Savar Correspondent
Tampering with vehicle number plates has long been a tactic for criminal activity in Bangladesh. In a bid for higher profits, some transport owners are using the same number plates on multiple vehicles—a practice that is not only illegal but also highly dangerous. These unregistered and often unfit vehicles are increasing the risk of accidents and endangering lives, while depriving the state of significant revenue.
Surrounded by the winding Bansi River, several villages in Ashulia resemble a lush green island—cut off from the rest of the region. Whether it's monsoon or winter, the river coils around the settlements like a snake, isolating them. In the dry season, three bamboo bridges connect the villages to the mainland. These makeshift structures are the only passage for people, livestock, and even small vehicles. But during the monsoon, mechanized boats or trawlers become the only way to cross, as heavy currents and rainfall make life even harder. Despite long-standing demands for a bridge, this vital location continues to be overlooked by elected representatives. As a result, the local people are left with little more than sighs of frustration.
Due to a lack of gas supply, United Power Generation & Distribution Company Ltd. is unable to produce and supply electricity to the Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ), disrupting production across factories in the area. In response, Palli Bidyut Samity-1 has stepped in to keep the zone operational, allowing DEPZ factories to resume full-scale production. However, this has put surrounding residential and commercial consumers under the Palli Bidyut Samity-1 network in a difficult position, with prolonged load-shedding affecting hundreds of thousands of people, including garment workers.
A decade after the devastating Rana Plaza collapse in Savar, Views Bangladesh set out to revisit the lives of its survivors and understand their current realities. In the course of this search, two survivors were found living not far from the site of the collapse.
Nilufa Begum once walked freely, her active feet taking her everywhere. She used to climb the stairs to the fifth floor of a building to reach her workplace. With her skilled hands, she ran the machines that earned foreign currency and brought financial stability to her family. She covered all household expenses and took care of everyone.
At first glance, one might think they’re walking along the bank of a small river, with waves crashing against both shores. But that illusion vanishes within seconds. There are no launches or boats here—only hundreds of vehicles braving the waterlogged road, and thousands of people wading through it daily.