Transforming Dhaka into a clean city

Dhaka City's liveability index has been only second to Damask from the negative order. The difference though is stark. The Syrian capital is at the bottom because of the war, armed clashes between warring factions including the most dreaded Islamic State (IS), bombing by fighter jets from different nations.
Dhaka's woes are on account of its physical ailments. Population pressure, inadequate infrastructure, ill management systems of all things that keep a city running are some of the issues crying for people's attention. However, one common but no less grave issue is the unclean state of things. Even the hospitals where cleanliness should receive top priority are so ill maintained that cats, mice, if not rats, dogs and cockroaches find the wards and cabins a most hospitable shelter for them. Termites, ants and mosquitoes are also permanent residents in some of the government hospitals.
Who is to blame? As a nation, the Bangalees cannot boast a heightened sense of cleanliness in their personal and public life. Relentless spitting is second nature to them. Staircases of most buildings housing government and private offices bear the mark of such random spitting. Those accustomed to chewing betel leaf and nut are the worst offenders. There is no restriction on throwing polythene bags, rubbish, used packages, banana skin and rejected portions of other fruits including green coconut anywhere and everywhere. A national trait such as this is a dangerous one.
Yet hardly do people in this part of the world feel perturbed. They have not only been enjoying the freedom of getting rid of their used and rejected objects at all places, some among them do not mind responding to nature's call in full public view right on roadside. And at times it seems the urge to be so relieved is contagious. A number of such relievers engage in the act with no qualms whatsoever.
Then there are vagabonds, floating people and rag pickers -many of whom is learnt to have given into addiction to drug -who sleep on foot overbridge and spread their smelly, torn and unclean lungis and kanthas for drying up in the sun. It is not uncommon on their part to relieve themselves on roads and the foot overbridge itself they make their shelter.
Then there are makeshift kitchen on vans which prepare food occupying a portion of such busy roads as the Elephant Road and Nawabpur Road. Motor propelled sugarcane crush machines are also there. Water and other discarded materials like that of sugar cane litter the roads but who care? The list is likely to be endless.
It is against such mindless irresponsible practices, chaos and callousness, a piece of news caused quite a furore. Some Japanese citizens in Dhaka one day embarked on cleaning streets of the capital. That the Japanese love to live in an environment of squeaky cleanliness is no exaggeration. Nor are they interested in gimmicks like others who use occasions like World Habitat Day for political or other dividends.
Why cannot cleanliness be a strong point with people in this city at least? To be so, there is a need to develop a habit -one that teaches to a person to be alert right from childhood.
As part of the promotion of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's campaign for a Saccha Bharat (clean India), a TV advertisement has well crafted the message. It shows important places in Kolkata and then at each place, someone vows not to allow the place to be soiled by spitting and such other ungainly practices. The message is strong and likely to be effective.
If the Dhakites claim to love their city, they too have to be aware of the fact that things cannot go like this. Simply reforming some urban habits, a lot of change can be brought about to the physical sight of this capital. If the spree of spitting can be controlled and fined in case one commits the offence by doing so in places other than the designated spot, throwing off this and that article anywhere and everywhere made punishable and the ban on polythene bags once again enforced effectively, things will definitely improve. The city will transform from its ugly look into a cleaner one.