Photo: BSS

By Md. Nasir Ahmed  

BOGURA, April 2, 2026 (BSS) – People of Bogura, known as the gateway to the northern region of Bangladesh, have long been deprived of development, allegedly due to the district being the home of the then main opposition leader and current Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

Residents said the previous regime kept the region neglected by allocating minimal budgets and undertaking limited development works, causing prolonged sufferings for the local population.

Now, with the country’s top leadership elected from Bogura, locals have renewed their hopes and are expecting a comprehensive master plan to transform the ancient town into a modern and smart city, ending the development stagnations for long.

People identified persistent water logging, poor waste management, and severe traffic congestion as the key peoples of the area.

Milon Rahman, Vice-President of the Conscious Citizens Committee (SONAK) of Bogura said traffic congestion is the city’s primary problem, closely linked to drainage issues and illegal occupation of footpaths.

He stressed the need to restore navigability of the Karatoya River by opening the Katakhali regulator in Gobindaganj, alongside dredging operations and eviction of encroachers.

Cultural activist Preeti Dutta echoed similar concerns, saying “Traffic congestion and the occupation of footpaths by hawkers have turned daily commuting into a hardship for pedestrians.”

They, both, urged that any upcoming plan must include regulation of vehicles based on traffic volume surveys and freeing footpaths from illegal occupation.

According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics’ 2022 Population and Housing Census, Bogura district has a population of 3,734,297, of whom 961,354 reside in urban areas. The population density stands at 1,288 people per square kilometre, underscoring the need for scientific urban planning.

Amid this context, a renewed sense of optimism has emerged among residents, who expect a fundamental transformation of the long-neglected infrastructure.

In this regard, BSS spoke to urban planner of Bogura Municipality Mohammad Al Mehedi Hasan about the development plan and current situation.

He identified water logging as one of the city’s major challenges need to be addressed  with urgency.

“Nearly two-thirds of the city remains outside the main drainage network. A sustainable solution is not possible without a scientific master plan including manual surveys for water discharge, are currently being undertaken in some areas,” he said.

Asked about traffic congestion, he said with strict maintenance and application of existing traffic rules, the problem can easily be sorted out.  
 
On recent development situation, he said, “After August 5, 2024, a proposal was sent to the Local Government Division to formulate a modern master plan. In response, the Local Government Engineering Department has given the green signal to initiate the work.”

Another urban planner, Mehedi Hasan, identified waste management and environmental protection as critical issues. 

He said,” Around 200 tons of waste are generated daily in Bogura city, requiring a large and systematic arrangement for proper disposal.”

“Approval has been received to purchase land for a dedicated dumping station, where solid waste management and a fecal sludge treatment plant will be established,” he noted.

He also cautioned residents against connecting septic tanks directly to drains, describing it as an inhumane practice.

The planner expressed hope that proper implementation of a modern master plan, aligned with the city’s large population, would enable Bogura to emerge as a truly smart city not only in name but also in terms of services and modernity.