Magura: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of 28 development projects involving Tk 327 crore.

After arrival in Magura in the afternoon, the premier opened 19 development schemes by unveiling their plaques from Freedom Fighter Asaduzzaman Stadium.

The 19 projects executed at a cost of Tk 150.31 crore are Magura Technical Training Centre, Muktijoddha Complex Building, Magura 250-bed Hospital, Sreepur Upazila Fire Service and Civil Defence Station, Mahammadpur Upazila Fire Service and Civil Defence Station, an 100.10-meter bridge over the Fatki river in Sadar upazila, a 9.71-kilometer road from Katakhali GC to Ichhakhada R&H in Sadar upazila, the 30-km Natun Bazar Road, an underground water treatment plant, Freedom Fighter Asaduzzaman Stadium, Government Husein Shaheed Suhrawardhy College Administrative Building, Regional Duck Breeding Farm (third phase) at Belnagar in Sadar upazila, a modern training centre and guest house of the Regional Spice Research Centre, Magura District Awami League Office, the 50-bed Sreepur Upazila Health Complex Building, Upgradation of Shalikha Upazila Health Complex to 50-bed, reopening of Magura Textile Mills, Arpara Mother and Child Welfare Centre in Shalikha upazila and Magura Polytechnic Institute.

From the stadium, the prime also laid the foundation stones of nine development schemes to be executed at a cost of Tk 177.11 crore.

The schemes are Magura Regional Passport Office Building, a 96-meter bridge over the Fatki River in Shalikha upazila, a 66-meter bridge over the Fatki River in Shalikha upazila, a 96-meter bridge over Chitra river in Shalikha upazila, the upgradation of Magura portion of the National Highway (N-7) to four lanes, the third Town and Infrastructure Development Project (second phase), Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Centre beside Magura-Jhenidah Highway, Sreepur Upazila Mini Stadium and Shalikha Upazila Mini Stadium.

Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League (AL) president, addressed a public meeting later orgainized by the district AL at Asaduzzaman Stadium.

This is Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's first visit to Magura in nine years, sources said, adding that she last visited the southern district in 2008 to join election campaign.