When the individual seeks a shadow of development

We are constantly reminded to pay VAT and taxes to further the government’s development initiatives. All fine and good! The massive development projects sprouting up have, so we’re told are mostly being built with our money, meaning taxpayer contribution. Nothing could be better than depending on fewer, expensive loans. That the exhortations aren’t enough there’s a marvellous system of tax on tax ranging from Advance Income Tax to cool deductions from bank accounts of tax and Excise duties and almost 25% added to bills when eating out. And one can barely top-up cell phone bills before the scythe of tax is applied.

When the wondering citizen braves it out through atrocious traffic to marvel at the artistic infrastructure there’s a demand on the wallet of a toll; the quiet persuasion of having to pay for the maintenance of the structure after having paid for its construction. The wonder never ceases when with all such tolls paid relatively new structures start crumbling beneath the wheels of one’s transport.

Those dependent on public transport rarely get the benefits of fixed fares with umpteen excuses abounding for increases, not least of which is -you guessed it-traffic jams. CNGs all run their fare meters (they don’t want trouble with traffic police) but, of course that’s for show. One’s fare depends on negotiations as it does with the cycle or motorised rickshaws. There’s a different excuse there. ‘Prices of everything has gone up ‘! Strong arguments no doubt but are those, the anyone who is anyone wielding authority interested? Not a Whitt!

For all the municipal taxes paid rubbish piles at vantage corners, electricity cables are stolen with CCTV monitoring the friendly neighbourhood and domestic garbage collection exacting further expense on the individual under the guise of community service. No such service available to clear footpaths from shop encroachment and roving vendor grabbing. Some of the widest roads available anywhere are reduced to lanes as mobile vendor take control of space. Someone,somewhere benefits as the vendor will inform but they’re nowhere to be found barring when-Hey presto-it’s election time. The leaflets containing pledges of improvement add to the rubbish on the road. No one remembers; no one really cares. The tentative public spaces allowing one to breathe a bit of fresh air in the pollution cursed city have to be expanded and kept free from free-holding presence of vendors and public transport, again not an impossibility.

And yet, it could be so different. Zoning for roaming vendors where traffic and commuter movement isn’t hampered is one way forward. Periodic clearing of encroachment at cost to the offenders will help including bolstering ever depleting revenue coffers. Introducing more effective Community policing through declared costs would be more productive than siphoning off tax-paid money with no accountability whatsoever. Similar measures for the rampant vehicle parking, especially of buses and trucks with strong punitive measures backed by determined parking areas is a must for a mega city that Dhaka likes to be called.

It’s all about will and intention overriding the demands of so called activists that turn up in processions and occasions that are in Shakespearean terms ‘Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

Mahmudur Rahman is a writer, columnist, broadcaster, and communications specialist.