Narayanganj Correspondent: No need to go to Rupganj Upazila headquarters in Narayanganj, but government services will reach people’s homes – this initiative has been implemented by the Rupganj Upazila administration. To reduce the time, money and physical suffering of people in remote and remote areas, an integrated service center of various government departments was set up for a day at Beldi Fazil Madrasa ground in Daudpur Union. Starting from healthcare, national identity card correction, agricultural advice, cattle treatment, land services – everything has come together in one place. About 9 thousand people have received various services in this exceptional initiative of the administration.

On a sunny Monday morning, when I went to Beldi Fazil Madrasa ground, I saw that instead of the familiar government offices of the upazila headquarters, there were rows of booths there. Officials from various government departments including the Health Department, Agriculture, Fisheries, Livestock, Election Office, Social Services, Land and Cooperative Office are providing direct services from their respective booths.

This initiative was a special relief for 55-year-old Falani Begum. Due to her age and physical weakness, it was difficult for her to go to the upazila headquarters to correct her mother’s name on the national identity card. On top of that, the issue of spending extra time and money on travel was also a concern. But her suffering has been alleviated as the opportunity to get correction-related services close to home has been created.

Not only Falani Begum, thousands of people from remote areas of Daudpur Union have similarly availed their necessary government services today. Some have come for problems with their national identity cards, some for treatment of cattle, and some for advice on agriculture. For a day, the union has become a ‘mini upazila’.

Administrative officer of the upazila administration, Ashiqur Rahman, said that the ‘Project One Thousand’ project was launched last year at the initiative of the upazila administration. Under this project, free training and cash assistance were provided to 1,000 youth of the upazila to make them self-reliant. In continuation of this, an initiative has been taken to provide government services to the people of Daudpur Union. About 9,000 people have received services from various offices.

Ashrafujjan Farid, who came from Beldi to get treatment for cows, said, “Bajan, you are not young anymore. At such an age, such beautiful rules are not given. It will take me an hour and a half to go to the animal office from Daudpur. Also, the rent is a lot. It is beneficial to get such an opportunity near my home.”

Similarly, Rashida Begum of Beldi, who has been facing the complications of getting a national identity card for a long time, also expressed relief at this initiative. She said, “Today, it feels good to get an opportunity near my home.”

In the words of Safed Ali, who is over 60 and came to seek advice on agriculture, “Bajan, I see a lot in my life. So, the upazila administration has done such a beautiful job and has provided services to the area. This is something I have never seen in my life.’

Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Tasvir Jobayer said, ‘I have never seen anything like this in my job history. Usually, people come to the upazila or hospital for services. But here, all the upazila offices, hospitals and various institutions have gone to the people’s areas and provided services.’

Rupganj Upazila BNP President Mahfuzur Rahman Humayun, General Secretary Bashiruddin Bachchu and other officials from various government offices were present at the time.

Keeping in mind the suffering of people in remote areas, Rupganj Upazila Executive Officer Saiful Islam Joy led the planning and implementation of this initiative. In his plan, separate booths were set up for the hospital and land office as well as the various offices of the upazila administration.

Upazila Executive Officer Saiful Islam Joy said, ‘Daudpur Union is a remote area. It is difficult for many to come to the upazila or hospital from here to get services. Some cannot come due to physical disabilities, while others spend double the amount of money on travel. With this in mind, separate booths have been set up for hospitals and land offices in addition to all departments. So that whoever has a problem can get the necessary services from there.’

He said that although it started with Daudpur Union, there are plans to gradually continue such service activities in all unions and municipalities of the upazila.

This initiative of the administration has saved time and money for people in remote areas, on the one hand, and on the other hand, the distance between the common people and government services has also decreased. The locals expect that such initiatives to deliver government services to the doorstep of the people will be followed in other areas of the country as well.