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Of banners and festoons

18 July 2004, 18:00 PM
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
By Shamim Ahmed, On e-mail
18 July 2004, 18:00 PM
Dhaka can now proudly boast itself as the "city of banners and festoons". The city is virtually engulfed with numerous outdated, old, tattered, discoloured and obnoxious banners and festoons. These posters/-banners include those of pre-cadet/kindergarten coaching, beauty parlour, herbal skin care, restaurants, clinics, information about public meetings, political killings, doa mehfil, admission to various institutes, job information and what not. These are to be found almost everywhere, across the city roads, road islands, city parks, markets, bus terminals, railway stations, launch terminals, movie houses, educational institutions, private buildings etc. Even the walls and corridors of government offices including the secretariat are not spared.

The removal of these posters has economic implications as well. These posters/banners give the entire city a dirty look. They often obliterate the address as well as the beauty of the buildings. The nailing of such banners to trees deprives us of the beauty of the greenery. Recently, the poster of an MP aspirant has been pasted almost at every possible place. Now that the election is over, who is going to remove it?

In no capital city of the world is the law so flexible and democratic to allow the indiscriminate display of banners and posters. I believe our City Corporation has the necessary laws to act effectively against such violation of law.

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As for the removal of banners and festoons, all that is required is a pair of scissors and the will to act. This is not too much of asking from our city fathers. We all love our city and would like to see it grow as a clean, green and healthy one.