President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said the country must move forward through dialogue and understanding rather than clashes and conflict.
He made the remarks Sunday afternoon at a civic reception held at the large field of Thakurgaon Government Boys’ High School.
The president said everyone must remain conscious of preserving the democracy won through so much sacrifice. Given the country’s overall political situation, he emphasized avoiding clashes and conflict and moving forward instead through dialogue and understanding.
Highlighting the long-standing needs of local residents, the president said Thakurgaon has been largely neglected, and that development work for the district’s people will continue. He said work has already begun on establishing a medical college and university in the district, and that efforts are also under way to reopen the airport.
He said creating jobs is essential to improving people’s standard of living, and that new institutions need to be built to eliminate unemployment. He urged young people not to simply chase jobs but to become self-reliant by putting their own skills to use. The president also called on everyone to unite in building a drug-free society.
Earlier, President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir arrived in Thakurgaon on Sunday afternoon for a two-day official visit. The helicopter carrying him landed at Shaheed Mohammad Ali Stadium in Thakurgaon. He was then welcomed according to state protocol and given a guard of honor at the Circuit House.
After the formalities at the Circuit House, the president visited the graves of his parents and prayed for their souls.
At 11:20 a.m. Monday, he laid the foundation stone for Thakurgaon University at its designated site near the Thakurgaon-Pirganj road in the Jamalpur area of Sadar upazila. This was his first official visit to his home district of Thakurgaon since taking office as president. He laid the university’s foundation stone on the second day of his two-day visit.
Local residents expect that once established, the university will greatly expand higher-education opportunities for students in Thakurgaon and surrounding districts.