Princh Mondal Olif, Bagerhat District Correspondent:

The government has planned to implement the 10th Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge over the Mongla River within the shortest possible time, said Shipping, Road Transport and Bridges, and Railways Minister Sheikh Rabbiul Alam.

He made the remarks while addressing a reception accorded to him by the Mongla Municipal BNP at the permanent port bus terminal in Mongla on Sunday afternoon.

The minister said the government is committed to fulfilling its pledges to the people and bringing about fundamental changes in state management. “We want to remain accountable to the people and implement their aspirations. This is the politics of the BNP,” he said.

Highlighting the government’s development plans for Mongla, Sheikh Rabbiul Alam said work at the Mongla Special Economic Zone is expected to begin in October. The project is likely to create employment opportunities for around 60,000 people.

He said an LNG station would be established at Akram Point, near Mongla Port. A 23-kilometre pipeline would be constructed to bring gas from the station to Mongla, which would subsequently be used for power generation.

The minister also said initiatives have been taken to construct new jetties at Mongla Port and establish a cold storage facility. The government plans to transform Mongla into an industrial hub and enhance the port’s capacity to compete with Chattogram Port.

The reception was organised by Mongla Municipal BNP President and former municipal mayor Md Zulfikar Ali to mark the minister’s visit to Mongla.

Among others, Bagerhat District BNP’s former president and coordinator M.A. Salam, Mongla Municipal BNP General Secretary Mahbubur Rahman Manik, Mongla Upazila BNP President Abdul Mannan Hawladar, Rampal Upazila BNP President Hafizur Rahman Tuhin, Mollahat Upazila BNP President Sheikh Hafizur Rahman and Fakirhat Upazila BNP General Secretary Shariful Kamal Karim were present at the programme.