Narayanganj: Despite the construction of a three-story building at a cost of Tk 7.24 crore in the Chanmari area of Narayanganj city, the office of the Narayanganj Road Circle under the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) has remained non-functional for nearly seven years. Consequently, operations continue to be conducted from the Dhaka Road Zone building in Elenbari, Dhaka.
As a result, service seekers from Narayanganj, Munshiganj, and Narsingdi are forced to travel to Dhaka for circle-level official matters, incurring additional time and money.
Approved, Built, Yet Unused
According to RHD documents, following memorandums from the Ministry of Public Administration and the Ministry of Finance on December 31, 2015, a decision was made on August 10, 2017, to split the Dhaka Road Circle and form the new Narayanganj Road Circle.
A work order was issued in the 2017–18 fiscal year to construct the circle office adjacent to the Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner's office. The construction work was officially completed on September 29, 2019.
RHD officials stated that the main objective of forming the new circle was to accelerate and streamline road department operations across Narayanganj, Munshiganj, and Narsingdi. However, because the office operates out of Dhaka, public reliance on the capital remains unchanged.
Mamun Mahmud, Administrator of the Narayanganj District Council and Convener of the District BNP, noted that the Narayanganj Circle office was approved nearly a decade ago, and the building was completed almost seven years ago.
"The office has not yet opened. Operationalizing this facility would significantly reduce public suffering and streamline administrative oversight of roads under this circle," he said.
Demand for Relocation
Against this backdrop, Mamun Mahmud submitted an application on August 2 to the Minister of Road Transport and Bridges, asking for the office to be relocated from Elenbari to Narayanganj.
The application highlighted that the new building in Chanmari is fully equipped with necessary amenities. Relocating the office would save thousands of service seekers from three districts from traveling to Dhaka, replacing it with the travel of only a few officials and employees. Given Narayanganj's central geographical position relative to Munshiganj and Narsingdi, operating locally would save time, expenses, and hassle for the public.
Furthermore, the Narayanganj Road Circle oversees approximately 850 kilometers of roads, a major portion of which lies in the eastern and south-eastern regions outside the capital. Narayanganj serves as an optimal geographic hub for regular highway inspection and maintenance.
According to relevant sources, the Minister of Road Transport and Bridges has directed officials to take prompt, necessary action regarding the application.
Relocation Pending Final Works
A recent on-site visit revealed that the three-story building is enclosed by a boundary wall, with road maintenance vehicles parked inside. Security guards hired by the contracting firm are currently guarding the premises.
Mohidul Islam, a security guard at the site, stated that eight guards are currently working in shifts to oversee the security of the property.
Acknowledging the prolonged delay in utilizing the building, Abdur Rahim, Executive Engineer of the Narayanganj RHD office, said that interior decoration and fitting works are currently underway inside the building. Once these tasks are completed, the circle office will be shifted from Elenbari to Narayanganj.