Sylhet Central Bus Terminal becomes shabby barely three years after opening

Lights and ceiling fans are falling apart while many chairs have got stolen or broken around. This is the picture of the passenger waiting room at the Sylhet Central Bus Terminal at Kodomtoli where the bathrooms are also in a deplorable state, and plaster on the walls is peeling off.

The central bus terminal was inaugurated on a trial basis barely three years ago by the Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) authorities.

Despite not yet being formally inaugurated, the facility has already fallen into ruin. Initially hailed as the country's most beautiful and modern bus terminal, it now tells a reverse story.

Designed with a mixture of Sylhet's heritage, featuring elements inspired by the historic Keane Bridge, Ali Amjad's Clock and Assam-type bungalows-the terminal was celebrated for its architectural elegance and aesthetics, earning recognition as one of the most visually appealing bus terminals in the country.

Constructed at a cost of approximately BDT 117 crore, the terminal's work, completed years ago, was launched on a trial basis on February 15, 2023.

Due to a lack of supervision, the terminal has deteriorated significantly within three years. Costly chairs have become rusty, lights are falling off, and the watchtower resembles a haunted house. Cobwebs cover the VIP seating areas and prayer rooms, while election leaflets from transport leaders are pasted on costly glass panels.

SCC acting Chief Engineer Md Ali Akbar informed this correspondent that the terminal has been leased out for Tk 14.3 million (Tk 1.43 crore) for this fiscal year and will continue to operate in its present state. The lessee is responsible for its upkeep.

SCC officials said that the terminal's modernisation began in February 2019 under the Municipal Government Service Project (MGSP). Built on approximately eight acres of land, the project cost Tk 1.17 billion (Tk117 crore), including land development and various structures.

Designed uniquely, the terminal features separate departure and arrival arrangements. A five-storey circular tower at the southwest corner was intended to house the terminal's management office, control room, police station, and tourism office.

Additionally, it includes a separate terminal building for passenger movement, ample parking, a dedicated building for transport service providers, a restaurant, a food court, sufficient passenger restrooms, separate toilets for men, women, and differently-abled individuals, a breastfeeding zone, a smoking area, small shops, sick beds for unwell passengers, prayer rooms, and comprehensive modern services and security measures. The terminal also has a large hall for transport owners and workers' meetings and a workshop for regular vehicle maintenance. The departure building can accommodate 48 buses at a time. It includes a large waiting hall with about 100, a 30-seat VIP room, 30 ticket counters and a prayer room.

It was launched on a trial basis on November 15, 2023 by former SCC Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury.

But in weeks construction flaws were identified, leading to criticism about SCC. A probe committee was formed to investigate, which revealed a stark contrast to the promised modern facilities. Passenger movement inside the terminal is minimal, with the facility largely empty throughout the day after it remained unused for years.

The seating areas are dirty and cluttered with debris. Some benches are broken, and in certain spots, chair frames remain but the seats are missing. Several glass doors and windows at entry gates are gone. While paid toilet services exist, they are unclean and unhygienic. Most service offices are locked and abandoned and much of the terminal, including entryways, is covered with election banners and stickers from the workers' union.

The five-storey tower is locked, with no visible signs of the planned management, police, or tourism offices. A small security and CCTV monitoring room on the second floor of the terminal's first section was found abandoned and locked.

Some officials of the Sylhet Bus-Minibus Workers' Union alleged that SCC has not conducted any monitoring since the facility's launching.

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