The woes of Dhaka city

IF the proverb "All that glitters is not gold" needs an example, the city of Dhaka might be a good example. It has skyscrapers, dazzling shopping malls, big business houses, posh golf courses, expensive Japanese, American and European cars, eye catching fast-food shops -- all that is needed for a city to look modern. Yet, it does not have the basic requirements of a modern city.
Dhaka is a city of unbearable pain and sorrow. Almost the entire population of the city, more than 10 million, is reeling with problems in daily life. The air is highly polluted. Water is not only scarce but also dangerously contaminated. The sewerage system, old and too inadequate for the burgeoning population, is in complete disarray. And about electricity, the less we say the better. Load-shedding at hourly intervals is the order of the day.
The city's transport system is in a complete mess. If you have to go out on an appointment, you better keep an extra hour or two in hand and be prepared, mentally as well as physically, to face any sort of adventure -- overcoming the unending traffic jam, a little bit of caress from some "malam party," or rough handling of muggers hiding here and there
Traffic management, more appropriately mismanagement, could be the hardest riddle even for the best of the traffic experts. Traffic signals with red, green and yellow lights going on and off at regular intervals are there, but these are more for show than for controlling traffic movement. If you are driving a car you better look for the hand movements of the traffic police. More often than not you will find yourself through in red signals.
If you are a pedestrian wanting to cross the road, you better read some divine verses from the holy books before going through a most difficult exercise. You are not sure whether you will return home without stepping into an open manhole or pothole on the road or footpath and breaking your legs.
If you are lucky to have transport of your own, you might some how manage to keep your appointments. If you don't, you might as well practice how to gain in a tussle with a rickshaw, taxi cab or CNG driver, of course if you have enough money in your pocket. If you don't, you better learn how to hang around holding the door handles of a bus.
Cleanliness is one of the main pillars of Islam. Why is this pillar missing from Dhaka, where ninety percent of its 10 million inhabitants are Muslims? Leaving aside the religious aspect of the issue, keeping the city clean and free of mosquitoes is the responsibility of our city father. Regrettably, our city father has done nothing.
The city might be called a huge waste bin. And if you talk about mosquitoes, they are a menace as before although millions of takas are believed to have been spent by the city corporation to eradicate them.
Interestingly, the city father wants to contest for another term. The mayor of Dhaka should keep himself out of the race, and accept full responsibility for the failure of the corporation to provide minimum civic facilities.
The people of Dhaka voted overwhelmingly in favour of Awami league and its alliance with the hope of seeing a reversal of the ever-increasing crises in their daily life. They are patiently waiting to see that process start.
The government of Sheikh Hasina, only three months in office, has commendably handled the most pressing issue of bringing down the prices of rice, wheat, edible oil and fertiliser. The people expect them to bring down the prices of fish, vegetables and other items, which are still far beyond the buying capacity of ordinary people.
They have so far efficiently handled the BDR crisis, which could have otherwise led to a catastrophe on a scale never seen before. They have, after a long time, made the parliament work with both the treasury and the opposition benches participating in the proceedings.
If they have failed to make any headway in any field, it is in alleviating the sufferings of the urban population caused by acute crisis of water and electricity and lack of efficient public transport system.
True, the power and water crisis, which intensified over the years because of corruption and gross negligence of the past governments, cannot be fully solved overnight -- nor even in the next 2-3 years. But the government has to do something that will convince the people that yes, the matter is in good hands and they are serious about it. The government would be well advised not to test the nerves of the people for too long a time.

Captain Husain Imam is a retired merchant navy officer.