GAIBANDHA, Oct 30, 2023 (BSS)- Bangladesh Awami League, one of the major
political parties in Bangladesh, being the ruling party of the country since
2009 which came to power through a landslide victory of general election held
on December 29, 2008.

After coming to power, the government thought that if the road communication
system of the country is good, the socio-economic condition of the people
particularly the rural ones will be changed, there is no doubt. In a word,
without the road communication development, no change would occur in rural
economy and the fates of rural people as well.

To that end, the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took
initiative to improve the road connectivity between upazila towns and Union
Parishad (UP) complexes, growth centers, rural haats, bazars, markets
including important villages.
 
Accordingly, rural roads, bridges and culverts were constructed in the
district through Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) under the
Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.

Office sources said a total of 1800-km of rural roads of seven upazilas of
the district have been constructed during the period from 2009 to 2023.
 
As many as five big size bridges have also built during the period.

Apart from it, a total of 55 UP complexes have been constructed side by side
infrastructural development works were done for six UP complexes and 28
growth centers and haat-bazar of the district.

The infrastructural development was done for 1,180 primary schools and
primary training institute including upazila resource centers.

Small water resources management development has been done for 4,000 hectares
of land and 17 sluice gates or regulators have been constructed to keep water
in the water bodies and remove water from the water bodies whenever it is
necessary.

A total of 53-km of canal has been excavated to remove water from the
cropland of the canal quickly and around 25-km of embankment has been built.
 
Seven muktijoddha complexes have been constructed in the district and the
houses have also been constructed for 27 insolvent freedom fighters.

In addition to it, maintenance works have also been done for 1500-km of roads
in the district.

Ali Akbar Miah, former commander of Sadar upazila Muktijoddha Sangsad, said
earlier, rural roads were not constructed. All roads and bridges in the
village have been constructed during the current government and the dirt and
muddy road can no longer be seen, he added.

Now, the rural people are earning economic benefit through selling their
agro-product to the customers of upazila and district towns frequently
through the pucca roads constructed by the LGED, he added.

"As a result, the socio-economic conditions of the growers are being changed
gradually," he said, adding that rural people are enjoying the modern
facilities like electricity and internet here.

Social worker Md. Al Mahmud Hossain said because of good communication
system, many unemployed youths have become traders by setting up shops on the
intersection of the roads resulting nobody has to go to towns for purchasing
small things.

Md. Touhidul Islam, a town dweller, said the change in the rural economy by
the government could be understood if anyone goes to any villages after 10
years.

Md. Sabiul Islam, executive engineer of LGED here, said a gigantic bridge is
also being constructed over the Teesta River at the direct supervision of
LGED.
 
The bridge would create road connectivity between Gaibandha and neighboring
Kurigram district side by side with improving the living standard of
riverbank people of both the districts, he added.

Over 80 percent works of the bridge had already been completed and the
infrastructure of the bridge has become visible, he further said.

The opening of the bridge will usher in a new horizon in the communication
system in the northern region of the country, he concluded.