Golam Mostofa, Special Correspondent: The markets and bazaars in Tarash, Sirajganj, are in a dilapidated state due to years of neglect. Locals are facing constant hardship, and the number of buyers and sellers has declined alarmingly. Many once-prominent markets are on the verge of collapse. Ironically, crores of taka earned in market lease revenue remains unused in banks.

According to Mohammad Fazlul Haque, Upazila Engineer of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), the former Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), Mohammad Nurul Islam, finalized a plan to develop 25 markets in Tarash at a cost of 6 crore taka. Tenders should have already been issued, but due to his transfer, the process has been delayed. He added that once approval is received from the current UNO, Nusrat Jahan, the tender process will be completed as soon as possible.

Mohammad Nizam Uddin, leaseholder of the renowned Naogaon market, said, “We leased Naogaon market for 2.84 crore taka. Apart from that, there are 24 other markets. The government earns significant revenue from them every year. Yet, no development has occurred for decades. The sheds are falling apart, and the inner roads of the markets are unusable. Without proper drainage, waterlogging increases public suffering. This major market sees gatherings of hundreds of thousands.”

Nurul Islam, leaseholder of the famous Binsara market, said, “Binsara is the largest paddy market in the upazila. But there’s no shed for buying and selling paddy. Farmers are forced to sit along the busy Ranihat regional road, trading in extremely risky conditions. A fish shed built long ago remains dangerously unstable and could collapse at any time. The number of buyers and sellers has drastically dropped. This historic market is on the brink of collapse.”

SM Abdur Razzak, a freedom fighter and former secretary of Tarash market, said, “The condition of Tarash market is even worse. Three sheds constructed by LGED have already collapsed. Though this issue has been raised many times at monthly law and order meetings, no effective initiative has been taken for market development.”

Affected buyers and sellers reported that not a single market has overhead sheds. They have to endure the scorching sun and rain. Without drainage, even slight rainfall causes waterlogging, making movement difficult. Tube wells and public toilets are virtually non-existent.

An on-site visit revealed that at Binsara market, paddy trading takes place directly on the Ranihat regional road. The fish shed there could collapse at any moment. Markets like Naogaon, Gulta, and many other large and small markets are in similarly dire conditions.

In this regard, UNO Nusrat Jahan said, “We are taking the issue of market development seriously.”