State Minister for Foreign Affairs and Faridpur-2 MP Shama Obaid has called for a nationwide social movement to build a society free from drugs, corruption, terrorism and extortion.
She made the remarks while addressing a "Citizen Discussion and Victory Anniversary" programme organized by the Citizens' Committee in Faridpur on Saturday (July 4) at around 5:00 pm. The event was held on Faridpur Thana Road, between the Janata Bank and Bank Asia intersections, near Titumir Bazar, Chawkbazar and Kapure Patti.
Addressing local business leaders, Shama Obaid urged them to form a unified business platform for the proposed Faridpur Division. She said such a platform could help identify and resolve the challenges faced by small and medium-sized businesses, women entrepreneurs and other business owners, allowing their concerns to be presented to the Prime Minister.
She also reiterated the demand to declare Faridpur a division and upgrade its municipality into a city corporation, describing both steps as important for the district's development.
"InshaAllah, with the leadership of the people of Faridpur and everyone's cooperation, Faridpur will become a division and a city corporation," she said.
On higher education, the state minister said the demand for a public university in Faridpur had been raised by all four local members of parliament. According to her, the proposal has received a positive response from the Ministry of Education and the Prime Minister.
Shama Obaid stressed that Faridpur belongs to people of every religion and political background and called for unity in the district's development.
"People of all religions and political views must work together for the development of Faridpur. There is no alternative to unity," she said.
Warning against corruption and criminal activities, she said the achievements of the past 17 years should not be undermined by corruption, extortion or drug abuse.
"We need to build a social movement from every home, village, ward and union to create a society free from drugs, corruption, terrorism and extortion," she said.
Among those who spoke at the event were Faridpur-1 MP Md. Ilias Mollah, former FBCCI President Mir Nasir Hossain, District Council Administrator Afzal Hossain Khan, District BNP Convener Syed Modarres Ali, BNP Joint Convener Syed Zulfikar Hossain Jewel, former Jamaat candidate Abdut Tawab, Metropolitan BNP Convener AFM Qayyum, Jamiat-e-Ulema Dal Joint Secretary Md. Kamruzzaman, Karim Group Chairman Jahangir Mia, businessman Awlad Hossain, freedom fighter Abdus Laram Lal, and District Bar Association General Secretary Jasimuddin Mridha, among others.
The meeting was chaired by retired Faridpur Medical College Community Medicine Department head Dr. Md. Rafiqul Islam. It was jointly moderated by Syed Zulfikar Hossain Jewel, Khandaker Fazlur Haque Tulu, and Jubo Dal General Secretary Jahangir Hossain.
