Chandpur Correspondent //

We want to live in peace with our neighboring countries, but if they want to fight with us, then no Bangladeshi will go to India, said Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. M. Sakhawat Hossain, Advisor to the Ministry of Shipping and Labor and Employment.

He made this comment in response to questions from journalists at the launch dock after inspecting the construction work of the Chandpur modern river port on Tuesday (December 3) afternoon.

The Labor and Employment Advisor said, ‘The Indian High Commissioner has been summoned, or will be summoned. We have not had any bad relations with India. Those who follow other religions in our country are citizens of our country. We will look after their security and this is the government’s job.’

Regarding irregularities in the construction work of the port, he said, ‘Those who committed irregularities or theft in the past cannot be caught with a net anymore. Now we need to see that there is no theft. The work is being delayed due to various reasons, which is why I came to see it myself. The organization that took the work should have thought in advance that there are challenges in the work. If this allocation from the World Bank is returned because of them, then we will arrest this contractor.’

Dr. M. Sakhawat Hossain said, ‘There is a good project in Chandpur, I request the people of Chandpur to do whatever you need to do to cooperate. Many have illegally constructed various structures here. They say, railway land. We will not compromise with anyone. Development activities are for you, that is, the people. We will not come here. You will use it. If there is any irregularity in its construction, raise that issue.’

Regarding illegal sand extraction by dredger in Meghna, the advisor said, ‘When I came from Dhaka, I saw sand being extracted with dredgers in the Shatnal area between Chandpur and Munshiganj. They ran away on seeing me. But I took pictures. I have called the Munshiganj Deputy Commissioner to talk to him to take action on this matter. I will go there. Action will be taken against those who are illegally extracting sand.’

Chandpur Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mohammad Mohsin Uddin, Superintendent of Police (SP) Muhammad Abdur Rakib, Naval Police Chandpur Region Superintendent of Police Syed Moshfiqur Rahman, Press Club President Shahadat Hossain Shantah and local officials of BIWTA were present at the time.