Shawdesh desk:

Moulvibazar district under Sylhet division has turned into a development hub in the past one decade. The changes are visible in all sectors, including road communication, health, infrastructure, education, social security, and agriculture.

Under the National Agricultural Technology Program, the local authorities have made technology available to the farmers at a cost of Tk526 crore. The farmers also received seeds, which boosted their crop production by up to 15%.

To make good use of the fertile land in the district, the government undertook three different projects at a cost of Tk504 crore, which have benefited farmers in producing lemon, oil, and other seeds.

Farmers have been made to use organic fertilizers instead of traditional fertilizers. As a result, they are now producing safer food items as well. This particular project was undertaken at a cost of Tk172 crore.

The authorities also promoted the use of solar power and automatic farming at a cost of Tk65 crore. Another Tk119 crore has been spent on better informing the farmers of the weather forecast so that they are one step ahead all the time.

Besides, another project worth Tk270 crore is currently underway to make better-quality seeds readily available to the farmers. Under the project, the farmers have received seeds of rice, wheat, and jute so far.

There has been a spree of infrastructural development in Moulvibazar in the past ten years. The local government has constructed police station buildings in Juri and Borolekha at a cost of Tk12 crore. Another Tk4 crore has been spent on the fire service and civil defence station in Rajnagar upazila.

The Sherpur Highway Outpost has been built at a cost of Tk6 crore. The extension of the Chief Judicial Magistrate building from the fifth floor to the eighth took another Tk44 crore. Three model mosques are being built in Borolekha, Kamalganj, and Rajnagar for Tk11.5 crore.

A technical training centre has been set up in Borolekha at a cost of Tk13 crore. A regional passport office has been built at a cost of Tk5.30 crore. Another project to protect Sadar upazila, Rajnagar and Kulaura from river erosion has been undertaken, which will cost Tk67 crore.

The local road communication has seen a boost at the same time, with Tk76 crore spent on 56km road development, 83-metre bridge setup, and 380-metre culvert construction, among other activities. Tk333 crore is being spent on improving the quality of roads and their extension. Tk99 crore is being spent on building the Rajapur Bridge and the 7.5km approach road.

Tk86 crore has been spent on a project titled “Extension of Important Regional Highways”. As a result, road communication has become smoother and safer for passengers.

To promote education and cultural activities, the local bodies spent Tk5.5 crore and built a library building. Tk22 crore has been spent on building the district Shilpakala Academy. Auditoriums have been built in Srimangal, Kamalganj, Borolekha and Kulaura at a cost of Tk18 crore. To preserve the culture of Monipur, a Monipuri cultural academy has been set up at a cost of Tk16 crore.

The other development activities in the sector include the building of the academic building of Dughar Srimati High School, construction and repair work at Dr Md Abdus Shaheed College, and setting up computer labs in the district.

Under the social security net, local authorities distributed 32,832 tons of rice among destitute women between 2012 and 2022. Pregnant women have received Tk800 per month, and a total of Tk30 crore has been distributed among them.

To improve the lives of tea garden workers, Tk142 crore has been spent. Other activities in the sector include the construction and allocation of disaster-resistant houses, the setting up of electrical lines, and making women self-reliant.

To contribute to the health sector, the local authorities have built a 50-bed health complex in Juri Upazila. The Rajnagar health complex has been elevated to 50 beds from 31. A total of 22 health and family welfare centres and community clinics have also been built.

Apart from these, a number of mosques, temples, and graveyards have been built and constructed during the past ten years.

Md Samsuddin Ahmed, deputy director of the district Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), told Dhaka Tribune that a number of farmers have benefited from various projects undertaken by the government. They are now receiving fertilizer and seeds free of charge whenever needed.

Ahmed Abdullah, executive engineer at the Local Government Engineering Department, said the people of the district are now enjoying the benefits of some quality progress in the infrastructural development sector.

Ruling party Member of Parliament from Moulvibazar-4, Dr Md Abdus Shahid, who is also a former chief whip in Parliament, said: “The country is progressing under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina… If one wants the development work to continue, then the government must be reelected as well.”