A daylong mass convention will be held in Silchar, the headquarters of Cachar district in south Assam, on Saturday to discuss issues related to the economic development of Barak Valley.

The convention is being held under the aegis of Swartharaksha Sangram Parishad, which has invited all the 15 MLAs and two MPs of the valley to the event.

Besides, former Union minister Kabindra Purkayastha, former Silchar MP Sushmita Dev and former MLA Mission Ranjan Das, who is the chairman of Assam Industrial Development Corporation, have also been invited to share their views.

The Parishad’s general secretary, Haridas Dutta, said the entire valley is economically backward and it’s high time that issues related to its development are discussed.

He said they have been demanding a bio-diesel refinery using jatropha to be set up in the valley but the government has not taken any initiative yet.

He said there is also scope to establish milk industry under Gokul Mission but the state government is allegedly not taking any initiative.

The only industry, Cachar Paper Mill of HPCL, has also been closed.