The Myths and Realities Behind Modern Rajshahi City

 

Aktarul Islam

Last month (on the 19^th of March), the country's well-known non-government television station, Ekattor TV, broadcast a piece of news on Rajshahi city, claiming ambiguously that Rajshahi is the cleanest city in Asia. In this report, this cable-based television network has highlighted different ongoing development initiatives in Rajshahi, such as spacious roads, spectacular lamp posts, high-rise buildings, giant trees on both sides of the capacious highways, clean footpaths, smoke-free auto rickshaws, prestigious educational institutions, attractive tourist destinations on the bank of the Padma River, and other notable development indicators, all of which reflect the city's position at the top of the list of major Asian cities. Since this channel did not provide any authentic source behind its report, we can assume it was an exaggerated emotional manifestation.

Rajshahi is apparently not the cleanest of all cities in Asia, but the cleanest one in Bangladesh in the true sense of the term. A report published in the British news platform Guardian dating back to 2016 highlighted that Rajshai had reached a turning point by reducing harmful dust particles in the air. Rajshahi is successfully maintaining this status quo till date thanks to the consorted efforts of the city dwellers and the city corporation authority despite some distortions caused by road expansion and building construction initiatives in different parts of the city.

There was a time when Rajshahi was known to the nation as a city of sweltering summers. Choking smog used to blow up from dry riverbeds, fields and roads, and brick kilns that made the life of the city dwellers fish out of water. However, the scenario started changing thanks to the tree plantation campaign and other environment-friendly initiatives the city corporation authority pushed through. Now, this city has become the best choice for habitation and a tourist’s favorite destination. There are smooth railway communication networks with the country’s major towns and cities, spacious four-lane streets, flawless footpaths covered with red tiles, eye-catching energy-saving street lights, fresh air, renowned educational institutions, and remarkable historical figures sites make this city stand apart in all respects.

Sun rises in this city with the fresh avatar of a happy morning and opens the door of everlasting peace and tranquility in the mind of the urban population. If you are new to this city, you will see the sweepers cleaning the streets with long-handled brooms early in the morning. Early risers do not want to resist the temptation of walking down the causeways to enjoy the soothing air and charming look of different flowers in the middle of every island of the majestic Street of Rajshahi. This grand city has a picture-perfect blend of artificial and natural beauty. From dawn to dusk, the appearance of the metropolis changes with a new vibe and ambiance pleasing to the eyes of the straphangers.

Unlike Dhaka, Chattogram, and other crowded cities in Bangladesh, Rajshahi has almost no traffic jams even though the wave of people coming for work in the city is mounting gradually, posing a challenge in the days to come. Intending to face eminent challenges, Rajshahi City Corporation under the guidance of successful city mayor A. H. M. Khairuzzaman Liton is working relentlessly to make the busy roads as spacious as possible to avert unnecessary traffic congestion.

With the magical touch of massive urbanization and modernization, the area of Rajshahi City is intensifying rapidly to facilitate accommodations for the ever-growing population. Recently, the City Corporation authority has decided to expand the city area by setting up two regional offices, one in the north and another in the west, to decentralize the administrative functionalities to offer more civic amenities.          

Despite the envious development spree, there are some undesirable issues that the Rajshahi City Corporation Authority needs to resolve to maintain the city's reputation as a clean and healthy city. It is a matter of great regret that the city’s crowded areas like the bus terminal, railway station, and footpaths adjacent to the vegetable and wholesale markets remain dirty and emanate unpleasant odors causing discomfort to the bystanders. Some people are used to responding to the call of nature in broad daylight. The absence of public toilets in these jam-packed positions makes this unexpected incident happen off and on that tarnishes the image of the City Corporation and city dwellers to some extent.

An insignificant number of secondary garbage transfer stations is another setback for making the footpaths and streets dirty for the time being at the city’s court station area, the Northern point adjacent to the RUET (Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology) area, and some other crowded zones. The dirty household substances scattered on the streets stem up the bad smells and pollute the air. Rajshahi city corporation authority must take prompt actions to set up more secondary garbage transfer stations and recruit adequate manpower to take the garbage out of the city.

Job opportunity in Rajshahi is still in a deplorable state despite having a good number of reputed universities and colleges. The graduates of these institutions seek jobs in Dhaka and other industrialized districts after being frustrated and failing to look for a career in Rajshahi. Therefore, city corporation authority should delve deep into creating job opportunities for brilliant students to ensure the city gets its qualified citizens for the betterment and welfare of the people.

The journey from a shabby and disordered town to a modern and developed metropolitan, Rajshahi is undoubtedly leaving a bright instance for other towns and cities on the way forward by superseding all the impediments. The way city father A. H. M. Khairuzzaman Liton is steering the boat of a progressive and prosperous Rajshahi city can be an introduction to an advance and developed Bangladesh if other city corporation authorities take the lessons from him and act accordingly.