CHATTOGRAM, Dec 29, 2023 (BSS) - Information and Broadcasting Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud today called upon the people to cast their votes in favour of Awami League candidates to continue the current development spree.

He was addressing as the chief guest an election rally oganized by AL's Padua Union unit at Padua Rajarhat Hospital ground under Rangunia Upazila in the district. 

AL's Padua Union unit acting president Dulal Kanti Das presided over the meeting, conducted by its general secretary Badiuzzaman.
 
After the meeting, the minister inaugurated the newly constructed office of Padua Union AL.

Hasan, also a lawmaker from Chattogram-7 constituency, said once Rangunia Upazila under his constituency was a backward area as there was no other pucca road in this upazila except Chattogram-Kaptai road. 

Now every road has been made pucca in the upazila, he said.

The minister said sometimes he visits different roads to see whether there is any pothole in the road. 

These developments and changes have been possible because of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's magical leadership, he mentioned.

Pointing out that his union Padua was a remote area, he said, now it has been transformed into a modern neighborhood. 

Highlighting different development works taken place during the present government, he said four bridges have been built over Shilak canal while there is no school, madrasa, college in Rangunia which has no brick-built buildings and now every house is enjoying electricity facility.

"In the last 15 years, I have worked for all without considering anyone's political identity," he said.

Hasan said AL government has been giving 18 types of allowances for common people including rice at Taka 15 on Eid, 30 kg rice for Taka 200 during festivals including Eid and Durga Puja. 

Thousands of people in every union have been benefited through providing TCB products, free textbook to students, he mentioned.
 
Only needy persons are selected to be beneficiaries, he said. 

"As we give free allowances, free books, free rice, build roads, won't we get the vote?" he asked the audience and everyone raised their hands giving support to him.

The minister said through his own family charity institution NNK Foundation, he has built 24 new mosques in Rangunia in the last 15 years, he said.
 
Each mosque, temple and pagoda has received multiple development allocations, he said, adding that he has given relief assistance of about Tk 2 crore during the Corona period.
 
"We are making an orphanage in the upazila headquarters, four floors have already been built and two more floors are left. I have given corrugated metal sheets worth Taka one crore for free. Apart from the government fund, I individually have made 52 new houses on my own initiative," he said.

Awami League leader valiant freedom fighter Swajan Kumar Talukder, Abul Kashem Chishti, UP Chairman Abu Zafar, Bedarul Alam Chowdhury Bedar, Abdul Monaf Sikder, Engineer Shamsul Alam Talukder, Jahangir Alam Talukder Badsha, Nurul Absar Talukder, Md Shafiqul Islam, Mujibul Islam Sarafi, Arju Sikder and Sheikh Farid Uddin Chowdhury also spoke in the public meeting.