Old-age complications need selfless remedy
In any study at any level on the future liveability of Dhaka, the conclusion invariably is that the city is too populated, and the solution perpetually borders on the need to decentralise each and every national institution; in which proposed action the speaker/analyst/discussant without exception reckons that he, his family and his friends, and everything he needs and desires remains within the city premises. This writer is no exception.
That self-seeking privilege at individual, group and institutional strata is one of the primary reasons why we have not been able to think straight and make much headway in keeping this city mobile, clean, healthy, well supplied, hazard-free and serviceable, among other shortcomings. We have to rise above ourselves in order to serve and save ourselves.
In this edition's article, Engineer Syed Azizul Haq touches on an issue that many may consider dead, prayed for and buried. But, experienced as he is in dealing with mainly 'plumbing practices', which entails many aspects of the urban framework that he delves in, albeit cursorily because of the scope of this page, the author is optimistic, or else his piece would not have seen the light of day.
It is necessary to pump vigour into this aged city's development and redevelopment programmes. Intertwined and complex aspects there are many, but Engr. Haq's query 'where is the land?' may become especially vital even if one fine morning we wake up as angels on mattresses of riyals and yens.
For the past several decades we have become used to the statement, uttered and lettered, that Dhaka will become unliveable in the 'next' five years. True or not, none has left the burgeoning mass of concrete, humans and shops; rather the reality has been to the contrary.
In dealing with the problems of mega-Dhaka we so readily offer our garbage to the other districts, just as we did with our pre-CNG baby taxis, that we seldom ponder whether the rest of the country is willing to accept our rubbish. It is therefore pertinent to suggest that time perhaps has come when they should sit down, discuss and call the shots.
Let the rest of the country invite us, instead of us going to their still quiet habitats uninvited. We have to think from outside Dhaka, only then perhaps will our proposals be selfless and practicable, only then will Dhaka live to be 500 and beyond.
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