Why Dhaka mayors fail to keep promises

When it comes to discuss about Dhaka, the city dwellers give complicated views. They find it difficult to live here and in the meantime they must stay here because of various reasons. Dhaka is a very expensive city in thr first place and secondly the metropolis is becoming uninhabitable day by day. The air of Dhaka is polluted, the water is polluted, the citizens of the capital are grinding because of the traffic congestions. Dhaka is at the top of the world in terms of noise pollution. Moreover, the city has become the breeding ground of mosquitoes. A little rain can cause waterlogging and the waste-management is a pain in the neck.

The problems of living in Dhaka cannot be overstated. However, people cannot leave Dhaka, because good schools-college-hospitals, and the main administrative system of the country are all dependent on Dhaka. Therefore, Dhaka residents have high expectations from the two city mayors; But they repeatedly poured water on the expectations and hopes of Dhaka residents. As if their job is to make hollow promises.

As per media report published on Thursday (May 16), the two mayors could not implement any plan as per their election manifesto. The Institute for Planning and Development (IPD) organized an online meeting titled 'Four years of tenure of mayors and councilors of Dhaka North and Dhaka South City Corporations: Citizens' Expectations and Achievements'.

According to urban researchers, Dhaka North City Corporation Atiqul Islam, Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and councilors of these two cities are about to complete their four years in office. But, they failed to implement even one-third of the 88 promises they made before the polls. In many cases, because of electoral politics, they have made promises that mayors have no jurisdiction over. Again, due to systematic errors, many initiatives did not succeed.

In the election manifesto, the DNCC mayor made 38 promises to build a healthy, vibrant and modern city, the article said. On the other hand, the mayor of the south made about 50 promises to build a traditional, beautiful, vibrant, well-governed and developed Dhaka. Both mayors made bold promises to improve Dhaka's horrendous traffic congestion, eliminate waterlogging and eliminate mosquito infestations.

According to the government data, 980 people died of dengue in the capital last year while 110,008 people were infected and admitted to the hospital. This year, 18 people died and 888 people were hospitalized due to dengue infection in the capital as of last Tuesday. A few parks were freed from the encroachment, however, no city canals were not freed. Despite some improvement in waste management, many innocent people and children are being crushed under the wheels of garbage trucks.

Although the growth of Dhaka has increased somewhat, there is no children's playground. Traffic congestion has increased more than before. This happened due to unplanned digging. And there is no precedent that the two mayors are doing anything to prevent noise and air pollution. Mayors have no initiative to punish those who occupy the sidewalks backed by the political and law enforcement forces.

Urban researchers say that promises made by mayors to win elections are difficult to implement in four years. Basically they do it to convince people. Mayors know what ordinary people want. Then they forget the promise. Of course, this is also true, Dhaka is reeling under the pressure of huge population. Quick release from this is impossible. Even so, the city dwellers have a lot of expectations on the two mayors as city leaders.

City dwellers want a little more comfortable life. A little safe, quiet life; But due to financial crisis, lack of skilled manpower and some negligence, the two city heads have failed to meet the expectations of Dhaka residents. Let's hope the two mayors fulfill at least a few of their promises in the last year of their terms to give relief to the city's residents.