Experts at a programme said Saturday the past and present development plan for Dhaka was mainly devised to serve the interests of a section of people like realtors, politicians, law enforcers and members of armed forces which indicated absence of good governance.
Besides, due democratic process was ignored during planning for Dhaka. Providing the citizens with proper services was not satisfactory which also indicated absence of good governance, they added.
They made the observations at a research-based conference and publication programme titled 'Dhaka for Future Generations: Our Actions' at Planners Towers in the city. Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) and Centre for Development Communication organised the daylong event in collaboration with the German embassy.
Three research papers were presented at the programme. Urban Planner Golam Mortuza presented the keynote paper on 'good governance'.
In the research report, several problems were identified in establishing good governance. These were severe financial crisis of service providing agencies, lack of initiative by mayors/councillors to provide the citizens with utility services, corruption of contractors engaged in infrastructure development, political influence on implementation of projects, lack of people's participation, lack of efficiency and experience of officials, lack of coordination between the central and local government and service agencies and lack of financial authority of service providing agencies.
In his presentation, Mr Mortuza said in November 2011, the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) was bifurcated mainly to strengthen authority of the corporation, but not to improve their services. "The citizens of Dhaka want to get services, but not willing to pay taxes," he added.
The authority should be more active in collecting city corporation taxes. Otherwise the city corporation cannot work independently if it cannot mobilise necessary funds, the report said.
Only one-third of the Dhaka city corporation's budget comes from people's taxes and the rest come as government subsidy, it added.
The report suggested bringing all the utility agencies under the city corporation, empowering the mayor to a minister's status, bringing Rajuk under the city corporation and holding election on time. Besides, the report stressed the need for upgrading the city corporation as city government. The report also recommended that the government approve the 'National City Policy'.
Executive Director of Centre for Development Communication Muhammad Jahangir said good governance in local government institutions cannot be established if there is lack of political willingness and transparency. "Politicians don't want to empower the city corporations for their own interest," he added.
Mr Jahangir said the ruling party wants to keep control over Dhaka city. That's why the mayors are seen to exercise their power only on the cleaners. He claimed that the city corporation election is not held as there is the possibility of defeat in the election.
Another paper titled 'Public Place and Open Space' was presented by Planner Maruf Rahman.
The report mentioned that in the detailed area plan (DAP) of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) of 1,590 sq km or 0.132 acres of land, there was a total of 81,024 acres of flood flow zone which was 24.71 per cent, 3,080 acres open space (0.94 per cent), 5,737 acres water bodies (1.75 per cent) and 18,782 acres wetland which could be used as public place and open space for the citizens.
Architect Iqbal Habib said the citizens' movement against the anomalies of Dhaka city could not be successful due to lack of accountability of the authorities, although many laws, rules and verdicts of the court were in favour of people.
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Dev plan devised to serve interests of realtors, politicians: Experts
FE Report | Published: January 18, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: January 17, 2015 22:33:57
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