The government is working to bring the lagging char areas into the mainstream of development, said Planning Minister M A Mannan on Monday.
“To realise the development plans for Char- a Char Foundation or a similar organisation structure is needed”, added he.
The minister came up with the remarks at a national online workshop titled “Char Areas in National Development Planning”, jointly organised by Shamunnay and National Char Alliance, according to a press release.
National Char Alliance President and former chairman of Krishi Bank Khondkar Ibrahim Khald chaired the online session, while Shamunnay Chairperson and former governor of Bangladesh Bank Dr Atiur Rahman presented the keynote paper.
Representatives from SDC, Water Aid, Oxfam, CARE, Swiss Contact, M4C, Friendship and other member organisations of National Char Alliance participated in the workshop.
In his keynote remarks, Dr Atiur Rahman put forward the importance of formulating char development policy and establishing char foundation for properly prioritising the char agenda in the post-pandemic economic recovery process.
He also suggested coming up with special projects for char development in the Annual Development Programme as an interim solution before a char foundation is established.
In the closing remarks, Ibrahim Khaled urged prioritising development of communication and transportation in char areas to create the enabling environment where all stakeholders can participate in development.
He recommended doing a nationwide technical survey to assess demand for communication and transportation facilities in char areas and then gradually implementing infrastructure projects accordingly.
