Photo : TDM
Shariatpur District has witnessed remarkable development within just one year of the inauguration of the Padma Bridge. The bridge has revolutionized communication, leading to the emergence of new entrepreneurs and increased investments in the district. The establishment of new factories has also generated numerous job opportunities, while the agricultural economy has experienced a radical transformation.
Notably, Shariatpur's vegetables are now reaching the European market for the first time. These developments have brought about significant changes in the socio-economic and communication systems of the district.
The agriculture sector in Shariatpur, which heavily relies on farming, has undergone the most significant transformation following the operationalization of the Padma Bridge. Jazira, a region within Shariatpur, has successfully exported vegetables to various European countries. Swiss chain stores are now selling vegetables grown in Shariatpur. Farmers are benefiting from selling their produce to exporters at prices 20% higher than the local market rates.
Thanks to the improved communication system, commuting difficulties have been significantly reduced. Business activities have expanded as a result. Moreover, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has initiated a village development project covering 120 acres of land in Jajira, Shariatpur, and Shibchar, Madaripur.
The transport sector in the district has also experienced significant changes. After 18 years of closure, the Shariatpur-Dhaka direct bus service was resumed on June 26th last year, thanks to the Padma Bridge. Since the bridge's opening, the sector has witnessed investments exceeding Tk 200 crore. More than 200 brand new AC and non-AC buses have been added to the transportation business.
Mokles Madbar, a farmer from the Naodoba area of Jazira, expressed his satisfaction with the changes. He mentioned that wholesalers did not previously visit the farmers' market, and transporting vegetables to Dhaka required waiting for hours at the ferry. Often, the vegetables would spoil due to the long wait. However, after the Padma Bridge's inauguration, wholesalers from various parts of the country now transport vegetables directly from the market using trucks. Exporters are purchasing vegetables from the market at prices 20% higher than the local market, greatly benefiting the farmers.
Abdullah Hossain, the director of Mirha & Nava Fashion, highlighted that the cost of clothing production in Gosairhat is lower than in Dhaka. Additionally, transportation of goods to Dhaka takes two and a half hours. Since the Padma Bridge's inauguration, no initiatives have been taken to establish garment factories in the local area, resulting in numerous employment opportunities.
Jamal Hossain, the Agriculture Officer of Jazira Upazila, mentioned that vegetables produced in Jazeera are now regularly exported to Switzerland, France, Italy, and Sweden in Europe. 15,000 farmers have received training in producing export-quality vegetables. Jazeera vegetables are now exported to Europe through contract farming. The Padma Bridge has truly transformed the agricultural economy of the region.
TDM/SD
