Zia's dev plan for Ctg to continue: PM

The prime minister also inaugurated the groundbreaking work of Chittagong World Trade Centre at Agrabad, the commercial hub of the port city.

Addressing the inaugural function of the Zia Complex, Khaleda said Zia had elevated himself above all breaking the boundary of a person and a family. "At his martyrdom the country as well as the nation had been affected much more than of a person and a family. So we're paying respect to him on behalf of the whole nation," she told the function.

Khaleda said the initiative to construct the Zia Srimiti Complex was taken to preserve the memory of historic proclamation of the independence.

She thanked the Liberation War Affairs Ministry and other concerned for being able to implement the initiative in just one and half years.

She said 'Bir Chattala' was one of the favourite cities of Zia and he had played a significant role in ensuring development and welfare of Chittagong and the Chittagonians.

Khaleda assured that their efforts would continue in the future for full implementation of Zia's development plans for Chittagong.

She said Zia is the great proclaimer of independence and one of the successful heroic leaders of the War of Liberation.

She said late Zia restored multiparty democracy from one party autocratic system, presented the nation a new flag of dignified identity through establishing state sovereignty and gave all an identity of Bangladeshi nationality.

She said Zia had inspired the frustrated nation with a new working zeal and determination.

Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan and State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Rezaul Karim also spoke at the function.

WORLD TRADE CENTRE

Addressing the World Trade Centre groundbreaking function, she said today's slogan would be "not aid, but trade and production is prosperity".

She said there is no alternative to development of technology, building a knowledge-based society and maintaining the forward march for achieving the millennium development goals.

He said government and private initiatives have to be coordinated to maintain the congenial atmosphere of industrialisation, investment and law and order.

The prime minister said all concerned, including the ruling and opposition parties, will have to remain alert so that no one's activity, decision or step can encourage the terrorists and the lawbreakers to implement their evil designs.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdullah Al Noman, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury MP, Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Saifuzzaman Chowdhury also spoke at the function. Ministers, MPs, businessmen and investors were present at the function.

Khaleda spent a hectic day here inaugurating and lying the foundation stones of a good number of projects.