Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said the government has a plan to introduce Dhaka-Chittagong express train service for easier and quick communications between the two major cities.

She said this while inaugurating and laying foundation of 51 projects of various ministries in ten districts through video conference with local representatives and officials from her residence in Dhaka.

The prime minister inaugurated newly constructed 48 projects in Kotalipara of Gopalganj, Patiya of Chittagong, Comilla, Gazipur, Brahmanbaria, Patuakhali, Sunamganj, Bhairab of Kishoreganj, Narayanganj and Joypurhat district. She also laid the foundation of three projects in Jaipurhat.

Sheikh Hasina urged the party leaders at all level to work together in their areas to implement the development projects taken by the government. She also urged the local representatives to work in coordination of the people for smooth running of the projects.

The prime minister inaugurated five projects of the power division. The projects are- power supply to 6000 families of 90 villages of Kotalipara upazila of Gopalganj, a 108 MW duel-fuel power plant in Patiya, Chittagong, a 150MW duel-fuel power plant at Kadda of Gazipur, 225 MW combined cycle power plant at Ashuganj of Brahminbaria district, a 52.2 MW duel-fuel power plant at Jangalia of Comilla district.

Eighteen projects of the road division are: Sheikh Kamal Bridge and Sheikh Jamal Bridge on Patuakhali-Kuakata highway and newly constructed five bridges in Zakiganj, 11 bridges in Sunamganj of Sylhet zone under Eastern Bangladesh Bridge Improvement Project.

Other projects include: second rail line under Tongi-Bhairab Bazar double line project, seven projects of Local Government Division (LGD) in Narayanganj including a water supply and Sonakanda water treatment plant and four projects of LGD and projects of education, law, women and children affairs, home and youth and sports ministries in Joypurhat.

Minister for Road Transport and Bridges Division Obaidul Qader, PM’s advisors HT Imam, Dr Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, state minister for youth and sports Biren Sikder, and senior officials of the ministries were present at Gonobhaban while PM’s principal secretary Abul Kalam Azad conducted the programme.

Later, the prime minister exchanged views with the local representatives, political leaders and government officials from 11 venues in those districts where the project were implemented.

In this regard the prime minister said it’s a demand since 1954 to construct Dhaka-Chittagong double rail line. But, no government in the past has taken the initiative to fulfil the demand.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has implemented massive development programmes in every field over the last seven years. “A total of 537 bridges were constructed during the time of Awami League government in office,” she said.

The prime minister said the government has chalked out plan to reach electricity to every house and increase the production capacity to 24,000 MW by 2021 and 60,000 MW power by 2041.