Citizens threaten movement against split

A number of eminent personalities yesterday threatened to launch a greater movement against the government's decision to split Dhaka City Corporation into two.
The government has taken the decision in an “autocratic” manner by ignoring public opinion, they said.
They expressed their views at a citizens' rally organised by the Dhaka City Corporation Councillors' Oikkyo Parishad at the Central Shaheed Minar yesterday.
Speaking as the chief guest, Prof Mozaffar Ahmed said it was necessary to take the opinion of the residents of Dhaka before reaching any decision regarding the city.
Splitting DCC by overlooking the opinion of its dwellers is an undemocratic and autocratic attitude. The government should refrain from such attitude, he said.
Noted columnist Syed Abul Maksud said placing the bill, in parliament, for splitting the DCC was unnecessary and illogical. A cross-section of people were against splitting the DCC. But the government had gone ahead with its initiative in an autocratic manner.
"If you (people) are united, Dhaka will remain undivided even after the passage of the bill," he said.
Former Dhaka University vice chancellor Prof Emajuddin Ahmed said such a decision was completely wrong and would not be long-lasting.
He too urged the government to refrain from making such 'unwarranted' decisions.
Former chief election commissioner Justice Abdur Rouf said the plan for dividing DCC was not a good one.
Outgoing DCC mayor Sadek Hossain Khoka said he would launch a greater movement demanding an undivided DCC.
BNP leader Mirza Abbas and former adviser to a caretaker government MA Majed also spoke at the rally.
DCC STAFF THREATEN TO GO ON STRIKE
Dhaka City Corporation staff yesterday threatened to enforce a strike if their demands including cancellation of the government's plan to split the corporation are not met.
They also demanded immediate withdrawal of the transfer order for union leader Mesbahul Karim to Barisal City Corporation, and the case filed against over 300 people including 11 DCC officials and employees.
Shahbagh police on Monday lodged the case on charges of assaulting law enforcers during demonstrations the previous day.
State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Jahangir Kabir Nanok will sit with the DCC staff on December 5 to discuss their demands, said Akhter Hossain Dewan, first joint-convener of DCC Officers-Employees Shamannoy Parisad.
The staff will resort to a strike if they fail to reach an agreement in the meeting, he told a rally at Nagar Bhaban yesterday.
He announced a two-day protest programme against the government's decision. Under the agitation plan, they will hold rallies at Nagar Bhaban on December 1 and 4.