Land Minister Mizanur Rahman Minu has said that sustainable development in Rajshahi can only be achieved through collective efforts beyond political divisions.
"Rajshahi belongs to all of us. Our beloved city will move forward through the united efforts of everyone," he said while addressing the closing ceremony of a three-day child heart disease screening and treatment programme in Rajshahi on Friday (July 24) as the chief guest.
The minister said there is no place for the abuse of power in the development process and stressed that Rajshahi's progress depends on cooperation and coordination among all stakeholders.
"We do not believe in blind political partisanship. Rajshahi will advance only if everyone works together," he added.
The programme, organised by the Rajshahi chapter of the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh from July 22 to 24, provided heart disease screening and treatment services to children aged between 3 and 18 years.
Praising the initiative, the minister said the foundation has been playing an important role in serving the people and assured government support for expanding its activities in the future.
He also said the government would consider increasing financial assistance to the foundation so that it could provide specialised cardiac services on a larger scale. He urged the organisation's officials and staff to continue their work with greater sincerity and dedication.
According to the organisers, nearly 2,500 children received heart disease screening and treatment during the three-day programme, while around 2,600 children were registered. A four-member team of specialist physicians from China participated in the camp. The Paediatric Cardiology Department of the National Heart Foundation Institute and Hospital also provided technical support.
Among those present were Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Dr A.N.M. Bazlur Rashid, Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mohammad Foyez Ullah Kabir, Rajshahi Deputy Commissioner Kazi Shahidul Islam, and Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Hasen Ali.
The programme was chaired by Abdul Mannan, President of the Rajshahi chapter of the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh, while Professor Mohammad Habibur Rahman, Director (Administration and Finance), conducted the event. The programme was inaugurated on July 22.
