The city has immense prospects but those could not be translated into success because of the petty political interest of the parties concerned and narrowness of the politicians, the speakers observed while expressing their views on “The role of Chittagong in the national economy: Problems and prospects” at the conference room of Engineers' Institute yesterday. The daily Sangbad organised the roundtable with its Editor Bazlur Rahman in the chair.

The speakers said if we can place any of our demands through a united platform no government could deny it.

Renowned social scientist Dr Anupam Sen presented the keynote paper at the roundtable while Executive Editor of Sangbad Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul was the moderator.

Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, economist Prof Dr Sikandar Khan, former Vice Chancellor of Chittagong University (CU) Dr Alamgir Mohammad Sirajuddin, Awami League (AL) north district president Mosharraf Hossain, former Labour and Human Resources Minister MA Mannan, former general secretary of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Dastagir Chowdhury, former CCC Mayor Mahmudul Islam Chowdhury, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) city President Mrinal Chowdhury, General Secretary Shah Alam, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) Chittagong unit Co-ordinator Razekuzzaman Ratan and Workers' Party City Convener Abu Hanif discussed on the topics.

The speakers urged to form a committee comprising the specialists for providing suggestions to help implement the Third Karnaphuli Bridge.