|| Gazipur Correspondent: Construction of modern playgrounds and futsal turfs in all eight zones and 57 wards of Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) is expected to begin soon, City Corporation Administrator Shawkat Hossain Sarker has said.He made the disclosure while addressing a discussion meeting organised by Tongi Press Club on Thursday to mark the second anniversary of the mass uprising. The discussion was titled “Two Years of the Mass Uprising: Achievements, Expectations and Bangladesh of Tomorrow.”As the chief guest, the city administrator said land for the proposed sports facilities had already been identified and the necessary Development Project Proposal (DPP) had been prepared and submitted to the ministry.“Work will begin quickly once the project receives approval,” he said.Shawkat Hossain also highlighted several other development initiatives in Tongi. He said the traditional College Gate Auditorium and Stadium premises had been recovered with funding from the city corporation.“Engineers from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) are working on the design of an international-standard modern stadium there. A design is also being prepared for a 10-storey building at the site of the city corporation’s regional office,” he said.He further said initiatives would be taken to ease public suffering by completing the unfinished works under the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project as soon as possible.Plans also include installing railing and fencing in the Cherag Ali and College Gate areas, opening a new foot overbridge and constructing an attractive permanent building for Tongi Press Club, he added.Former president of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Joint Editor of Amar Desh M Abdullah was the principal discussant at the programme.He said one of the major achievements of the mass uprising was the restoration of freedom of expression and the aspiration for a free Bangladesh.“Journalism and freedom of speech were severely restricted during the previous government’s tenure. Professional journalists must be properly recognised and supported to eliminate unprofessional journalism,” Abdullah said.He also recalled various initiatives taken for the development of the journalism profession, saying former president Ziaur Rahman established the National Press Club, Press Institute Bangladesh (PIB) and Press Council and took steps to introduce government-scale salaries and allowances for journalists.He added that former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia had also made significant contributions to protecting the interests of journalists.The programme was presided over by Tongi Press Club President Alhaj Meraj Uddin, while its General Secretary Sheikh Azizul Haque conducted the event.Among others, former Senior Joint General Secretary of Gazipur Metropolitan BNP Mahbubul Alam Shukkur, former president of the metropolitan Jubo Dal and president of Tongi West Thana BNP Professor Bashir Uddin, former metropolitan BNP Office Secretary Abdur Rahim Khan Kala, GMP (South) Additional Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ziaul Haque, Journalist Union Gazipur General Secretary Mohammad Hedayet Ullah, and former Tongi Press Club presidents Nurul Islam and Syed Atik attended the discussion. A large number of journalists from print and electronic media were also present.