The cost of indifference

The decision made by the cabinet last Monday to remove 'unapproved' commercial establishments from the designated residential areas of Dhaka, the most densely populated city in the world, is bound to raise both confusions and serious doubts in public mind.
Undoubtedly, de-commercialisation of the areas that were earmarked by the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) as pure residential areas is a welcome move.
But the word 'unapproved' would surely raise a few questions. If RAJUK or any other authorised entity goes to remove a commercial establishment or any other operation, approved by the appropriate government agency, the latter will surely move to the court and secure an order restraining the former from such an action. Besides, the government cannot initiate such illegal action.
The question that would, naturally, crop up is: why did the appropriate agency approve commercial operations in areas that are meant for residential purposes only?  
In its regular weekly meeting held last Monday, the cabinet reportedly decided to 'remove' all guest houses, bars, restaurants and hotels in the residential areas of Dhaka city.
The removal of guest houses, bars and residential areas might be possible. But getting the same job done in the case of posh four or five-star hotels constructed with permission from RAJUK in Gulshan and Nikunja residential areas would be difficult.
The problem has gone too deep over the years and getting rid of the same would not be that easy.
It is nothing but indifference, deliberate or otherwise, on the part of the RAJUK that is solely responsible for unbridled commercialisation of major residential areas, namely, Dhanmondi, Gulshan and Banani. Baridhara and Nikunja have not yet been commercialised to a large extent. But they would be within next few years.
The main task of de-commercialisation would now be entrusted with the RAJUK, the agency that actually allowed the transformation of the residential areas into commercial ones. Some other agencies, including city corporations, would extend support services, if and when necessary.
The RAJUK will have every right to remove the 'unapproved' commercial entities and other institutions from the residential areas. Yet then question would be asked about the existence of the 'approved' ones.
The RAJUK is the legitimate authority to prepare and implement the land-use plan for Dhaka metropolitan area. In fact, it had one, known as the Dhaka Metropolitan Development Plan (DMDP), prepared for the 1995-2015 period. Now it is in the midst of preparing another, titled, the Detailed Area Plan (DAP), which has already raised lots of controversies.  
There is no denying that in a crowded city like Dhaka it is very difficult to check violation of the approved land-use plan. But that violation is found to be extensive in the areas earmarked by the RAJUK as residential areas. Even the residential areas developed by large private builders are facing the problem of commercialisation.
With RAJUK overlooking the infringement of severe nature, the plot and house owners and builders in those so-called residential areas have been making windfall gains. But the development has taken a heavy toll on the habitable environment of the city.  The commercialisation has affected social cohesiveness and privacy of the people living in the designated residential areas, both public and private. Other problems such as overcrowding, traffic congestion, air and noise pollution, extreme pressure on utility services, insufficient parking facility have made the life of the residents miserable.
The people living in the Dhanmondi Residential Area (R/A), the first residential area developed by the erstwhile Dhaka Improvement Trust (DIT), now known as RAJUK, do know how tough it is to live in a residential area. Traffic congestion and noise pollution among others, are their constant companions from dawn to midnight.
Initially, the DIT did not allow the use of any plot of Dhanmondi R/A for any commercial use during the then Pakistan period. But the restriction was relaxed a bit after independence. Now more than a half of the area is being used for non-residential purposes. Commercial enterprises, banks, hospitals, educational institutions, restaurants etc., are now occupying most buildings along the main as well as internal roads of Dhanmondi.
The situation has been deteriorating fast in Gulshan and Banani and it would soon be as bad as Dhanmondi.
The residents have been crying for a change in the prevailing situation. The government has also decided to respond to their demand. But it might prove quite a daunting task. However, a partial relief could be possible in the end.
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