Photo: BSS

By Md Aynal Haque

RAJSHAHI, April 16, 2025 (BSS)- Rashahi city along with its surrounding outskirts has started getting a new look amid the construction of scores of multi-storey buildings , wide roads, conservation of architectural and ancient infrastructures and green zones have also brought a new horizon to the city.
 
Many people have got employment scopes as a result of generating job opportunities in diversified fields in the city and its environs, vibrating the local economy.

Multistorey buildings, including high-rises, have been constructed in the city during the recent past., A silent revolution has happened in this field at present infusing dynamism into the local economy besides improving living and livelihood conditions of the public in general.
 
Engineer Abdullah-Hil-Tarique, an authorized officer of Rajshahi Development Authority (RDA), said more than 200 high-rise buildings were constructed and works on many others are progressing fast at present.
He also said each of the construction schemes generated either permanent or temporary job opportunities for many people, including the educated ones.
 
Employment and financial transactions have been increased to a greater extent in the fields of tiles industries, electronics fittings and other relevant materials centering the construction sector.

 
 In addition to generating more entrepreneurs, the ventures have expanded trade and business significantly, vibrating the socio-economic conditions.

Former Chief Engineer Ashraful Haque at Rajshahi City Corporation said, "The physical infrastructural development was implemented for developing the overall environmental health system through building an effective and permanent water sewerage system in the city."

The city corporation has implemented drainage and approach road construction projects contributing a lot towards freeing the city from water logging besides making pedestrian movement easy.
 
Problems related to unfit and narrow sections of the present drains and their low-sewerage capacity were removed. All the culverts were widened besides removing the silts from the base of the drains to enhance the sewerage capacity.

Masudur Rahman, president of the Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industries (RCCI) said , "Visible and qualitative changes have been attained in the field of generating employment through boosting the number of entrepreneurs together with creating an investment atmosphere."
 
Investment from both internal and external has been mounted. Showrooms belonging to various famous brands were established.

Dr ABM Sharif Uddin, Chief Executive Officer of Rajshahi City Corporation, said they have implemented diversified development projects.

The bypass system of roads cuts down noise pollution, which is faced by the residents of many other large cities.

There is however a downside, as the sheer number of battery-run auto-rickshaws are prone to clogging up the city roads, much to the irritation of the citizens.

 However, he said the RCC will follow the master plan taken by the Rajshahi Development Authority so that, the newly expanded areas would be managed similarly.
 
The master plan incorporates different issues, such as proper land use plans for industrial areas, residential zones, playgrounds and parks. Currently, the city has at least five parks covering more than 70 acres of land.

One of the residents Mohammad Abdullah said these auto-rickshaws are good for moving quickly from one place to another and they are cheaper than pedal rickshaws too. But their number has grown to the point that these rickshaws are making Rajshahi too crowded.

Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) has created scopes of generating 10,000 more employment as the development of another industrial estate has almost been completed under a project titled "Rajshahi BSCIC Industrial Estate-2" involving around Taka 172 crore.
 
The estate has been developed on 50 acres of land at Parila Kechuatoil, Uzirpukur and Lalitahar areas at Paba upazila that will also help flourish the industrial sector in the city and its outskirts.

Under the project, 296 plots were created for accommodating 250 industrial units coupled with generating employment opportunities.
 
The industrial plots were developed considering the country's socio-economic condition and future necessity as the entrepreneurs are expanding the SMEs gradually in the region.
 
There are three types of plots. The number of A-type industrial units is 83 having 6,000 square feet each while 89 units are B-type with 4,500 square feet each and the remaining plots are S-type with the size of 3,500-8,000 square feet.
 
All sorts of necessary facilities for industrial units including roads, drains, culverts, water, gas and power supply, boundary wall, pump house, office and water reservoir will be ensured before handing over the plots to the entrepreneurs.