Modern facilities are now available in many villages. But in a landmark move, the government has started implementing a pilot project to expand modern urban facilities and create public resources in every village in the country in phases.
The master plan of the upazilas involved will be finalised in a short period of time for replication in other upazilas across the country to build a planned and climate-resilient sustainable-developed country by 2041, according to Planning Commission sources.
Alongside the development of the villages, the capacity of 15 Union Parishads (UPs) will be enhanced through revenue generation, the implementation of a village support policy framework, the inclusion of voluntary services, and the use of digital technology to provide urban services.
The services of various ministries or departments will be extended to the pilot villages. Activities carried out under the pilot village project and knowledge gained will generate appropriate management, monitoring, evaluation, and documentation for implementation across the country.
CollectedThe Ministry of Local Government has taken up this pilot village development project, titled "Amar Gram, Amar Shohor" or my village, my city, at a cost of Tk800 crore provided by the government.
The project will be implemented by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) and the Public Health Engineering Department by 2026. It was included in the revised annual development program for the financial year 2022-23 as an unauthorised new project without allocation. Recently, it received the approval of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec).
15 Villages Under 15 Districts
Project components
- Road development, bridges, culverts and drains, street lights
- Water supply, sanitation, integrated waste management
- Modern healthcare, medical facilities
- Quality education, computers and high-speed internet facilities
- Increased electricity and fuel supply
- Environmentally-friendly ovens, biogas plants
- Social forestry, more canals and ponds
- Growth centres, rural markets
- Multipurpose sports and cultural complex
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina revealed the idea in the 2018 election manifesto to ensure balanced, non-discriminatory, and inclusive development across the country. The manifesto also announced the vision of transforming the country into a developed country by 2041.
The LGED has already started working to implement this promise. For now, this program will start in 15 villages in 15 selected districts of the country. The authorities will also conduct village branding activities.
The project includes road development, and construction of bridges, culverts, and drains; water supply, sanitation, and integrated waste management; modern healthcare and medical facilities; increased electricity and fuel supply; and quality education, computers, and high-speed internet facilities.
The streets will be illuminated with lamps while environmentally-friendly ovens and biogas plants will be introduced in the villages.
Project Cost: Tk800 Crore
Project to help achieve
- Goal-1 (Poverty Eradication, Target 1.1, 1.3)
- Goal-6 (Safe Water and Sanitation)
- Goal-9 (Sustainable Cities and Towns)
- Goal-12 (moderate consumption and sustainable production)
- SDG-13 (climate action)
More canals and ponds will be dug, and village protection embankments will be constructed under the project. Social forests will be developed too.
There will be growth centres, rural markets and agricultural produce collection centres in the project villages.
Multipurpose sports and cultural complexes will be constructed at the 10 upazilas while school playgrounds will be developed.
CollectedThrough the project, it will be possible to build a developed, prosperous, and "Smart Bangladesh" according to Vision 2041.
The Planning Commission said that the project is in line with the Eighth Five-Year Plan of the government, the Rural Road Development Strategy, the Rural Road Management and Maintenance Strategy, and the priority strategy for rural development.
The results of the research on the issues will be implemented in the pilot project. The outputs of this project are directly or indirectly related to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs Goal-1 (Poverty Eradication, Target 1.1, 1.3), Goal-6 (Safe Water and Sanitation), Goal-9 (Sustainable Cities and Towns), Goal-12 (moderate consumption and sustainable production), and SDG-13 (climate action).
CollectedThe pilot project will coordinate the activities of other departments in the selected villages in addition to those of the Local Government Department. Therefore, implementation of most of the SDG goals and targets will be implemented in the pilot villages.
Local Government Minister Tajul Islam said that the project will help reduce the difference between villages and cities. The pressure on the cities will be reduced. It will also facilitate balanced coordination of government development projects.
"After successful piloting, all the villages of the country will be brought under this facility in a phased manner. Only then will it be possible to build a developed, prosperous and smart country in line with Vision-2041," he added.
