They hoped that the caretaker government would come forward to fulfill demands of the people of greater Khulna and take steps to utilize resources in the region, particularly frozen foods, to earn foreign exchange.

The pre-budget meeting was presided over by president of Greeter Khulna Development Action Coordination Committee (GKDACC) and editor of Dainik Purbanchal Liaquat Ali. The speakers included former Awami League (AL) lawmaker Enayet Ali, former general secretary of Khulna city BNP Nazrul Islam Manzu, chairperson of Khulna Nagorik Forum Shaikh Abdul Kayyum, advocate Syda Sabiha Sultana, advocate Kudrat-e-Khuda and president of Khulna Chamber of Commerce and Industry Shaharuzzaman Martuza.

City Mayor Shaikh Tayebur Rahman and Vice Chancellor of Khulna University Prof Dr. Mahbubur Rahman attended the discussion meeting as chief guest and special guest respectively.

The meeting was jointly organised by GKDACC, Khulna Nagorik Forum and Khulna Nagarik Committee.

Mayor Shaikh Tayebur Rahman said that he would spare no pains to fight for realising the legitimate rights of people of greater Khulan. He called for united efforts by all irrespective of party affiliations to achieve this goal.

Liaquat Ali called for unity of all political leaders to put pressure on the government to allocate more funds in the next national budget to implement development projects. The projects demanded by people for long include construction of proposed Padma bridge at Mawa, modernisation of Mongla port, reopening of Khulna News Print Mills, installation of a 210 MW power plant in Khulna, supply of pipeline gas and reopening of laid-off jute mills.

The meeting was held at the Purbanchal Dialogue Centre in the city.