Local Government and Rural Development plays a crucial role in the realisation of “Vision 2041,” the millennium development goals, and the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The current government committed during the national election 2018 to bridge the gap between rural and urban areas and to ensure equal access to essential services for all citizens. The initiative “My Village, My City” was introduced to fulfil this pledge. Through dedicated efforts for rural development, significant progress has already been made in reducing poverty rates in the country. According to the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics in 2022, poverty rates in urban areas have decreased by 4.2 per cent, while rural areas have experienced a decline of 5.9 per cent compared to the figures from 2016.
Over the past 14 years, significant efforts have been made to construct and expand both rural and urban infrastructure. In rural areas, a remarkable 74,702 kilometres of paved roads, 430,197 meters of new bridges, 1,767 Union parishad complex buildings, and 399 upazila parishad complex buildings have been built or extended. Furthermore, urban areas have witnessed the construction of 11,078 kilometres of roads/footpaths, 4,570 kilometres of drains, 18,845 meters of bridges/culverts, 45 bus/truck terminals, and 53 community centres.
Water supply and sanitation systems have also undergone visible improvements during the present government’s tenure. Approximately 1,013,200 arsenic-free safe water sources have been installed in rural areas, along with 1,461 productive tube-wells in municipal areas through various development projects. The government has initiated the ‘Dhaka Water Supply Network Improvement Project’ through Dhaka WASA to ensure safe drinking water for city residents.
Efforts toward establishing a modern urban system have been relentless, resulting in the establishment of five new city corporations in the past 14 years. The government is actively working towards digitising the services provided by city corporations and municipalities. Additionally, measures are being taken to address waterlogging issues in major cities, particularly in Dhaka. The Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has initiated the ‘Canal Restoration, Renovation, and Creating Aesthetic Environment’ project, slated for implementation during FY2022 and FY2026.
To foster rural economic development and create employment opportunities, the government has implemented various programmes aimed at expanding infrastructure facilities. Reflecting the people-centric cooperative vision of Bangabandhu, the ‘Bangabandhu Model Village’ project is currently being implemented from July 2021 to June 2024. Moreover, plans have been devised to make the rural economy’s water supply system more environment friendly by FY2025.
Publication Period: 2023