Keeping up with social changes

The weaknesses of Rajuk and DCC have been revealed time and again; but huge time and energy are being conferred on political elections (viz., for the Ctg mayor). Our politics is still immature, seeking extra publicity all the time and paying attention only to big projects (for kick-backs).

None is interested in quiet, background activities. Black money has fast circulation, working in grey areas in the background, but the damages are headlined from time to time. It encourages corrupt practices, which the government cannot control through routine actions, because big, influential, high-ups are involved. This closed cycle has to be broken up, but it is not that easy without visible official commitment.

The fast rate at which the construction of high rise buildings has been allowed is neither scientific nor justified. Political nepotism is vicious, and resists eradication, as the policy makers are involved in the process and proceedings. "Political will" is weak in Dhaka, the parliament is limping, and the role of the opposition in ineffective.

Now correction has been left to Nature, and it is going to take its toll in the coming years, adding to the two categories of miseries: man-made, and natural. Tsunamis, earthquakes, and floods and not whims of Nature. There are two sides to it: one scientific, and the other mystical (the supreme Creator rules!).

Coming back to lack of parking space, the developers could not keep pace with the fast-changing mores and modes of the society. The other temptation is the high cost of the land in big cities. The solution is decentralisation and checks on urban migration. The politicians (and the bureaucrats) just cannot face the issues, for obvious reasons. What happened to political will? Answer: politics is now big business, and public interest is low down in the list (in other countries also).

The regime has switched on a pre-election campaign, based on pre-conceived notions. The mass awareness has risen each decade, but political policies based on annihilating the opponent' areas of the society (the mores) are uncontrolled (no time to pay attention to the basics, to build up the right foundations, before pointing to the super-structures).

Urban development policies are breaking under social pressures; and the latter are changing fast. Re-active governance cannot solve problems. Foresight, judgement, and continuity have no entry points in the planning networks. We see the after -effects, and wail and holler!

It is too late for the regime to drive in corrections, as the general elections are just around the corner, and the situation tends to encourage self-survival activities. How to reduce the 34-year gaps through truant politics? Our politics is virtually high-rise without the right foundations! Catch whom? Your guess is as good as mine!