Experts disfavour division of Dhaka city

FE Report Experts Wednesday expressed their opinion against the government's decision to divide Dhaka city saying this will not be viable economically, culturally as well as politically. They emphasised the need for empowerment of the local government without any bureaucratic bottleneck and for increasing transparency in development works. They were speaking at an open discussion protesting against the decision of the government to divide Dhaka City Corporation into two parts. The discussion was organised by the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) Councillors' Oikyo Parishod (united council) at the National Press Club in the capital. Former adviser to the caretaker government Akbar Ali Khan termed the decision to divide Dhaka city as a 'sudden and redundant decision' which he said was quite illogical. He said: "The decision has not been taken scientifically or geographically and the government has not been able yet to describe the necessity of two city corporations in Dhaka and their economic viability." Dr Khan said it will not be economically viable as the country has no situation now to expend a big amount for the infrastructures of two different city corporations. He proposed that all the councillors and the mayor of the city corporation collect signatures from the city inhabitants and submit those to the Speaker of Parliament. Prof Asif Nazrul of department of Law, Dhaka University pointed out that people had not demanded any division of Dhaka city and the election manifesto of Awami League had also not said any thing about this. He said the Constitution also does not allow two capitals, Justice Abdur Rouf said, "The councillors should raise a pro-people protest to force the government to rescind the decision." "Besides economic perspective, Dhaka herself is a historically enriched cultural heritage," Justice Rouf said. Founder of Ganashastho Hospital Zafarullah Chowdhury questioned the authority of the cabinet to take the decision of dividing Dhaka city. DCC Ward-70 Councillor Kaji Abdul Bashir conducted the discussion while former president of the National Press Club Md Shawkat Mahmud and Dhaka Samity General Secretary Md Abdul Motaleb, among others, also spoke. Most of the ward councillors and woman councillors of the DCC were present at the discussion where they declared that they would go for stern action from next month if the government did not rescind the decision.