Participation of young people need to be ensured for a planned and developed city

ActionAid Bangladesh and Dhrubotara Youth Development Foundation (DYDF) organized a dialogue on "Young People in Conversation with the DNCC Mayor: Making Dhaka an Inclusive Mega-City". The Daily Star was the media partner of the event. The dialogue was organized with the aim of harnessing youth power and youth engagement in the decision-making structure of the city corporation and in urban development.

Honourable Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation Md. Atiqul Islam was present as the chief guest in this event.

DNCC Mayor Md. Atiqul Islam said – To develop a modern city youth engagement is very essential. He said youth need to come forward take the initiatives and leadership to develop a modern megacity. To build a clean city people need to be aware and clean their area. He said for the employment of the transgender community city corporation has decided to appoint transgender people as cleaners. He promised to stand by the youth and called upon the youth to build a social movement for public awareness.

Prominent human rights activist Adv. Sultana Kamal Said- Young people engagements are required in city corporations for an inclusive megacity. She suggests to provided training to the youth and monitors youth activities. She also suggests allocating a budget for the young people. She encouraged young people to get involved in social activities and take initiative.

Nazmul Ahsan, Youth Program Manager, ActionAid Bangladesh said- In order to inspire and support the youth, the city corporation needs to allocate budget for their social and cultural activities. Separate projects and training programmes need to be introduced for slum dwellers.

Korban Ali, Deputy Manager, ActionAid Bangladesh said- To reduce the air pollutions separate smoking zone need to be built. Transgender people have problems with their national identity cards, so separate arrangements need to be ensured for them to be vaccinated properly.

Maruf Hossain, Joint Secretary of BAPA said- Ward based youth team need to be formed and those teams need to be engaged with the city corporation directly.

Mr Amiya Prapan Chakraborty Arka, Executive director of Dhrubotara Youth Development Foundation (DYDF) facilitated the entire dialogue.

Mehedi Hasan Janet, Project Coordinator of Dhrubotara Youth Development Foundation has arranged and monitors the event.

The young participants discussed their demands and recommendations with the DNCC mayor.

Key recommendations-

1. Youth participation needs to be ensured in the decision-making and budget formation process of the City Corporation.

2. To reduce air pollution the roads are needed to wash regularly and create different smoking zones.

3. To ensure healthcare service separate ticket counters are needed in hospitals for women, men, children, physically challenged and transgender people.

4.  Education and training centres need to be built in every ward and special facilities should be provided to the underprivileged people like physically challenged, street children, transgender people etc.

5.  Introduce free bus service for students and provide adequate seating for women, children and transgender people in public transport.

6. WASA needs to improve the water quality and sewerage system. Proper coordination is needed among electricity, water, gas and other government agencies or authorities to reduce affliction and waste of money.

7. Adequate public toilets and separate public toilets for transgender people need to be built.

8. Cultural centres need to be established for the entertainment and refreshments of dwellers. Also, adequate playgrounds, gymnasiums and libraries need to be established.