in future. However, now they feel it is possible to produce of Aman paddy, shrimp and other white fish after salt cultivation on the land in dry season, that is, from January to May.
Maftun Billah project director of the salt project said that 315 persons were trained under this project. At present the trainees are passing their livelihood by working in the private salt industries. If the project resumes the unemployment problem will be solved in this area, he expects.
5 more coast guard
stations
Another report adds: The Coast Guard force is being modernized to resist pirates and smuggling in the coastal area. As a part of this initiative has been taken to set up five more stations for Coast Guards in the Sundarbans to face foreign aggression in the sea territory, said the Director General of Coast Guard Commodore S A M A Abedin while he was addressing an inaugural function of a new station at Shupati, adjacent to the Bay, recently. This coastal guard station was set up in deep forest of Sundarbans, 80 kilometers away from Mongla Port.
Concerned source said that the coast guards are unable to curb crime in Sundarbans and coastal area of southwestern region due to lack of modern equipment and water transports. As a result dacoity in the Sundarbans area has been increasing day by day. The fishermen are being subjected to regular abduction, toll collection and drug trafficking.
Zonal Commander Captain AFM Shaiduzzaman and other officers were present during the inauguration of the new coast guard station at Shupati area under west zone of coast guard.