Satkhira Correspondent 

A human chain and memorandum-giving program has been held in Satkhira to demand the speedy implementation of the broad gauge railway line from Navaran to Munshiganj, which has not been implemented for a long time despite receiving approval.

People from all walks of life in the district organized the program in front of the Satkhira Deputy Commissioner's office at 11 am  on Tuesday . 

Leaders of various political, social and student organizations spoke during the hour-long human chain.

The speakers said, "The government has not taken any effective initiative to fulfill the just demands of the people of Satkhira, who have been deprived of railways for a long time. However, the broad gauge railway was approved about 12 years ago. The people of Satkhira are worried because the railway line has not been implemented."

At that time, the speakers gave an ultimatum of 20 working days, saying, "If there is no visible progress in the implementation of the railway by June 23, a larger movement will be announced involving people from all walks of life."

The program, chaired by Duet's Assistant Professor and Advisor to the Rail Movement Satkhira, Md. Osman Ali, and moderated by the organizer of the Rail Line Implementation Movement Satkhira, Nahid Hasan, was addressed by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Satkhira District Branch Secretary Maulana Azizur Rahman, District BNP Member Secretary Abu Zahid Dablu, Former Municipal Mayor Tashkin Ahmed Chishti, Former Councilor of the Nayebe Ameer of the City Jamaat-e-Islami Fakhrul Islam Lavlu, City Secretary Md. Khorshed Alam, District Chhatra Shibir Secretary Zubair Hossain, Vice-President of the Satkhira District Branch of the Safe Road Movement, Journalist Abu Said Biswas, Secretary of the Public Library, Kamruzzaman Russell, President of the JAGPA Central Committee Abdur Rahman Farooqui, Advisor to the Rail Line Implementation Movement Satkhira, Md. Abdur Rahim, among others.

After the human chain, the leaders submitted a memorandum to the Satkhira District Commissioner.

Present at the event were Shahidul Islam Mukul, Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Satkhira District Branch, Vice President, journalist Shahjahan Ali Miton, Organizing Secretary of Satkhira District Branch of Safe Roads Movement, Advocate Akbar Hossain, District President of Nationalist Lawyers Forum, and leaders from various levels of Satkhira.

At that time, the speakers said, "Satkhira is an important border district in the southwestern part of Bangladesh. However, even though there are railways in many less important places in the country, Satkhira is still deprived of rail communication facilities. We do not want any more deprivation, we want a railway."

Upon receiving the memorandum, Satkhira Deputy Commissioner Mostaq Ahmed immediately spoke to the concerned authorities in a teleconference and sought permission to send a proposal for the construction of a railway line from Navaran to Satkhira, highlighting the contribution of Bhomra Land Port to the country's economy. It is learnt that the concerned authorities have agreed to send a proposal on behalf of the Deputy Commissioner, considering the matter as a matter of public importance.