DCC split gets cabinet nod

The cabinet yesterday gave final approval to a draft law for splitting Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) into two parts, North and South.
“The draft will now be sent to Jatiya Sangsad to make it a law,” Cabinet Secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told reporters after a meeting at Prime Minister's Office with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
The 150 square kilometre mega city has 92 wards. Of them, DCC North will get 36 wards -- 1 to 23, 37 to 47, 54 and 55 -- while DCC South will comprise 56 wards -- 24 to 36, 48 to 53 and 56 to 92.
Under the plan, Uttara, Gulshan, Badda, Mohakhali, East Rampura, Tejgaon, Mohammadpur, Mirpur, Pallabi and Kafrul fall in the North while Dhanmondi, Ramna, Motijheel, Sabujbagh, Demra, Khilgaon, Sutrapur, Kotwali and Lalbagh in the South.
Earlier on October 17, the government decided to divide DCC area by amending the Local Government (City Corporation) Act 2009. The decision was taken as it became difficult for the existing solo authority to provide the expected services for around one crore citizens.
The cabinet also gave final approval to Tree Conservation Act 2011 and a proposal in which Bangladesh would offer to reduce the Sensitive List of items under the South Asian Free Trade Area by 20 percent.
It approved a proposal for signing an agreement of cooperation with Russian Federation for development of legal framework and management system for peaceful use of nuclear power, the cabinet secretary informed the reporters.
A proposal for taking membership of Cooperation Agreement on Regional Integrated Multi-hazard Early Warning System (RIMES) was also approved by the cabinet. It will help Bangladesh enhance regional cooperation and get early warning system about natural disasters, particularly tsunami.
Proposals for amendments to the Policy and Strategy for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) 2010, and its guidelines, Agreement on Establishing Saarc Seed Bank, Saarc Agreement on Multilateral Arrangement on Recognition of Conformity Assessment and Saarc Agreement on Implementation of Regional Standards were also approved.
However, the cabinet did not approve a draft proposal of the industries ministry on Textile and Garment Industries Board Act 2011 as it may go against the business community. The proposal may be placed in the cabinet again after some amendments.
The list of holidays for the year 2012 was also okayed. It also expressed satisfaction over the implementation rate of the decisions taken in cabinet meetings since the Awami League-led government assumed office in January 2009.