Bangladesh Railways has undertaken a master plan for bringing three hilly districts under the railway network in order to improve the connectivity in the Chittagong Hill Tracts area.
The information was disclosed at the 11th meeting of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Ministry, held with its chairman Md Dabirul Islam in the chair at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Monday.
The meeting discussed development of the railway network and setting up a small airport in the CHT area to develop the tourism industry there.
Besides, other issues related to the CHT area came up for discussion in the meeting.
The meeting was informed that Bangladesh Railways has taken a master plan for introduction of railway communication system in the three CHT districts and the government has a plan to bring the districts under the railway network as per the master plan.
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The parliamentary committee recommended the ministry to ensure presence of the deputy commissioners of CHT districts in its next meeting to inform the latest status of the lands, which were leased out for individual-level forestation, but not used for forestation yet in the three hilly districts.
The Ministry is recommended to ensure that the concerned Deputy Commissioners are present at the next meeting to inform the committee about the present status of the leased lands of the three hill districts which have been leased for individual afforestation but have not been afforested so far.
The committee also asked the ministries concerned to take steps for bringing 100 percent areas of the hilly districts under the electricity coverage, construction of houses and quarters for the government officers and employees in the three districts and taking planned housing projects.
Committee members Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Minister Bir Bahadur Ushwe Sing, ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury, Kujendra Lal Tripura and Basanti Chakma attended the meeting.
The CHT Affairs Secretary, the Housing and Public Works Secretary and the Railways Secretary, among high officials, were present, said a press release.