Thakurgaon Nayakunj Rest House Faces Neglect Amid Ignorance
A rest house built for litigants at the Thakurgaon District and Sessions Judge Court premises remains largely unused due to a lack of awareness and poor management. Visitors often struggle to find the facility, which was constructed at a cost of nearly half a crore taka.
In a striking example of administrative oversight and a lack of public awareness, a dedicated rest house constructed for court litigants in Thakurgaon has failed to serve its intended purpose adequately. Built back in 2023 on the premises of the Thakurgaon District and Sessions Judge Court, the facility known as 'Nayakunj' involved an expenditure of approximately half a crore taka. Despite the substantial financial investment designed to alleviate the hardships faced by visitors, the rest house suffers from severe underutilization, leaving its amenities largely ignored by the very people it was meant to help.
The facility itself was equipped with a variety of modern conveniences intended to provide comfort during long court proceedings. According to confirmed details, the rest house features seating arrangements for roughly 40 people at a time. Additionally, it includes separate washrooms designated for men and women, a reliable supply of safe drinking water, and even a small tea stall to cater to the daily visitors. However, because the structure is not regularly used, dust has already begun to accumulate on the furniture and various other parts of the interior, highlighting a growing problem of maintenance and neglect.
A primary factor contributing to this underutilization is the obscure location of the building itself combined with a complete absence of clear directional signage. Situated somewhat deep behind the main court building and effectively hidden from plain view, many litigants simply fail to realize that the facility exists. Local media reports from Dhaka Post highlighted the experiences of several individuals navigating the court premises who remained entirely unaware of the Nayakunj rest house despite spending significant amounts of time waiting for their legal matters to be addressed.
Litigants visiting the court premises voiced their frustrations regarding the lack of information and the ongoing difficulties they face while waiting. Asma Begum, who came to the court and had to wait for a long period of time, stated that she did not know there was a rest house named Nayakunj available for litigants. Echoing similar sentiments, Babul Bonik pointed out that people often face serious trouble trying to figure out where to sit upon arriving at the court, noting that knowing about the Nayakunj beforehand would have allowed him to use it. Another visitor, Yakub Ali, explained that people coming from distant areas have to wait for extended periods, emphasizing that clear instructions on the location and usage of the rest house would have greatly benefited the public.
Addressing these concerns, Md. Mojnu Mia acknowledged the visibility and accessibility hurdles while outlining upcoming corrective measures. He explained that because the Nayakunj is located slightly inside and somewhat hidden behind the court building, many litigants cannot easily understand its location. To mitigate this issue immediately, he noted that seating arrangements have been made at the information service center located right at the main entrance gate for the convenience of litigants. Furthermore, he assured that necessary steps will be taken to ensure that litigants can use the Nayakunj regularly and comfortably in the future.
