Patuakhali Correspondent: Patuakhali Welfare Foundation has organized a human chain program demanding upgrading of potholed highway to 6 lanes to make the development of the southern region sustainable and dynamic.
The program was organized on Friday after Friday prayers at the intersection of Patuakhali city’s Chowrasta Square.
Hundreds of citizens from different classes, students, businessmen, representatives of social and cultural organizations participated in the human chain. Chairman of Patuakhali Welfare Foundation Abdullah Al Nahian presided over the meeting, and representatives of the District Citizens Forum, teacher leaders, tourism organizers, leaders of the Fishermen’s Association, and representatives of different classes and professions spoke.
The speakers said that although the Padma Bridge has created unprecedented development potential in the southern region, the narrow, old and risky, broken and potholed highway has become a major obstacle to this progress. Although thousands of vehicles ply this road every day, its current condition is very pathetic, which is causing accidents, traffic jams and wasting time.
They said that the Patuakhali EPZ has already become a center of interest for foreign and domestic investors. Kuakata, one of the country’s sea-centric international tourist destinations, attracts thousands of domestic and foreign tourists every year. But this unfit highway is making their journey risky and difficult.
On the other hand, there is no alternative to modern highways for the fast and safe transportation of agricultural products such as watermelons, moong dal, vegetables and the famous ‘hilsha’ fish produced in Patuakhali and surrounding districts to different parts of the country.
The speakers also said that if the Bhanga-Kuakata highway is upgraded to 6 lanes, the country’s second seaport, Payra Port, Kuakata Sea Beach, EPZ, agricultural and fish transport and immense potential for tourism will become a reality. This will not only improve the socio-economic conditions of the southern region, but the contribution of this region to the national economy will increase manifold.
The speakers from the human chain strongly demanded that the government approve and implement this 6-lane project as soon as possible. They said that this is not the demand of any one region – it is a matter of national development interest, which is closely related to the overall growth and economic security of the country.
The organizers announced that they will submit a memorandum to the advisor in charge of the government’s Ministry of Roads and Transport next Monday.
The program was organized on Friday after Friday prayers at the intersection of Patuakhali city’s Chowrasta Square.
Hundreds of citizens from different classes, students, businessmen, representatives of social and cultural organizations participated in the human chain. Chairman of Patuakhali Welfare Foundation Abdullah Al Nahian presided over the meeting, and representatives of the District Citizens Forum, teacher leaders, tourism organizers, leaders of the Fishermen’s Association, and representatives of different classes and professions spoke.
The speakers said that although the Padma Bridge has created unprecedented development potential in the southern region, the narrow, old and risky, broken and potholed highway has become a major obstacle to this progress. Although thousands of vehicles ply this road every day, its current condition is very pathetic, which is causing accidents, traffic jams and wasting time.
They said that the Patuakhali EPZ has already become a center of interest for foreign and domestic investors. Kuakata, one of the country’s sea-centric international tourist destinations, attracts thousands of domestic and foreign tourists every year. But this unfit highway is making their journey risky and difficult.
On the other hand, there is no alternative to modern highways for the fast and safe transportation of agricultural products such as watermelons, moong dal, vegetables and the famous ‘hilsha’ fish produced in Patuakhali and surrounding districts to different parts of the country.
The speakers also said that if the Bhanga-Kuakata highway is upgraded to 6 lanes, the country’s second seaport, Payra Port, Kuakata Sea Beach, EPZ, agricultural and fish transport and immense potential for tourism will become a reality. This will not only improve the socio-economic conditions of the southern region, but the contribution of this region to the national economy will increase manifold.
The speakers from the human chain strongly demanded that the government approve and implement this 6-lane project as soon as possible. They said that this is not the demand of any one region – it is a matter of national development interest, which is closely related to the overall growth and economic security of the country.
The organizers announced that they will submit a memorandum to the advisor in charge of the government’s Ministry of Roads and Transport next Monday.
