Most of the 42 branch post offices in Jhenaidah district lack permanent premises, forcing postal workers to operate from private homes and rented shops, while damaged or missing postboxes hamper service delivery in rural communities.
Unlike district and upazila post offices, which have adequate infrastructure and staffing, most union-level branch offices have no designated buildings or regularly appointed government employees.
Postmasters and postmen instead work largely on a voluntary basis, receiving modest honorariums from the postal department.
In Mandarbaria union of Maheshpur upazila, a single-room post office building beside a road and farmland has remained abandoned and locked for several years. A postbox outside the building is also out of order.
Postal services are now provided from a shop rented by the local postmaster and postman.
The situation is similar at Bathangachhi post office, which has no permanent premises, making it difficult for residents to locate postal services.
Local resident Abdur Razzak said post offices were often difficult to find because they lacked proper premises.
“Postmasters are keeping the services running despite considerable difficulties. Many post offices do not even have postboxes. The government should look into the matter,” he said.
Bathangachhi postman Sadar Uddin said postal items continued to arrive, although most now consisted of official correspondence and court notices rather than personal letters.
“We have no designated office. We are continuing postal operations through our own efforts,” he said.
In Jhenaidah Sadar upazila, Halidhani postmaster Abdul Baten operates the post office from a room in his home.
He previously ran the service from a shop in his own market at Halidhani Bazar in 2017, but the premises have since been occupied by others, leaving him with no alternative but to work from home.
Baten, who has been involved in postal services since 1982, said branch post office workers were not appointed as regular government employees.
“Our work is service-oriented. Even after all these years, we have no permanent office. Sometimes we operate from our homes and sometimes from rented shops. The situation is the same at union post offices,” he said.
Similar conditions prevail at many other branch post offices across the district, where workers have continued providing services for years despite inadequate facilities.
Those involved in postal operations said dedicated buildings and functioning postboxes would help improve service quality and accessibility.
Jhenaidah district postmaster Md Riazul Islam confirmed that 42 branch post offices were operating under the district office’s administration.
“Several branch post offices may have infrastructure problems, but we have no direct role in addressing them. The postal inspector would be better placed to explain the infrastructure and staffing issues,” he said.
District postal inspector Md Masudur Rahman said he had recently joined the post and would assess conditions at the branch offices through inspections.
“I will be able to comment on their infrastructure after completing inspections. We will gather information about offices without proper facilities and inform the relevant authorities,” he said.
