Jessore has seen enviable development in the last ten years, with the implementation of several mega projects, including the construction of specialized educational institutions and rural development projects.
The schemes include the setting up of Jessore Medical College, Jessore Science and Technology University, and Sheikh Hasina Software Park, as well as the dredging of the Bhairab Rriver.
Many roads in the rural areas of Jessore have undergone an overhaul in the last ten years because it is a priority project of the government, and the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) is working tirelessly to achieve this goal, officials say.
During this period, the Jessore LGED has constructed and maintained about 4,000km of various roads and 2,250 metres of bridges in the district. An area of about 27km has been brought under the social afforestation scheme while 20 village huts have had new infrastructure. A farmer service center has been set up in Keshabpur Upazila of the district at a cost of Tk1.20 crore.
On the other hand, the LGED has constructed 46 houses and eight buildings for Freedom Fighters. Besides, it has built 210 mosques, temples, Eidgahs, graveyards and crematories across the district.
Apart from improving rural infrastructure and the communication system, the LGED is also working for the advancement of agriculture, education, health, employment generation, livelihood and human resources development.
Jessore LGED Executive Engineer AKM Anisuzzaman said that the development of rural roads and infrastructure was a top priority.
“In the last ten years, Jessore LGED has implemented projects worth around Tk2,000 crore for rural infrastructure development. The villages have changed with the implementation of large projects for rural infrastructure development. Many more projects are underway,” he told Dhaka Tribune.
According to LGED sources, the authorities regularly maintain these roads to build a sustainable rural road network to keep them usable throughout the year. As a result, the rural economy and social activities have increased, and vehicle maintenance costs and accidents have decreased.
“The LGED has opened up new possibilities in public life by constructing bridges and culverts over rivers and canals, thus creating an accessible and uninterrupted road network. The government is also implementing new projects to develop the social safety net by creating employment opportunities for rural women in tree plantations,” said Engineer Anisuzzaman.
The Water Development Board has implemented the dredging and excavation of 4km of the Bhairab River.
On the other hand, Tk313 crore was spent for the construction of the science and technology university, Tk305 crore for the software technology park, Tk1 crore for the construction of a modern terminal at the airport.
Besides, the 10-storey building of the magistrate's court, modernization of Jessore Railway Station, construction of a state-of-the-art auditorium at PTI, construction of a modern post office building, the establishment of Jessore Sadar Upazila Muktijoddha Complex, construction of a five-storey building of the Agricultural Extension Department, beautification and modernization of Jessore Municipal Park have been implemented over the last ten years.
Sheikh Masuduzzaman Mithu, coordinator of Nagorik Odhikar Andolan, said that Jessore district had been neglected in the past. “It is true that there has been great development in Jessore during the tenure of this government. However, sustainable development has been lacking.”
He added: “Although there is a medical college, we don't have a hospital with 500 beds. Although Jessore is the hub of Khulna, Jhenaidah, Magura and Narail areas, the airport has not yet been upgraded into an international one. The Bhairab River has been dredged, but it has now become a canal.”
Civil society leaders and politicians have also demanded that the government upgrade Jessore into a municipality and division.
Kazi Nabil Ahmed, Member of Parliament from Jessore-3 constituency, thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for implementing development projects in the district since the Awami League came to power in 2009.
The lawmaker said, “The people of our southern region have got the Padma Bridge. The Kalna Bridge has been inaugurated recently, through which Jessore has been beautifully connected with the country's mainland.
“Jessore-Khulna is going to be the third economic corridor after Dhaka and Chittagong through the Kalna Bridge according to the government's plan.”