People of Noakhali suffering because of poor infrastructure
Saturday, 11 August 2007
Naim-Ul-Karim
Back from Noakhali
Poor infrastructure, including communication, remains the major impediment to the growth of the rural economy in the districts of Bhulua, currently known as greater Noakhali.
Noakhali, one of the oldest districts of the country which was established in 1821, was split into three districts-Noakhali, Feni and Lakshmipur-in 1984.
Mentioning the road as the only way of transportation for most of the villagers, Rafique Ullah Miah said just one day's downpour detaches most of the rural villages from the upazila sadar for a couple of days.
The waterways that were earlier used to go to upazila sadars and district towns, have either dried up or were occupied by land grabbers.
"Marketing of commodities including perishable items remains suspended during the rainy season," says Rahim Bepari. "You have seen rotting vegetable lying in the fields."
Says Suroj Miah: "For the last seven days I could not supply milk to customers as the five kilometre road from my house to the upazila sadar has become totally unsuable."
A farmer said that production cost was going up because bringing agriculture materials including fertiliser or sending commodities to and from the upazila sadar or nearby market is becoming costly.
"We cannot understand how the district, home to thousands of illustrious people of the country, remains undeveloped," commented Nazmul Islam, an eighty year old schoolteacher.
Islam said that to protect agricultural activities in the north-eastern region of Bhulua from floodwater due to heavy down flow from the Tripura hills through Dakatia river, a canal was excavated in 1660 across Ramganj, Sonaimudi and Chaumuhani to divert the flow of water to the junction of the rivers Meghna and Feni. The region was renamed "Noakhali" after "Noa" (new) and "khal" (canal) in1668.
Locals say that many Non-Resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) return home with a handsome amount after staying abroad for a few years and try to do something in village. However, when they fail they either go back abroad or end up in the capital or other divisional cities to make a living.
"We are keen to establish small and medium enterprises in the village but frequent load shedding, poor transportation and no supply of gas continue to thwart us," said, Abdur Razzak, NRB. Amir Hossain of Dagon Bhuiyan upazila told this correspondent that money was not a problem there believe it or not. "You will get one or more men working abroad from each home," he said. "The problem is poor infrastructure."
Locals maintain that if the government developed the transportation system, provided gas and ensured power supply, people of these districts could take the initiative for their own progress.
Back from Noakhali
Poor infrastructure, including communication, remains the major impediment to the growth of the rural economy in the districts of Bhulua, currently known as greater Noakhali.
Noakhali, one of the oldest districts of the country which was established in 1821, was split into three districts-Noakhali, Feni and Lakshmipur-in 1984.
Mentioning the road as the only way of transportation for most of the villagers, Rafique Ullah Miah said just one day's downpour detaches most of the rural villages from the upazila sadar for a couple of days.
The waterways that were earlier used to go to upazila sadars and district towns, have either dried up or were occupied by land grabbers.
"Marketing of commodities including perishable items remains suspended during the rainy season," says Rahim Bepari. "You have seen rotting vegetable lying in the fields."
Says Suroj Miah: "For the last seven days I could not supply milk to customers as the five kilometre road from my house to the upazila sadar has become totally unsuable."
A farmer said that production cost was going up because bringing agriculture materials including fertiliser or sending commodities to and from the upazila sadar or nearby market is becoming costly.
"We cannot understand how the district, home to thousands of illustrious people of the country, remains undeveloped," commented Nazmul Islam, an eighty year old schoolteacher.
Islam said that to protect agricultural activities in the north-eastern region of Bhulua from floodwater due to heavy down flow from the Tripura hills through Dakatia river, a canal was excavated in 1660 across Ramganj, Sonaimudi and Chaumuhani to divert the flow of water to the junction of the rivers Meghna and Feni. The region was renamed "Noakhali" after "Noa" (new) and "khal" (canal) in1668.
Locals say that many Non-Resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) return home with a handsome amount after staying abroad for a few years and try to do something in village. However, when they fail they either go back abroad or end up in the capital or other divisional cities to make a living.
"We are keen to establish small and medium enterprises in the village but frequent load shedding, poor transportation and no supply of gas continue to thwart us," said, Abdur Razzak, NRB. Amir Hossain of Dagon Bhuiyan upazila told this correspondent that money was not a problem there believe it or not. "You will get one or more men working abroad from each home," he said. "The problem is poor infrastructure."
Locals maintain that if the government developed the transportation system, provided gas and ensured power supply, people of these districts could take the initiative for their own progress.