Shamsul Alam , Thakurgaon
Thakurgaon Airport was re-opened and a human chain was observed demanding the establishment of a medical college. This human chain was celebrated for an hour on Wednesday at the crossroads of the city. Sadar Upazila A-League president Adv. Arunanshu Dutt Tito, Thakurgaon Press Club President Mansoor Ali, District A-League Publicity and Publication Affairs Secretary Mostafizur Rahman Ripon, prominent businessman Obaidullah Masud, prominent social worker Md. Mamun Ur Rashid, journalist Tanvir Hasan Tanu, Kamrul Islam and others. Mominul Islam Vishal, one of the organizers of the committee formed to demand the reopening of Thakurgaon Airport and the establishment of a medical college, moderated. After the human chain, a memorandum was presented to the Minister of Health and Family Welfare and the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority through the Deputy Commissioner. People from all levels of the district including students of various educational institutions of the district and members of various social and cultural organizations participated in the human chain. Speakers said that the people of Thakurgaon and Panchagarh feel very comfortable going through the Banglabandha border to travel to Siliguri, Darjeeling and Sikkim’s capital Gangtok as well as for shopping and medical services. Which is not good for the people of the country. One of the reasons may be easier communication system. The distance from these 2 districts to the capital is 400 to 500 km. A long journey takes 10 to 12 hours to reach Dhaka by rail or road. By air, the distance from Syedpur to Thakurgaon and Panchagarh is more than 70 to 140 km. Therefore, the people of these two districts expect Thakurgaon airport to be opened immediately. If started, about 4 million people will be able to establish communication with the capital Dhaka very easily. Speakers also said that the prevalence of diseases is much higher in these districts during winter. People of this region have to go to Dinajpur or Rangpur for better treatment. Transferring sick patients from hospitals in these 2 districts increases the risk of death on the way. For this reason, a medical college in this district is very important.