RANGPUR, Feb 18, 2019 (BSS) – The Local Government Engineering Department
(LGED) implemented infrastructural uplift spending Taka 6,578 crore in last
ten years immensely contributing to rural development in Rangpur division.
“We have completed massive infrastructural uplift under 40 major projects
at Taka 6,578 crore in last ten years in Rangpur division,” said Additional
Chief Engineer of LGED for Rangpur division AKM Harun-ur-Rashid.
Side by side with improving rural communication networks, the
infrastructural development has improved livelihoods and economy of rural
people by cutting poverty and ensuring fair price of agricultural products.
“The implemented projects include development of rural infrastructures in
various sectors like communications, primary education, construction of union
and upazila parisahd complexes, land offices, rubber dam, repairing and
maintenance of small-scale water resource projects and other works in the
division,” he said.
Construction of many roads, bridges and culverts, rural markets, sanitary
latrines, installation of tube-wells and tree plantation has boosted income
of the rural population, including women, in the division.
“Besides, massive infrastructural development schemes are being
implemented aiming at attaining a sustainable development in rural areas on
way to achieve the sustainable developments goals,” he said.
Executive Engineer of LGED for Rangpur Md. Akhter Hossain said huge
infrastructural uplift has been completed spending Taka 716-crore improving
communication, environment and socioeconomic conditions of common people in
the district in last ten years.
The major works include construction of 872.50-km roads at Taka 577.72
crore, 2,753-m bridges and culverts at Taka 78.15 crore, nine hats and
bazaars at Taka 41-crore, four upazila complexes at Taka 15.63 crore and 22
union parisahd complexes at Taka 11.42 crore in all eight upazilas of the
district.
“The projects also include construction works of seven Upazila Muktijoddha
Complexes, 23 houses for insolvent Freedom Fighters, Regional Station of
Bangladesh Institute of Research and Training on Applied Nutrition (BIRTAN),”
Engineer Hossain said.
Besides, rural community people were imparted training for raising their
awareness on health and nutrition and participation of women and local
government institutions have been intensified in planning, implementation and
maintenance activities.
Talking to BSS, Divisional Director (Local Government) Md. Zakir Hossain
said massive infrastructural uplifts implemented by LGED at Taka 6,578 crore
in last ten years have changed socioeconomic scenario and communication
networks in Rangpur division.
“For example, the Sheikh Hasina Bridge constructed at Mohipur point on the
Teesta bridging Rangpur and Lalmonirhat and the Sheikh Hasina Dharla Bridge
at Shimulbari point on the Dharla bridging Lalmonirhat and Kurigram have
improved regional communication networks,” he said.
President of Rangpur Chamber Mostafa Sohrab Chowdhury Titu said the LGED-
constructed Sheikh Hasina Bridge and Sheikh Hasina Dharla Bridge have
unlocked a new entrance to progress improving communication system in the
region.
Easier communication using the two bridges has created a real opportunity
to expand regional and international trade and promote agriculture, health,
education and other sectors to change socio-economic conditions of common
people.
“Construction of these two bridges on the Teesta and Dharla have removed
the decades-old barrier by establishing direct road communication making
movement of people easier and fulfilling another long-cherished hope of
around 40-lakh people,” Titu added.