Sylhet: Commerce, Industries, Textiles and Jute Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, MP, highlighted the transformative impact of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman's leadership on the nation's governance and economy during a discussion meeting in Sylhet city. Muktadir, addressing attendees as the chief guest, commemorated the 45th martyrdom anniversary of BNP founder and proclaimer of independence, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, Bir Uttam.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the event was organized by the Sylhet city unit of BNP and was the concluding event of a two-day observance held at Shaheed Suleman Hall. Muktadir emphasized the prolonged 17-year struggle of BNP leaders and activists to liberate the country from autocratic rule and restore stability.
Muktadir also drew attention to the leadership qualities of Prime Minister and statesman Tarique Rahman, who has been in the spotlight for the past three months. He praised Rahman's moderation, discipline, and dedication, citing the current government's modest lunch budget allocation of Tk 100 for all cabinet members, contrasting it with the past when some prime ministers reportedly had lunch bills of Tk 150,000.
The minister urged party leaders and activists to fulfill their election promises to the people. He also outlined development plans for Sylhet, announcing the imminent operation of a 250-bed hospital in the city and plans for a 12-bed advanced hospital under Sylhet Medical University. Infrastructure improvements were also highlighted, including upgrading the road from Sylhet airport to Ambarkhana into a four-lane and constructing a new bypass road from Saheber Bazar to Tilagarh.
He stated that authorities have been tasked with examining the feasibility of building link roads around the city. The meeting, presided over by acting president of Sylhet metropolitan BNP Rezaul Hasan Qayes Lodhi and moderated by general secretary Md Imdad Hossain Chowdhury, featured BNP National Executive Committee Joint Small Credit Affairs Secretary Abdur Razzaq as the keynote speaker.
Special guests included Sylhet-3 lawmaker M.A. Malek, BNP National Executive Committee Joint Organising Secretary Miftah Siddiqui, former metropolitan BNP convener Abdul Qayyum Jalali Panki, and former general secretary Badruzzaman Selim. The event witnessed a large turnout of leaders and activists from metropolitan BNP and its associate bodies.