RCC fails to meet people’s expectations in 8 years

After eight years of establishment, the Rangpur City Corporation is yet to ensure civic amenities of a metropolis standard and meet the expectation of the city dwellers.

City dwellers said they have been sufferings from multiple problems and the formation of the city corporation left hardly any contribution to their socio-economic development. There is still a huge gap between people’s expectations and achievements, they said.

Population in the city tripled over the past eight years as huge numbers of people choose to live in the newly set up city corporation area.

There is a huge potential for industrial development, especially in the SME sector, which can promote job opportunities but the absence of gas supply through pipeline hinders the growth, said Mostafa Azad Chowdhury Babu senior vice president of FBBCI and former president, Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Academician Aminul Islam, a former professor of Government Carmichael College, said people have long been demanding to set up a science and technology university in Rangpur.

Rangpur became an education hub with a number of educational institutes including Begum Rokeya University. Students from elsewhere the country and even from neighbouring countries like Nepal, Bhutan, and India now come to Rangpur, he said.

The city lacks any accommodation facility of international standard for the foreign students, he said adding students from Nepal, Bhutan, and India come to Rangpur for medical education as the city hosts Rangpur Medical College and several other private medical colleges.

Abul Khair Mohammad Masum, a teacher of a higher secondary school in the city, said no parks or recreational centres were set up for the city dwellers and people have no place to go for amusement.

Rangpur was declared a city corporation in a government gazette notification on June 28, 2012. Earlier Rangpur Municipality had 15 wards covering an area of 50.56 square kilometres with 4 lakh population while Rangpur City Corporation has 33 wards covering around 204 sq km area with around 10 lakh population.

Only a few roads and drainage systems were expanded and renovated inside the city. A recreational spot beside the Chilkar beel inside the city was built which remains shut now due to lack of maintenance and care.

Since the British era, Rangpur city got developed centring the road stretching between Rangpur railway station and Dhap Medical intersection.

Most of the lanes, alleys across the city remained in dilapidated condition. Cracks and potholes are developed in many places of the roads, said a city dweller Abdul Alim.

Rangpur Bibhag Unayyan Andolon Parishad Convener Wadud Ali said, “Rangpur is a surplus food-producing zone. Trade and business have been developed.

But there is no easy communication network. Only two intercity trains – Rangpur Express and Kurigram Express – run from Rangpur to Dhaka which are not sufficient to meet the rush of the regular passengers.”

A medical private practitioner, Dr Mafizul Islam Mantu said healthcare services have not yet been developed with the increasing population in the newly set-up divisional headquarter and city corporation.

Sushasaner Jannya Nagarik (Sujan) Rangpur City Unit President, Faqrul Anam Benju said, the only drainage outlet of city Shyama Sundari canal is in a very miserable condition as some of the people living beside it encroached it, constructed establishments, and dumped dirt on it.

Rangpur Press club President, Mahabub Rhaman Habu said, “Tourism sectors are yet to flourish in city and fail to attract the visitors. The government allocation for the city corporation is not properly utilised.”

General Manager Karupanno, an export-oriented handicrafts factory of Rangpur city, Erfanur Rhaman said, power disruption and low voltage often cause production loss and harm the machinery in the factory.

Mohammad Hafizur Rahman Tapan, a resident of a newly set up ward 4 of the city corporation which was earlier under Porshuram union of Sadar upazilla, said no civic amenities have been developed in their ward.

Urban planner of Rangpur City Corporation, Nazrul Islam said, “We have made a master plan of the city and it sent to LGRD ministry for approval.”

RCC Mayor Mostafizur Rahman said, “We are planning to set up a smart recreational spot for city dwellers’ recreation.”