The government has emphasized the construction of multi-storey market buildings (markets) in the hat markets of rural towns in Bogura. The market system is being modernized to create employment and accelerate economic progress. The Department of Local Government Engineering is implementing the rural market infrastructure development project nationwide. The construction of 6 market buildings in three upazilas of the district at a cost of 15 crore taka is almost complete.

Yesterday, it was seen on the spot that construction work of two-storey markets is underway on government land in Jamunna Hat of Shajahanpur Aria Union, Taluch Hat of Gunahar Union of Dupchanchia, Dhap Hat of Sadar Union, Kahaloo Municipal Hat Bazar and Malancha Hat of Malancha Union. The ground floor of the two-storey building is open and separate shops are being built on the second floor. Meanwhile, the district BNP acting general secretary Md. Mosharrf Hossain MP has inaugurated the market building of Durgapur Hat in Durgapur Union of Kahaloo Upazila. The allocation process after the market handover is underway with the upazila administration. Efforts have been made to hand over all the market buildings by next October. Engineering officials are regularly visiting to increase the progress of the work. The concerned department is keeping a close watch to prevent any kind of irregularities.

Project sources said that the markets of rural towns are the heart of the local economy. On the one hand, they create employment, on the other hand, they play an important role in increasing the government’s revenue and socio-economic development of the people. To further accelerate this process, the government is constructing a multi-storey market building under the nationwide Rural Market Infrastructure Development Project (First Revised). Project Director Md. Mahbub Alam wrote a letter to the LGED Bogura official on June 30 to increase the progress of the work. The ground floor of the two-storey retail building being built in Bogura will house an open market for daily necessities including fish, meat, and poultry. Separate shops on the second floor will create opportunities for selling hardware, cosmetics, and garment products. If small and medium industries expand in the market, new horizons will open up for entrepreneurs to start businesses.

Shajahanpur Upazila Engineer Md. Rashed Imran said that the ground floor of the two-storey retail market in Jamunna Hat of Aria Union has been opened and 16 rooms have been built above. The project cost is 2 crore 42 lakh taka. The construction work is expected to be completed in October. The district administration will implement the allocation after handing over to the upazila administration.

Dupchanchia Upazila Engineer Abu Talim Hossain said that a total of 22 rooms, including 4 rooms in two corners, have been built under the two-storey building in Taluch-hat of Gunahar Union. The project cost is estimated at 2 crore 66 lakh taka. The ground floor of the building built at a cost of 3.13 crores in Dhap Hat of Sadar Union is open and there are shops in separate rooms above. After completing the project work, the handover and inauguration process is underway. The allocation committee will hold a meeting under the chairmanship of the UNO and allocate shops.

Kahaloo Upazila Engineer Muktar Hossain Khan said that the Shopping mall of Durgapur Hat was recently handed over. The two-storey market built at a cost of 2.96 crores has 15 shops left open below and above. The construction work of two more markets is in the final stage. 14 houses are being built in the market under construction at a cost of 1.92 crores in Kahalu Municipal Hat Bazar. The cost of Malancha Hat has been estimated at 2.28 crores. There too, the ground floor of the building is open and there are 14 shops.

Regarding the progress of the project, Executive Engineer of the Local Government Engineering Department Bogura Md. Masuduzzaman said that instructions have been given to complete the work quickly. Strict monitoring is being done to prevent negligence of responsibility and irregularities in the development implementation work. Officials are regularly visiting to see the progress of the project. The construction of markets in the three upazilas is in its final stages.

Gazette mentions that after the expiry of the fixed term of the shop in the shop building, the supervision and management committee will be able to re-fix the monthly rent rate of the shop premises every three years. The allottees will not own the shop. The shop building constructed on private land will be owned by the government and managed and controlled by the Deputy Commissioner.