No trade licence fee for pharmacies operated by women: DNCC mayor
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) will not collect any trade licence fee from pharmacies that are entirely run by women, declared DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam yesterday at a dialogue session with teenagers.
He also said authorities are constructing new playgrounds and parks for all ages and groups so everyone can enjoy their time at open spaces whenever they want to.
DNCC in association with Unicef Bangladesh arranged the session, which was held at DNCC office in Gulshan 2, with an aim to listen to the problems of adolescents living in the city.
During the session, students of different ages talked about their problems regarding education, health and safety.
Regarding pharmacy and hospital facilities, Morium Akhter Meghla, a high school student, said, “We, the adolescents, have various health related problems. But we can’t talk about them at every pharmacy and hospital as most of them are operated by men.”
Therefore, for adolescent girls, it would be better to have more women pharmacists and doctors, she told the mayor.
In response to her, the mayor stated, “DNCC will not take any trade licence fees from those pharmacies which will have all women staff.”
Meanwhile, different issues regarding playgrounds were raised. The teenagers claimed that there is a crisis of playgrounds, and drug abusers often prohibit children to enter existing playgrounds and tease girls when they go there.
Regarding playgrounds, the mayor said, “We are developing 24 playgrounds and parks in the city. Of them, 17 will be equipped with CCTV and LED lights. There will also be separate playgrounds for only women and children.”
He also said if anyone prohibits children to enter playgrounds or there are any safety concerns, they can call 333 and DNCC’s legal officials will take necessary steps.
Atiq called upon the youngsters to raise their voices and promised that he will look into the matters discussed.
Shamina Siddiqui, an official of Unicef Bangladesh; Rabindra Sri Barua, secretary of DNCC; and Brig Gen Momimur Rahman Mamun, chief health officer of DNCC, were present among others at the programme.
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