Form integrated body to address city problems
They said due to non-coordination between different service sectors and their non-accountability to public, the DCC officials cut the roads whimsically whenever they want, especially during the rainy reason causing massive sufferings to city people.
The discussion on 'Citizen's initiative to establish good governance in Dhaka city's management' was organised by Resource Integration Centre (RIC) and supported by Manusher Jonno, an NGO, at Cirdap auditorium in the city.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The speakers suggested formation of an integrated body comprising government, local government, private sectors, civil society and donor agencies and strengthening of ward commissions to address the problem of the mega city where around 1.40 crore people live.
Speaking as chief guest DCC Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka MP said mere blaming each other will not solve the problem, it needs participation of people from all walks of life.
He said due to politicisation, civil society members can't take part in local government to address its problems.
On road cutting in rainy season, the mayor said, "As donors give money for different development projects, we have to cut the road, otherwise money will be withdrawn."
On traffic congestion, he said a city needs 25 percent of its total area for roads but Dhaka has only six percent, so the traffic problem will not be solved overnight.
"If adequate resources are given to us, we can build the city like Singapore," the mayor added.
He said his organisation will think about launching birth certificate card from ward commissioner's office.
Prof Mozaffer Ahmed, treasurer and a trustee of Transparency International Bangladesh, stressed the need for increasing the number of ward commissioners.
He said if every citizen is aware of his or her civil rights, one can't do whatever one wants to do on one's own land when it disturbs others.
Prof Nazrul Islam of Dhaka University said with such a huge population in the city and inflow of many more everyday from different parts of the country, it will be hard to address problems facing the DCC.
He suggested not to establish any new offices and schools in the city and shift them to the outskirts of the city.
Team Leader of Manusher Jonno Shaheen Anam said despite running the wheel of the mega city by working hard all day long, there is little space and no comfort for the poor in the city.
She urged DCC authorities to ensure water, sanitation and education for them.
Criticising DCC's haphazard development project, she said once it makes separate lane for rickshaw and some days later it cancels the project wasting public money.
She stressed the need for an integrated project to minimise the sufferings of the city people.
Executive Director of Ain O Salish Kendra, Advocate Sultana Kamal said sometimes people themselves create problems in the city by parking cars in non-parking zones and piling up construction materials along the roadsides.
She urged city dwellers to be aware of their civil rights and change their mentality.
Representatives of different NGO's, service sectors and ward commissioners spoke at the discussion with Abul Hasib Khan, director of RIC, in the chair.