Brihattar Chattogram Unnoyon Sangram Committee has demanded that Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the chief advisor of the interim government, set up an office in Chattogram for at least one day. They have also called for quarterly meetings of the advisory council.
These demands were made during the formation and introduction meeting of the newly reconstituted committee held on Saturday afternoon at a restaurant in the Isphani Mor area of the city.
Jasim Uddin Chowdhury, a leader of the Brihattar Chattogram Unnoyon Sangram Committee, stated that they have been advocating for Chattogram’s development for the past 15 years. In light of recent national changes, the committee has recognized the need for restructuring to strengthen their organizational position and has thus initiated the reorganization process.
On behalf of the committee, Jasim Uddin Chowdhury presented a 14-point demand to the interim government for Chattogram’s development. Key demands include rapid infrastructure development following Chattogram’s declaration as the commercial capital, the construction of rail and road bridges in Kalurghat, the relocation of Chattogram Railway Station from Batali to Fouzdarhat, and the establishment of a satellite town on the abandoned railway land from Fouzdarhat to the commercial area.
The committee also demanded that all port services in Chattogram be declared essential and that a portion of revenue from all goods be invested in the city’s development. Additionally, they called for the decentralization of power by declaring Chattogram and three other old districts as provinces, and for the separation of Chattogram into northern and southern districts. The establishment of a permanent High Court bench in Chattogram was also requested. Furthermore, leaders demanded the relocation of the headquarters of the Railway, Navy, Shipping Corporation, EPZ, and Tea Board, as well as the Secretariat of the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Shipping to Chattogram. They also urged for the swift completion of ongoing mega projects to resolve waterlogging issues in the city.
In other developments, a 13-member permanent committee for the 2004-2029 term was formed with Jasim Uddin Chowdhury as the president. The executive committee, comprising 96 members, includes SM Nurul Haque as chairman, HM Mujibul Haque as general secretary, Zikru Habibul Wahid as organizing secretary, Nurul Alam as finance secretary, Kasem Shah as publication secretary, and Noman Ullah as office secretary.