Development should be inclusive

Amid all the development that Bangladesh has been witnessing of late, it may be hard to believe that there are still villages where people are deprived of basic facilities, such as education and healthcare, or bridges over the rivers flowing through those villages. Over the years, this daily has published a number of stories of such neglected villages, where development seems like an unknown word. One such report, published on Monday, revealed the predicament of the people of seven villages at Mokna union in Nagarpur upazila, Tangail. For decades, with no concrete bridge over one of the branches of the Dhaleswari River connecting these villages, the villagers have been suffering on a daily basis.

At present, there is a fragile bamboo bridge over the river that the villagers themselves built three years ago. Every day, commuters including school and college students use the bridge to go to their destinations. Since it is built on the road that connects the Upazila Headquarters with the seven villages, people heading to the headquarters for various purposes have no other option but to cross the bridge. In the absence of a concrete bridge, they often have to cross the river by small boats. It is particularly difficult for the locals to take emergency patients to the upazila health complex, while farmers also face difficulties to carry their produce to the nearby markets.

The villagers reportedly raised the issue to the local administration several times, and were given the assurance that a permanent bridge would be constructed there. Unfortunately, that promise has yet to materialise.

We urge the authorities concerned to look into the matter and direct the responsible departments to take necessary measures to build a concrete bridge in Mokna union as early as possible. Once built, this small bridge would not only make the lives of the villagers easy by improving communication, but will also create scopes for better trade and business, enhancing the villagers' economic condition. As we have already said, there are many such neglected villages, especially in regions where poverty is traditionally high with fewer economic opportunities. Any development work undertaken there may not make big headlines, but this is where development is most needed. We hope the government will pay equal attention to their development by building the necessary infrastructure, so that these people are included in our overall development drive.