The chairs meant for passengers are mostly broken, with some even stolen. Lights and ceiling fans are falling apart. The bathrooms are in a deplorable state, and the plaster on the walls is peeling off.

This is the current condition of the newly built Sylhet Central Bus Terminal, which was launched on a trial basis just three years ago. Despite not yet being formally inaugurated, the terminal has already fallen into ruin. Initially hailed as the country’s most beautiful and modern bus terminal, it now tells a different story.

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

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

Due to a lack of oversight, the terminal has deteriorated significantly within three years. Expensive chairs are rusted, lights are falling, and the watchtower resembles a haunted house. Cobwebs cover the VIP seating areas and prayer rooms, while election leaflets from transport leaders are plastered on costly glass panels.

Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) has stated that the terminal has been leased out and will not be formally inaugurated. It will continue to operate in its current state.

According to sources from the transport owners’ association, Selim Ahmed, the general secretary of the Dhaka South Bus Owners’ Association, has leased the terminal, along with a few other transport leaders responsible for its upkeep.

SCC sources reveal that the terminal’s modernization began in February 2019 under the Municipal Government Service Project (MGSP). Built on approximately eight acres of land, the project cost BDT 117 crore, with BDT 56 crore allocated for the dumping ground and BDT 61 crore for infrastructural development.

Designed to resemble an airport, the terminal features separate departure and arrival arrangements. A five-story 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, stretching about 350 feet, can accommodate 48 buses simultaneously. It includes a massive waiting hall with 970 seats, a 30-seat VIP room, 30 ticket counters, and a dedicated prayer room.

The terminal was launched on a trial basis on November 15, 2023, by former mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury. However, construction flaws were soon identified, leading to criticism of SCC. A probe committee was formed to investigate.

On-site observations reveal a stark contrast to the promised modern facilities. Passenger movement inside the terminal is minimal, with the facility largely empty throughout the day. 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-story 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.

Despite being built to provide modern services to citizens and passengers, the terminal is largely avoided by travelers. On-site visits show that bus counters for Sylhet’s divisional districts and long-distance routes, located along the road from Kadamtali Central Bus Terminal to Humayun Rashid Chattar, are overcrowded with passengers, while the new terminal remains underutilized.

However, counters for local buses to Habiganj, Moulvibazar, and Sylhet’s sub-districts are operational inside the terminal, attracting some passenger activity. These buses now park inside the terminal instead of on the road, reducing congestion, according to passengers and drivers.

Moynul Islam, president of the Sylhet Bus-Minibus Workers’ Union, stated that SCC has not conducted any oversight since the terminal’s launch. He noted that many parts of the terminal are damaged, but SCC has not taken any action. He also pointed to negligence by both the city authorities and the leaseholder.

Selim Ahmed, the leaseholder, said they secured the lease for BDT 56 lakh for one year. He explained that maintenance work worth around BDT 2 lakh is their responsibility, but major repairs would be handled by SCC. He claimed they conduct regular oversight and will coordinate with SCC to address issues promptly.

SCC’s Chief Executive Officer Rezaul Rafin Sarkar stated that the terminal has been leased out, and its maintenance and oversight are now the leaseholder’s responsibility. However, SCC will intervene if major issues arise.