People of remote villages in Jaldhaka upazila told this to Plan International Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tom Miller during his visit to different projects of the global organisation on Thursday.

'Plan workers made us aware about the basic necessities of life. Previously various diseases made our lives miserable. Death of women during childbirth was a common feature. Families were burdened with children as parents failed to provide them with basic necessities like food, clothings, shelter, health and education', they said.

Tom Miller was overwhelmed to see enthusiasm of the beneficiaries.

His wife Bony Miller accompanied him during his visit.

Tom Miller arrived in Bangladesh on January 23.

The CEC visited the Child Development Centre at Balapara Government Primary School under Learning Programme Project.

He witnessed different activities for development of physical, mental and emotional growth of children of 0 to 3 age group.

He visited a nursery at Balapara village in Koimari union under Family Economic Security Project.

At one stage of visit, he showed keen interest in a locally made Treadle Pump (manually run) used to irrigate saplings in the nursery. He enjoyed in operating the pump himself.

During his visit to various centres under Integrated Nutrition Project in Rother Bazaar, he asked various questions to its beneficiaries.

His wife Bony Miller wanted to know how many of them have only one or two children. Most of them replied in the affirmative.

Earlier, on arrival at Balapara Government Primary School ground in Koimari Union, about 13 kilometre off Jaldhaka, Tom Miller and his entourage was given a warm reception by the villagers. Thousands of them greeted them with applause. Several hundred school students displayed physical exercises and rendered songs.

In a welcome address, Koimari Union Parishad Chairman Fazlur Rahman thanked Tom Miller and his entourage for visiting the poverty-stricken union.

Jaldhaka Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Saleh Uddin Ahmed, Plan International Regional Director (Asia) Michael Diamond, Communication Officer Gari Walker, Country Director (Bangladesh) Edward Thomas Espey and others accompanied Tom Miller during the visit.