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Opinion

Decentralising Dhaka is an urgent necessity


Bangladeshpost
Published : 10 Mar 2021 07:29 PM | Updated : 11 Mar 2021 10:41 AM

Md Emdadul Islam

Decentralization is a universal approach for alternative and new developments, as well as for local and regional growth of a country. In our country, it happened during both the Mogul and British eras and in Pakistan period as well. Many institutions and business places including ministries from Dhaka were shifted in Chattogram and Khulna during the Pakistan period, when almost all the summit meetings of head of states were used to be held in Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar and Hill Districts. Everybody in independent Bangladesh thought that this approach will continue in our country, and thereby a balanced growth will be occurred throughout the country. But it did not happen as expected, rather many of earlier decentralized institutions, ministries, establishments and big business houses had been re-centralized in Dhaka!

At the height of problems in Dhaka in mid-1980s, accrued due to increasing population and uncontrolled growths, the then President Ershad attempted first for decentralizing some activities from the city. He introduced the Upazilla system through the improvisation of local governance system and also attempted for High Court decentralization in regional levels. It was started well and Upazilla system had been functioning well, but the vested groups (the then senior lawyers and judges) did not allow materializing the decentralization of high Court system. Immediately after the opening of High Court Branch in Chattogram and Rajshahi, the government had to close it and recentralize the High Courts in Dhaka. Onwards, after the removal of President Ershad, the Upazilla system was also not running properly.

 The reigning political parties distorted the system and made it subdue to local members of parliament, though the Task Force constituted in 1991 recommended for a better Upazilla system and to continue other decentralization process.

The Economist Intelligence Unit has ranked Dhaka as the second least liveable city in the world. The Mercer Quality of Living Survey has recently found Dhaka’s position at the 214th in the world. Recently the Air Quality Index (AQI) mentioned that Dhaka is the most polluted city in the world. In order to get rid of these problems, various proposals have been suggested by the different bodies to increase Dhaka’s liveability like the decentralizing of many institution and establishments from the city, forming of a high-powered coordination committee in the Prime Minister Office or creation of City Government etc. but nothing has been materialized yet. But now there are no alternatives of decentralizing or creating an administrative capital in the vicinity of Dhaka like the ‘PutraJaya’ in Kualalumpur, where they have shifted all major governmental office and residences including the Prime Minister office and residence.

In Bangladesh, as the local and districts levels could not yet be put in place as expected, people in general from root level are still moving towards Dhaka for income and job opportunities, for higher educations, for better health services and for various other administrative purposes. At present, about 20 million people now live in Dhaka and the size is increasing without any interference from the government, causing the horrendous traffic jams, environmental degradation and pressure on civic amenities. The problems are further multiplied by the fact that majority of dwellers of the city do not have personal commitment to keep the city clean, because as citizens they are not also aware of it. According to the local government experts, for making Dhaka liveable, the megacity can be re-structured as ‘East Dhaka’, ‘West Dhaka’, ‘North Dhaka’, ‘South Dhaka’ and ‘Central Dhaka’ by the necessary administrative reform, as like as in London of United Kingdom.

The Task Force Report-1991 and all other subsequent studies also clearly pointed out that developing the port city Chattogram as ‘Commercial Capital’ and all other regional and important districts, tourist places and economic zones by shifting there relevant ministries like shipping ministry, railway ministry, environment ministry, coast guard, tourist development board, haur development board, boarder guard force, tea board etc. including removal of Dhaka Cantonment and BGB headquarter from Dhaka. For example, the Port Authority of Chattogram now totally dependent on Dhaka’s shipping ministry. Similarly, what are the reasons to keep the coast guard, railway headquarter, handloom boards Dhaka? Why the RMG industries developed in and around Dhaka instead of Chattogram, Khulna or Bagerhat (around Pyra Port)? It was also heard that by the side of Padma Bridge, a new or administrative capital would be developed, and a new international airport will be developed in adjoining areas, but instead of that now the third runway of Hazrat Shah Jalal International Airport is under construction and due to existence of international airport inside Dhaka, the height of buildings in capital city became frozen (‘bamon’)! Tall buildings or iconic structures are not allowed now in Dhaka due to this airport.

I was proposed to plan and develop the Purbachol New Town as the ‘Administrative Capital’ of Dhaka ever since its initiation, but to no effect from the policy makers. However, now at the height of severity of problems, the policy makers restart to thinking over the relocation of many things from the inside of Dhaka like Kamalapur Railway Station, Saidabad, Tejgaon and Gabtali Bus Depots; moving Dhaka Cantonment and BGB Headquarters outside of Dhaka. Already Dhaka International Trade Fair (‘BanijjoMela’) shifted at Purbachol New Town. Accordingly, Dhaka Cantonment can easily be accommodated in Savar and Rajendrapur Cantonments. BGB HQ from Pilkhana can be located in Rajshahi or Rangpur areas. Bangladesh Secretariat can be relocated at Purbachol areas. Most of the private universities, bank and other financial institutions may also be replaced in other districts. Chattogram may be really planned as ‘Commercial Capital’. Similar developments can also be made in Khulna, Rajshahi and Sylhet. Linking with a well-constructed a highway and Padma Brige, Gopalgonj may also be utilized for alternative developments by improving the various urban facilities and amenities there.  And finally, it is of utmost importance to give an embargo in migration to Dhaka and shifting all the RMG industries from Dhaka, as said before.

Apart from all these administrative and socio-economic decentralization, there is also the need of political decentralization. Political decentralization means strengthening the various tiers of local government institutions. Unfortunately, no local government institutions in our country are truly independent. All are dependent on the central government in any way. In many countries, even in India, local government institutions are very strong. They clear all policies to run the local government institution which is why in these countries the capital and other cities and growth centers are very attractive and healthy. Many also suggest for introducing federal system of government with several autonomous, in fact which will not only save Dhaka, but ensure the balanced growths of different regions. It is often pointed out that unwillingness of the political leaders has been the main reason for Dhaka’s messy standard of living. If serving people is the goal of good politics, there are very few other ways to serve people in Bangladesh than decentralizing Dhaka, politically, administratively as well as socio-economically. The sooner the political parties realize it, the better will be our positions. It is important to note here that just a couple of days before, Bangladesh has qualified to promote from ‘LDC’ (least developed countries) to ‘Developing Country’, so it depends on our political masters- how to shape its capital and the country.

  

Md Emdadul Islam is an Engineer-Planner -cum- Urban Analyst.