Coalition govt forgot polls pledges about Satkhira

"Satkhira earns over Tk 1500 crore foreign exchange a year by exporting shrimps but it was neglected by successive governments. The four-party alliance government also sidelined the district in selecting major development projects", said Abdul Bari, general secretary of Satkhira Press club.

Taking to this correspondent, former minister during Ziaur Rahman's tenure Dr Aftabuzzaman said, before 2001 election, BNP-Jamaat alliance had committed that if voted to power it would set up an agriculture college, shrimp processing plant and a shrimp estate in Satkhira; a tourism centre at Munshigonj near the Sundarbans, develop Bhomra land port and construct a Satkhira town by-pass road and Satkhira-Assassuni road.

But once in power, they forgot the pledges, he said. Aftabuzzaman has retired from politics.

The alliance government did not keep any of its election pledges regarding development of Satkhira, said Nazrul Islam, general secretary Satkhira district Awami League.

"This (failure) will be a main factor in wooing voters in favour of AL candidates", said district AL president Engineer Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

He said, the last AL government set up a polytechnic institute and constructed a new jail complex and a Shushu Sadan and implemented many other development projects.

Former Awami League lawmaker Momtaz Ahmed also alleged that the 4-party alliance government flouted its promises.

Satkhira Nagarik Committee Convenor former lawmaker Habibur Rahman also criticised the alliance government. He said that before the election, alliance leaders here promised to construct a Satkhira town by-pass road but forgot it after going to power.

Satkhira Chamber of Commerce and Industries President Sheikh Azha Hossain alleged that before election four-party leaders assured people that they would develop Bhomra land port but did not take any step.

When contacted, BNP lawmaker Habibul Islam Habib refuted the allegations. He said development of an area in a continuous process, which takes a long time. There has been some progress and all the proposed projects will be implemented if the alliance government is voted to power in the coming election.

Satkhira district BNP member-secretary Samsuzzoha Bablu said the alliance government implemented many development projects in the district in last five years, he claimed.

"People are enjoying fruits of the development projects and I believe they will change their mindset and vote for alliance candidates in the coming election".