By Asma Parvin Abritty:

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today announced plans to develop energy infrastructure from Mongla to the country’s northern region, underscoring the need for adequate electricity and gas supplies to boost economic activities and accelerate regional development.

“Energy infrastructure will be built from Mongla to the northern region of the country… Adequate power and gas supply must be ensured to accelerate economic activities in this region,” he said.

The Prime Minister said this while exchanging views with a high-level Chinese delegation led by China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) Chairman Dai Hegen, said PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Jahidul Islam Rony.

Prior to the meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on economic and infrastructure cooperation was signed between Invest Bangladesh and CRCC, a Chinese state-owned company, in presence of the Prime Minister in Mongla, Bagerhat.

Noting the shared commitment of Bangladesh and China to strengthening bilateral cooperation, he urged Chinese investors to come forward to expand industrialisation and economic activities centred on Mongla.

The Prime Minister further said cooperation between Bangladesh and China will open up new prospects for investment, industrialisation and infrastructure development.

He also extended special thanks to the Chinese delegation for their support in recruiting Bangladeshi workers at Chinese companies in the Middle East.

Describing the day as very important and joyful for Bangladesh, the Premier expressed gratitude to Chinese investors for coming forward to help build a strong economic foundation for the country.

As part of his Mongla visit, the Prime Minister is also scheduled to lay the foundation stone of two container jetties and related infrastructure development under the port’s expansion and modernisation project.

After completing his programmes in Mongla, he will go to Bagerhat town by road to visit the ‘Mazar’ of Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali (R) at Mogra.

He will then set out for Khulna by road at 1:15 pm and make a brief stop at the Khulna Circuit House at 2:15 pm.

In Khulna, he is scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of Notun Kuri Sports (Season-2) at the Khulna District Stadium at 3:00 pm, before flying back to Dhaka by helicopter at 4:30 pm and arriving at Tejgaon Airport at 5:15 pm.

Earlier, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman left the old Tejgaon Airport in Dhaka by helicopter at 9:15 am and landed at the helipad of Mongla Port at 9:50 am.

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit, State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shaikh Faridul Islam, State Minister for Shipping and Bridges Md Razib Ahsan, Khulna-5 MP Ali Asgar Lobi and Khulna-4 MP SK Azizul Bari Helal received the Prime Minister at the helipad.