Income disparity
The recent survey of World Bank has found the east-west income disparity in Bangladesh but could not find out the reason for it. In my opinion there are many but following are the few important ones:
1. Dhaka being the centre of all economic activities, the eastern part of Bangladesh is better connected with the capital than the other part. Until the Jamuna Bridge was commissioned, the river Jamuna kept the people of North Bengal separated from Dhaka.
2. Chittagong being the biggest seaport of the country most of the business communities grew around this port city.
3. Due to closure of all mills and factories around Khulna area, the Port of Mongla lost its business and the economy of the hinterland suffered.
4. Lack of availability of gas in the western part of the country.
5. Most of the flood-prone areas of Bangladesh lie on the Western Part (Nilphamari, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Sirajganj, Faridpur, etc etc)
6. Lower literacy rate and non-availability of quality education.
7. Little access to bank loan/financial assistance.
8. Difficulty in marketing agricultural products, especially the perishable ones.
9. Lack of prominent leaders from these areas and less representation in decision making bodies.
10. Decline in jute cultivation and closure of jute mills as the western part was the jute producing area.
The reactivation of Mongla Port, building Padma Bridge, border trade with India and supply of gas will improve the present backward economic conditions of the Western part of Bangladesh. Dividing the country into separate provinces thus decentralising decision making may also narrow the gap.
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