The use of mobile phones, internet and online government services is increasing even in remote areas of the country. However, Kurukpata Union No. 4 of Alikadam Upazila of Bandarban is an exception. Many areas of this remote union, which borders Myanmar, still do not have mobile network and internet facilities.
There is also a shortage of electricity facilities. There is no permanent digital center and its own union council office at the union level. As a result, local residents are facing difficulties in accessing government services.
Local residents Mesa Mro and Arjan Tripura said that due to the lack of mobile network in the hilly areas of Kurukpatara, it becomes difficult to communicate by phone when needed.
Without internet, they also have no opportunity to avail various government services online. They have to go outside the union for tasks like applying for old age, widowhood and maternity allowance, birth registration, various online applications and information verification.
Since there is no digital center in the union, many people have to go to Alikadam Upazila Sadar for these tasks. It has been learned from talking to locals that the distance from some remote areas of the union to the upazila sadar is 70 to 80 kilometers. Traveling so far through the mountainous roads increases the time as well as the cost. Due to the remote roads, the fare of vehicles is also high. Kurukpata Union Parishad member Jagat Chandra Tripura and Kampuk Mro said that due to the lack of permanent administrative infrastructure in the union, the common people face problems in various tasks. Due to the lack of electricity and internet facilities, it is difficult to introduce modern technology-based services at the union level. In addition to citizen services, Kurukpata Union also has various problems in the education sector. There is no secondary school in the union. As a result, after completing primary education, students have to go to distant areas to continue their studies.
Abu Shama, headmaster of Kurukpata Government Primary School, said that due to poor communication system, many families cannot afford to send their children to distant schools. Due to this, many students cannot continue their studies regularly after completing primary education. He said that due to lack of internet facilities, students are also lagging behind in online classes, digital educational materials and information technology-based education opportunities. While students in other areas can easily use various educational materials online, these are still largely inaccessible to students in Kurukpata.
The limitations of the internet and communication systems are also affecting healthcare. People in remote areas are less able to get urgent health information or medical advice quickly. In case of serious illness, the patient has to be taken to a far-off upazila headquarters or another area.
Locals say that the people of Kurukpatra should not be held back from access to healthcare, education or any government service due to remoteness. They have the right to receive government services like citizens from other parts of the country.
