Chalan Beel to be developed as tourism hub: State minister

SINGRA, NATORE, Aug 14: State Minister for Social Welfare Barrister Farzana Sharmin has announced plans to develop Chalan Beel as a tourism destination, saying the government is working to build a greener, corruption-free and developed Bangladesh.
She made the remarks while distributing Tk 30 lakh in government grants among 14 registered private orphanages and seven social welfare organisations at the Singra Upazila Parishad auditorium on Friday afternoon.
The programme was organised by the upazila administration under the Ministry of Social Welfare’s capitation grant scheme.
Speaking as the chief guest, the state minister said the previous government had left the country’s key sectors in a severely weakened state.
“A mafia group, a so-called government, left the country in ruins. It did everything necessary to break the backbone of the country. The electricity and gas sectors were damaged, and we are trying to overcome the situation,” she said.
She said the government had worked to avoid a politics of revenge during its first 180 days in office.
“After a change of government, we used to see fear on the streets, changing of names and the occupation of institutions. But after August 5, we guarded the country so that no more lives were lost,” she said.
The state minister said the government was pursuing long-term development initiatives.
She also said 70,000 people had so far received Family Cards, stressing that there was no scope for distributing the cards on political considerations.
“Only those who are eligible will come under the Family Card programme,” she said.
She said tree-planting programmes were being implemented to build a greener Bangladesh.
“We have said we will build a corruption-free Bangladesh. We want to turn our children into assets and make institutions free from corruption. The government is working towards that goal,” she said.
Natore-3 (Singra) MP Principal Anwarul Islam, who attended the programme as a special guest, said everyone should work together to develop Natore into a modern district and one of the best urban centres in northern Bangladesh.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abdullah Al Rifat chaired the programme, while Upazila Social Services Officer Abu Daud moderated it.
Deputy Director of the Natore District Social Services Office Nur Mohammad, Natore district BNP Member Secretary Asaduzzaman Asad, Joint Convener Zillur Rahman Chowdhury, BNP leader Barrister Yusuf Ali, Singra upazila BNP Member Secretary Professor Sharful Islam, Singra Police Station Officer-in-Charge Rafiqul Islam, Singra town BNP Convener Sakhawat Hossain, former UP chairman Shahadat Hossain, former VP Shamim Hossain, upazila BNP member Rafiqul Islam Bullet and upazila Chhatra Dal Convener Shahadat Hossain Mintu, among others, attended the event.