The problem is that the policy makers at the top have become insensitive, and are too busy politically in two ways, one open, and the other through the back doors. First, without going into details, the basic approach has to be correct.

i) Carry out major reforms in the way Rajuk and DCC are run. Review the human resources and the tools, and the system of daily routine operation. There are many loopholes; and plenty of updates are needed, to be recommended by expert bodies commissioned for the task (an old repetitive exercise!).

New organograms have to be prepared, to be run by local professionals, with adequate checks and balances (beware of foreign ideas which cannot perform in local environmental conditions). Such reviews have not been carried out for years, and public awareness level is poor. Focus on the internal environment or atmosphere. No ventilation for fresh air.

ii) Reshuffle the officials and staff; and make transfers a regular feature, to avoid building up of vested mini empires. No report on this issue ever published.

iii) There are several different bodies, groups, committees, to look after the various development projects in the metropolis. The duplication and coordination weaknesses have to be redressed, and made public. When such an exercise was carried out, and how much the systems losses have come down? For the electricity sector, some figures have been made public, but not for Rajuk and DCC systems losses. In fact, we seem to need a new Municipal Service Code to tackle urban migration pressures. A big headache is that the rules and regulations are not respected. Paper governance or puppet shows? Caution: political regimes are fast developing a bad image.

The ball is in their court!

iv) Urban migration is a big evil, but politically it is an elusive issue, having to deal with decentralisation of power to the divisions and districts. That means Secretariat reforms, which is also a taboo issue, like the separation of the judiciary, hanging for decades.

We see the exposed dirt, but not what is kept under the carpet. In fact there are too many plush carpets all around. Pull out the carpets and display the Aladdin's lamp!

v) Political transparency is becoming a big election issue. Now it is too late for reform, as election campaign has to start. The voters are disenchanted with these mock elections, because politics itself is dirty (dirty Dhaka city is No. 2 on the list).

Cheap, popular political stunts don't last, or contribute to solid long-term development of the society. The onus is on the political masters. The politicians do not talk at peer level, thus creating a psychological barrier, which makes the atmosphere dirtier.

We are faced with many kinds of garbage, starting with the management and administration's amateurish approaches (plus corrupt practices). The vicious circle has to be snapped at one point, to break up the recycling of evil practices.