CHITTAGONG: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wednesday urged the country’s people to keep their confidence in the workings of the government as it is working to solve all the problems in public life.

“Don’t lose your patience, keep confidence.  The government is working to solve all the problems in public life,” she said while addressing a public meeting at Patiya at noon after inaugurating the 150mw gas-fired Shikalbaha power plant.

Criticizing the main opposition BNP, she said, “The country will be ruined if BNP goes to power again. Everybody should remain alert so that this evil force cannot assume power once again.”  

Hasina reiterated her resolve to sacrifice her life like her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, if need be, for establishing people’s rights.  

She apprised her audience of her government’s measures for resolving the power crisis. She said that, at present, some 4,500 megawatts of power is being generated in the country and 1,600 mw more likely to be generated within this coming December.  

“Besides, initiative has been taken to generate 2,000mw power through establishing coal-fired power plant in Chittagong,” the Prime Minister said, about the planned massive power project.

Chittagong south district Awami League president Akhtaruzzaman Babu MP presided over the meeting.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in the port city in the morning to inaugurate three other installations, including the 3rd Karnaphuli bridge, Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Ltd and a new court building, under a massive development plan for Chittagong.

Hasina was also to hold a meeting with lawyers and local leaders of her party after the inauguration of the new court building.

Tight security measures were taken in the areas the Prime Minister attended programmes in the port city during her daylong busy schedule for the country’s seafront commercial capital.

Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) Deputy Commissioner (Sadar) Md. Mainul Islam told banglanews that 4,000 cops were deployed at five venues for PM’s visit.

Forty-eight traffic sergeants and 296 constables worked to make the Prime Minister’s route through the city free from traffic jam, Mainul informed.

“Besides, teams of navy and coastguard personnel are patrolling the river Karnaphuli,” he said.   

Earlier, the first unit of 300-MW power plant was shut down due to shortage of gas just seven days after the inauguration of that plant.

The Power Development Board signed the deal with Messrs Sino-hydro Corporation on February 20 in 2008 for setting up the plant.

The peak-hour plant has been set up at a cost of Tk 639.28 crore against the estimated cost of Tk 777.98 crore.

In the meantime, the plant went into trial operation on August 16.

BDST :1420 HRS, SEP 08, 2010