I was deeply impressed and highly hopeful when I heard that my long-time close acquaintance Fouzul Kabir Khan has taken the reins of three ministries crucial to economic development: railways ministry, road transport and bridges ministry and energy ministry.
However, my hopes sank during a recent visit to a resort nestled inside dense bushes and remote villages in Tangail’s Sakhipur upazila. It appeared to me that the frequent power outages in the area would soon kick the resort out of business. Furthermore, the horrendous journey I had to make through the decaying road from Savar Cantonment Board to Baipail Intersection and from there to BKSP added to my frustrations at the road ministry’s works.
While staying at the resort, I inquired after the well-being of some people from nearby villages, and learnt that politics here too is in a disastrous state being mired in ignorance. The villagers here are avowed supporters of Awami League, which has been banned due to its 15-year tyrannical rule, and knows nothing beyond the fascist party.
Since 1986, I have regularly traveled from Dhaka to BKSP, often using the Nabinagar–EPZ road, except in the last 3-4 years. I have never seen it in such a miserable state. Abandoned expressway work, potholes, dust, waste, constant traffic jams, quarrels, accidents, and breakdowns have turned the road into a living hell, causing health hazards and huge national losses. With repairs worth only a few crores, hundreds of crores could be saved daily.
The situation with electricity is no better. At the Seagull Village resort in Sakhipur—built with massive investment—power went out 23–24 times a day during my stay. Generators ran three-fourths of the time, damaging appliances and spoiling food, leaving guests insecure and staff frustrated. The resort had 75 luxury rooms but I was the only guest, served by 90 staff—an unsustainable picture.
In the villages, I met poor farmers, fishermen, elderly men, and children, and heard grievances about deprivation and frustration. Most people had little interest in BNP, Jamaat, NCP, or Dr Yunus; their loyalty lay with Awami League, and leaders they recognized were Bangabir Kader Siddique and the late Shawkat Momen Shahjahan. BNP’s presence was so weak that many villagers didn’t even know the party’s candidates’ names. Clearly, opposition parties have little ground in these rural Awami League strongholds.
The writer is a former lawmaker
