"Transformation of a glorious city"

The pictures of residential areas in good old Dhaka with its greenery and tree covered roads, clean environment having so many ponds of unpolluted clear water and orchards (Gandaria, Wari, Narinda etc.) are indeed unforgettable. This is just to add to the preamble of the subject article of Dr. Andaleeb already narrating the beautiful lush green Ramna and all other areas beyond the railway track of the past (new Dhaka of that time). Virtually all those, as rightly but regretfully, summed-up now turned from 'grace to ugliness', to say the least, despite great costly developments with so many grand projects particularly after this megacity gained the status of becoming capital of an independent Bangladesh.

It is no use for anyone to come out with any excuse blaming the state of affairs now existing and which may soon transform Dhaka to a place not fit for human habitation, as predicted by many thinkers/experts by their utterances/write-ups through the media. Perhaps, the writer being a NRB (non resident Bangladeshi) did not experience the unbearable condition of air-pollution before the two stroke engined-vehicles were banned from our city streets, which made the situation much better and so is the effect of action against polythene bags. From all signs, the short-lived good result may not last long. As the situation seems to be again reversing due to lack of enforcement of the law, when, we, the old and children in particular, may once again have to put up with the lack of fresh air (with max tolerable level of pollution) so essential for our survival . Then come the health hazards for everybody originating from lack of basic hygiene/ sanitation for the vast floating population and the slum-dwellers. The terrible mosquito menace is in fact the by-product of the conditions created by the absence of proper drainage/cleanliness. Poverty cannot or should never be the cause for all the ugly scene that we witness all over Dhaka these days.

How can we hold on to the habit of keeping our eyes shut in these days of great IT revolution enabling people to see, hear and learn as human-beings from each other? Or remain ignorant about all the progress in these respects happening to our neighbours/world at large? As a matter of fact, we have more people with money to day than ever before and the percentage of education is also much higher, then what makes us all sit idle and watch the situation going from bad to worse everyday, as time passes? Each and every recommendation / suggestion contained in the write-up by Dr. Andaleeb ought to be carefully examined by our city fathers to be followed up for immediate execution jointly by the officials concerned of the conservancy/health departments of the DCC.