City mayors face daunting tasks

The stifling gloom that had gripped people in the country's three city corporations is expected to start fading soon. Amid the government's claim of success, boycott of the polls by pro-BNP mayoral contenders, and isolated bouts of violence the three local government units have at last got their new mayors. They took oaths of office along with the new ward councillors on May 06. The corporations are Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Chittagong City Corporation (CCC). The elected mayors are Sayeed Khokon, Annisul Huq and AJM Nasir Uddin respectively.   The mayoral elections were held on April 28.
Dhaka has passed many years in a row without an elected mayor. In the period since the bifurcation of the undivided Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) into two units and the abolition of a single (elected) mayoral post in 2011 and appointments of two administrators in the same year, the metropolis veritably was rendered orphan. The community development and upkeep works suffered miserably. Among others, the major services such as timely waste disposal, relocation of slums and removing hawkers from footpaths began going awry. Since assumption of office by an elected chairman 130 years ago, Dhaka municipality has not seen such a stagnant situation.
The troubles of the two city corporations of the metropolis warrant urgent intervention. Due mainly to this, people in Dhaka metropolis might prefer to keep the unsavoury aspects of the recently-held mayoral elections aside - at least for now. In the absence of elected mayors and functional councillors, lots of works related to civic facilities had started limping half way through. Many ambitious plans were dropped after a shaky start. On the other hand, half-done projects created unexpected problems for the city-dwellers.
Adding to the existing woes, the population of the city has continued to rise thanks to the unabated Dhaka-bound rush of people from the other parts of the country.
The predecessor of Dhaka City Corporation was Dacca Municipality. It started its function under an elected chairman in 1864 during the British colonial period.
Ananda Chandra Roy was the first chairman of Dacca Municipality. In independent Bangladesh, Dacca Municipality was given the status of Dacca Municipality Corporation in 1978. In 1983 it was renamed Dhaka Municipal Corporation. The municipal corporation was upgraded to city corporation in 1990. Until 1994, the mayor of the corporation was appointed by the government. Mohammad Hanif was the first elected mayor of Dhaka.
At present the country has 11 city corporations, all of which once functioned as municipalities.
In the context of urban livability, civic amenities, hygiene and environment, the municipal authorities of Dhaka have had both ill and good reputations. Weighing up both the past and present records, Dhaka residents cannot claim to have enjoyed much longer periods of living comfortably in an ideal city. Since the days of its beginning, Dacca Municipality had to engage in battles on many fronts. Apart from the fight involving waste disposal, building sufficient roads and markets, arranging street lights and drinking water, and citizens' recreational facilities, the authorities had to remain on guard against outbreaks of contagious diseases. The menaces of mosquitoes, street dogs, dope takers and vagabonds have been integral to Dhaka since the British era.
 When it comes to its post-Partition function from 1947 to 1971, and that of the period after the independence of Bangladesh, Dhaka municipality, later city corporation, has hardly been able to receive unwavering popular endorsement. It continues even today.
Running a municipality is no exercise in mere administrative formalities. One has to be committed to the uplift of a city, and the welfare of its people.
People in the Dhaka south and north city corporations cannot be blamed if they place long lists of demands at the mayoral offices. Both the newly elected Dhaka mayors in their poll pledges eloquently spoke of making Dhaka a modern and ideal city. With the election frenzy slowly dying away and the winners' triumphal euphoria set to be over one day, the hard realities will begin to surface.
Dhaka is fast emerging as a mega city, at least with its mind-boggling population. In the area of infrastructural growth, including road communication and transports, it is assuming the shape of a juggernaut. Veritably, Dhaka at present is stuck in a great urban chaos. People come across hazards at every step, be they in their residential neighbourhoods, on the sidewalks or at leisure spots. There are seasonal menaces, like the obstinate problem of water-logging. Enjoying basic civic amenities has turned out to be a chimera in this city. The two elected mayors can ill afford to look the other way. Dhaka-dwellers desperately look forward to them.
shihabskr@ymail.com