Mongla, Nov 13 (V7N) – The foundation stone of the “Begum Khaleda Zia Academy School and College & Old Age Home” has been laid in the Telikhali area of Chila Union under Mongla upazila. The project was inaugurated on Thursday afternoon by Md. Zulfiqar Ali, president of the Mongla Municipality BNP unit, former mayor, and a nomination aspirant for the Mongla–Rampal parliamentary constituency.

Zulfiqar Ali has undertaken the initiative to establish the project on six acres of land purchased with his personal funds. He stated that the construction work will begin with his own financing, and later he plans to seek government assistance to further expand and enrich the project. The planned complex will include a technical school and college, a madrasa, an orphanage, a marine academy, student dormitories, and an old age home.

Speaking at the event, BNP leader Zulfiqar Ali said that the region lacks access to technical education, depriving many students of skill-based learning opportunities. “This is a remote and neglected area where many children cannot pursue education due to poverty and isolation. Keeping their needs in mind, I decided to establish this institution in the scenic environment along the Pashur River near the Sundarbans in honor of our national leader Begum Khaleda Zia,” he said.

He described Begum Khaleda Zia as an uncompromising national leader and expressed that his initiative is inspired by her ideals. Zulfiqar Ali added that the project’s formal inauguration will later be attended by central BNP leaders.

Explaining the inclusion of an old age home, he noted, “Many elderly parents are neglected and treated as burdens by their families. I have witnessed their suffering, and that’s why I decided to include an old age home in this project. Although it is difficult for me alone to complete such a large project, with future government support, it can be fully implemented.”

Highlighting his previous contributions, Zulfiqar Ali said, “As the former mayor of Mongla Port Municipality, I elevated the municipality from a second-class to a first-class one and achieved the highest level of development in its history. If I receive BNP’s nomination and get elected, I am confident I can bring sustainable development to the southern region’s most neglected areas.”

The foundation-laying ceremony was presided over by Upazila BNP President Abdul Mannan Hawlader. Among others present were Municipal BNP General Secretary Mahbubur Rahman Manik, Organizational Secretary Nasir Talukdar, former Joint Convenor Khorshed Alam, Municipal BNP President Komola Begum, Upazila BNP Senior Joint Convenor Abu Taleb Hawlader, and Joint Convenor Rustam Sheikh.

The event marked the beginning of an ambitious socio-educational initiative aimed at empowering youth and supporting the elderly in one of Bangladesh’s coastal communities.

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