A recent letter from the Prime Minister's Office asked the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to take steps to bring greater Rangpur and Dinajpur districts under pipe line gas network.

There is no alternative to industrialisation to alleviate poverty in northern districts and pipeline gas supply is vital for this, President of Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) Mostafa Azad Chowdhury said while exchanging views with newsmen.

The PMO issued the order after the RCCI appealed to the

Prime Minister through FBCCI (Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industries) for gas supply.

The RCCI believes the ministry concerned will now move swiftly and prepare a project paper to place it at the next meeting of the ECNEC (Executive Committee of National Economic Council), he said.

Among others, RCCI Senior Vice-president Mohammed Zahangir and its Executive Committee members Nowshad Hossen and Moazzem Hossen Lablu were present at the view exchange meeting, held at the RCCI office recently.

The RCC executives thanked the Prime Minister for her initiative.

They said people of the region had expected steps for gas supply to Rangpur and Dinajpur closely on the heels of opening of the Bangabandhu Jamuna Bridge. Though belated, the Prime Minister's initiative has raised great hopes, they said.

Mohammed Zahangir said many prospective investors in the two districts can not set up industries in the Uttara EPZ at Sayedpur due to absence of gas.

Nowshad Hossen said, " I have set up an industry at Uttara EPZ but could not commission it for want of gas. Using furnace oil in the industry would raise the production cost", he said.