The New Nation - Internet Edition

Salim Reza from Siajganj

The condition of rural post office in the district of Sirajganj is shocking. Fences of some of them are made of bamboos, some of straws covered with mud, and the roofs of some of them are made of tin-shed with holes for rainwater to enter the room for spoiling books and papers.

And in the urban areas, the Postal Department has been losing its future in the district's all upazillas following gradual deterioration of its service and for not behaving well with those who go there for various reasons. The people have lost their faith in the department because of the fact that the officers and the employees appear indifferent to giving service to the clients and for not paying heed to the complaints.

Until the introduction of the courier service in the country, spreading to the districts, people had no second choice than going to the Post Office for dropping letters, remitting money, sending parcels and telegrams, and buying tickets and sanchaypatra,. At that time, the officers and the employees were much sincere and cooperative as far as possible. But with the passage of time, service to the people began to deteriorate, and when the courier service landed in the country, situation further declined. Instead of giving quick service to the clients, the department officials showed one kind of lethargy, which diverted the clients' hearts to the courier service. It is said that stamps, tickets, post cards and envelopes are not available in sufficient number as those go to the nearby shops for selling at higher rate.

It is said that the post offices situated in the rural areas do not open on time. Clients wait patiently before the window for the postmaster and the peon. Sometimes, clerk does the function of the postmaster, who might be sidelined due to illness or any other reason. If any postmaster takes leave or suffers from any disease, temporary reliever is not posted because none agrees to go to the rural areas. At this, people return disappointed.

The conditions of many rural post offices are so poor that languages cannot give proper description. Fences of some of them are made of bamboos, some of straws covered with mud, and the roofs of some of them are made of tin-shed with holes for rainwater to enter for spoiling books and papers.

People drop letters in the boxes kept for them at the post office or elsewhere in the haats and bazaars for their convenience. But there is whispering that those boxes are not opened regularly for which letters do not reach destinations in time. Sometimes, letters and parcels arriving from other post offices are not or cannot be delivered in time, which put the receivers in great anxiety. However, hopes of most of the people who put their trust in the courier service in the hope of getting better service is also slowly melting away.