Chattogram district administration plans to develop Jungle Salimpur in Sitakunda as a planned city, with about 14 kilometres of roads under construction and offices of 23 government institutions proposed for the area, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Miah said on Sunday.
The Bangladesh Army is constructing about 14 kilometres of six roads to improve connectivity, with around 25 per cent of the work already completed. The project is intended to make travel safer and easier while helping the government extend civic services to residents, the district administration said in a press release issued after the deputy commissioner inspected ongoing development work in Jungle Salimpur.
Potential sites have already been selected for several of the 23 government institutions planned for the area. During the visit, Zahidul Islam inspected the proposed sites, an under-construction Border Guard Bangladesh camp and other development work.
“We want to develop Jungle Salimpur in a planned way. Our goal is to meet the basic needs of the people here while ensuring the civic facilities required for a developed city,” Zahidul Islam said.
He said Jungle Salimpur was once described as a “state within a state”, but the situation had changed since 9 March and normal public life was gradually being restored.
Zahidul Islam said completing the roads would make movement easier and safer for residents and help the authorities deliver government services more efficiently.
During the inspection, he also spoke with teachers and students of Alinagar Primary School and Alinagar High School.
The head teacher of Alinagar School raised several problems facing the institution, including difficulties over teachers’ salaries.
Zahidul Islam said the district administration would initially arrange funds to pay one month’s salaries to teachers and employees. The administration would discuss payments for subsequent months with the relevant ministry.
The government would also be consulted about the future management of the school, he said. If necessary, a proposal would be made for the government to take responsibility for running the institution.
“These students are the lifeblood of our society. We want to develop them into qualified and skilled human resources,” Zahidul Islam said.
He said steps would be taken quickly to address the problems raised by teachers and students and instructed District Education Officer Md Abdul Aziz to take the necessary measures.
During the visit, 100 schoolbags, 200 fruit-tree saplings and sports equipment for football, cricket and badminton were distributed among students of the two schools. Chocolates were also distributed.
Zahidul Islam advised students to attend school regularly, respect their teachers and participate in sports alongside their studies.
The deputy commissioner also alleged that “false propaganda” was being spread about Jungle Salimpur. He said children in the area were attending school spontaneously and leading normal lives, adding that many people’s perceptions of the area would change if they saw the situation themselves.
He thanked the authorities of Alinagar School and SM Pilot School for cooperating with the administration during its activities in Jungle Salimpur on 9 March. The two schools had provided space for law-enforcement personnel to stay at the time, he said.
Additional District Magistrate Syed Mahbubul Haque, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Sakhawat Jamil Saikat, District Education Officer Md Abdul Aziz, District Ansar Commandant Md Sefaul Hossain and Senior Jail Superintendent Md Iqbal Hossain were among the officials present during the inspection.
