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Download PDF Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus yesterday stressed the need for setting up a mega seaport, a mega airport and a transnational highway to speed up the wheel of economy and to materialise ‘the dream of the people’.
“We have a lot of prospects and much less problems than many others and we only need to shrug off the narrowness of minds and widen the horizon of thoughts to build Bangladesh as we dreamt,” said the Nobel laureate.
Dr Yunus was addressing a reception accorded to him during a daylong programme organised by Nobeljoyi Muhammad Yunus Sangbardhana Parishad in MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong yesterday afternoon.
Sketching a plan for pushing the country forward Dr Yunus emphasised on setting up a mega seaport somewhere on the offshore island of Maheshkhali or in the adjoining area of the Bay of Bengal.
Establishment of such a port could bring about a revolutionary change in the country’s economy, he said.
The future of the whole country is depending on Chittagong Port, which can hardly cope with the increasing pressure, when there is a huge prospect for setting up a mega seaport, he added.
He observed that when he talks about such a port many might think he is talking about Chittagong Port.”But the mega port I am talking about is anything but Chittagong Port,” Dr Yunus made it clear.
With facilities for docking larger vessels the mega port could turn this region into a commercial hub of international standard benefiting all users, said the Nobel laureate.
Through opening the mega port for China, north-eastern states of neighbouring India and for landlocked countries like Nepal and Bhutan the wheel of the country’s economy can be moved faster, he said.
The mega port could be run as a social business where the poor and underprivileged women could also be among the stakeholders like those in Grameen Bank, he added.
A highway linking the neighbouring landlocked countries will also be required to facilitate transport of goods from the mega seaport, Dr Yunus said.
He strongly suggested that setting up a mega airport with all sorts of facilities close to the mega seaport will also be required to benefit the businessmen travelling frequently to and from Chittagong.
Such an airport will also be of greater use to different airlines operating flights on different international routes like Beijing and Tokyo, he observed.
Dr Yunus said Bangladesh was much ahead among the Saarc (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) countries in many respects.
“We could go further ahead. But, we are getting stuck somewhere in our onward march,” he said.
“We have to overcome the situation to keep up with the developed countries and to materialise our dream,” he said.
Sangbardhana Parishad Convener Professor Muhammad Sikander Khan, who is also the president of the Chittagong chapter of Bangladesh Economic Association, presided over the ceremony where the parishad’s Member Secretary Shamsul Hossain presented the welcome address.
Poet-journalist Abul Momen, who is also the resident editor of the daily Prothom Alo in Chittagong, read out the address of honour.
Dr Yunus’ teacher Chitta Prashad Talukder, internationally reputed eye specialist Dr Robiul Hossain, renowned scientist Professor Emeritus Jamal Nazrul Islam, Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, former chief engineer of Chittagong Port Authority Engineer Sultan Mahmud, and cultural activist Joushen Ara Rahman also spoke.
The Nobel laureate passed a busy day in his home town attending different programmes till late night since his arrival here at 7:00am.
He took the salute and inspected a parade of the members of Bangladesh National Cadet Core (BNCC), Girls Guide and Rover Scouts at Sebabroti Samabesh, a rally of different volunteer organisations, in the stadium at 9:00am.
While addressing the gathering Dr Yunus said despite having a huge prospect the country could not go forward due to widespread corruption.
To continue the onward march of the nation and to ensure advancement of the country corruption has to be completely uprooted, he said.
Dr Yunus underlined the need for increasing economic activities for poverty alleviation.
“Our identity and dignity before the whole world reached a new height by now,” he said.
“Our forward march should aim at getting ahead of the nations that had gotten ahead of us,” he said adding, “We should restore the speed that we have lost.”
The Nobel laureate went round a painting exhibition on the stadium premises, a good number of which depicted the rural life in Zobra village.
Artist Sabih Ul Alam inaugurated the exhibition.
Dr Yunus also visited a health camp organised by Bangladesh Private Medical Practitioners’ Association of Chittagong at the same venue before attending the reception.
Later in the evening the Nobel laureate attended a campfire of BNCC, Girls Guide and Scouts and a cultural show organised by Radio Television Artistes’ Association in the stadium.
February 29th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
[...] Dr. Mohammad Yunus, our Nobel laureate, in late 2006 and early 2007, in the loudest voice and in full conviction pronounced the need of a deep sea port. He also demanded setting up of a mega-port in Chittagong for exploring the potential of the area and bringing economic development. [...]