Glitter and glitz of cities

People migrate to the metropolitan cities, because of the prospects for employment, business, education, health and other utility services. This is a common trend all over the world. People not only migrate within their own country, but also to other countries where they think such opportunities are better. Overpopulation, less arable land, unemployment, less wages, absence of municipal facilities in their respective areas are the main driving forces behind migration to metropolitan cities from the rural areas. Unrestricted migration creates problems for municipal authorities since the ever increasing number of population put extra pressure on demand for the services provided by them. In the rainy season usually breakdown of sewerage system, accumulation of waste water and solid waste occur and cause inundation of large areas of metropolitan city like Dhaka and Chittagong. As a result water-logging for few days in some areas brings untold sufferings to the city dwellers. Unrestricted migration creates another problem. For example, dwellings along railway tracts grow up in the city. Children of the impoverished families reasonably become compelled to work to support their parents to face the unforeseen challenges of the metropolitan cities. They become vulnerable to drink contaminated water and often suffer from water borne diseases like diarrhoea and various skin-diseases, among others. Some influential and dishonest realtors taking the opportunity of the growing demand for housing arising out of overpopulation in the metropolitan cities grab land on the embankment of rivers around the cities. Settlements of large number of people on the river banks cause extensive river pollution. Unchecked and rapid increase of urban population is a threat to the socio-economic stability of the city dwellers. Planned housing and supply of pure drinking water, education, health services for the poor, proper waste management, improving city drainage system, action against land grabbers are definitely difficult tasks, but not altogether impossible. Ahmed Showkat Masud West Kazi Para, Mirpur, Dhaka Email_ ahmed.masud69@yahoo.com