Staff Reporter : Expatriate Gaibandhas in the United States have rallied for various demands including various developments in the neglected district of Gaibandha in Bangladesh. Gaibandha expatriates of various walks of life living in New York took part in a human chain held at the Diversity Plaza in Jackson Heights, New York on Sunday (July 18) evening local time.
Veteran politician Aminul Islam Golap, convener of Gaibandha Nagarik Mancha, was present as the chief guest at the rally conducted by journalist Sanjiban Kumar.
Shahnawaz Tuku, Shahjahan Sardar, Dilip Modak, Shafiul Azam, Mamun Rashid and Hero Chowdhury Prom spoke on behalf of the New York expatriates on various issues including the trial of the murder of prominent Gaibandha businessman Hasan and stopping corruption in the construction of four lane roads in Gaibandha city. Mukti Sarkar read out the proposal in human chain.
Politician Mujahid Ansari, one of the organizers of Dhaka Ganajagaran Mancha Syed Zakir Hussain Rony, playwright Shibli Sadiq and journalist Tofazzal Liton also spoke in support of the demand for human chain. Speakers at the rally said that the socio-economic situation of the neglected people of Gaibandha in North Bengal has not changed much.
Speakers, Establishment of university or medical college in Gaibandha for overall development of neglected Gaibandha district, construction of tunnel on Brahmaputra river, introduction of Kurigram-Gaibandha-Dhaka and Ramsagar Express trains, announcement of economic zone adjacent to Gaibandha Sadar Upazila. They demanded setting up of PCR labs, speedy implementation of railway construction up to Bogra-Kahalu-Bangabandhu bridge, improvement of living standards of Brahmaputra river, improvement of living standards and afforestation of indigenous and Dalit people.
The speakers further said that a memorandum containing their demands would be sent to the Prime Minister through the Bangladesh Consulate in New York. On the occasion, the visitors displayed banners, posters and placards of various colors with various demands for the development of Gaibandha.
BP/SM
