Policy makers should cooperate for a liveable Dhaka
The EIU has ranked Dhaka as the third worst liveable city in the world and Professor (retd) Sarwar Jahan discusses the issue with The Business Standard
Dhaka does not offer most of its inhabitants much access to health facilities in comparison to that in other cities. It is also true that the quality of service in public hospitals is not satisfactory.
Private hospitals are too expensive for most people, but despite the existence of private hospitals, many rich people to prefer go abroad for treatment.
Roads full of dust and air full of pollutants contribute a great deal to deteriorating health in Dhaka city. Polluting fumes discharged from public transportation vehicles, especially buses, is very dangerous for the health. Untreated garbage lying by the roads and its unsystematic disposal is also greatly responsible for the spread and increase of various diseases.
This city is the worst to live in owing to various undesirable conditions. A lot of money has been invested in developing the infrastructure, but it has so far failed to decrease traffic jams. The quality of education has also dropped rapidly, despite a mushrooming growth of educational institutions and a great increase in the number of students.
Policy makers, ministries and city corporations will have to implement plans like the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) and the Strategic Transportation Plan (STP) accordingly. Mending the noticeable lack of coordination between concerned authorities will help in improving life in the city.
This city needs big investments. The government should invest more in Dhaka to make this city liveable. We must remember that the overall development of the country depends on the development of the capital city.