Most of the associations and trade unions of the Dhaka City Corporation employees are opposed to the government’s decision to split the corporation into two, purportedly to ensure better service delivery.
The mayor of Dhaka, Sadeque Hossain, told New Age on Friday that all the DCC ward councillors, officials, and employees were against the decision.
The cabinet in its weekly meeting on October 17 decided to divide the corporation into two by amending the Local Government (City Corporation) Act, 2009.
In reaction, on October 24, a DCC board meeting, participated by 120 ward councillors and chaired by the mayor, formed a seven-member committee of ward councillors to inform the government about their unanimous opposition to the decision by submitting memorandums to the government agencies concerned.
The head of the committee, DCC Ward 74 councillor Quazi Abul Bashar, told New Age on Friday that they had already submitted memorandums to this effect to the offices of the local government and rural development minister and state minister, secretary to the LGRD ministry, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on the ministry, and 15 lawmakers of Dhaka.
‘The government should strengthen and delegate more power to the existing corporation,’ Abul Bashar said, adding that the service-providing agencies of the city like the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority, Dhaka Power Distribution Company, Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited, and Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited should be placed under the corporation to ensure centrally coordinated service delivery by them.
Earlier on Wednesday, DCC Officers’ Association general secretary Khandker Millatul Islam told New Age that, if the corporation was split into two, it would increase the lack of coordination between the service delivery agencies of the city and intensify the manpower crisis of the DCC.
He also said, instead of dividing the city corporation, the idea of electing a metropolitan governor, who would control all metro services, could be implemented for ensuring better service delivery. ‘Former mayor the late Mohammad Hanif also supported this idea,’ he added.
DCC Sramik Karmachari Union general secretary SM Mosharraf Hossain Milan urged the government to reconsider the decision. ‘Splitting the corporation into two will increase the waste of money and the level of violence in the city,’ he said, adding that, if one city corporation failed to serve the city dwellers then two city corporations would only produce a chaos.
A capital cannot be divided, maintained DCC Transport Drivers’ and Employees’ Union president Akhter Hossain Dewan.
He said institution of two city corporations in Dhaka would increase the administrative complexities and demanded holding of the overdue DCC elections.
DCC Scavengers’ and Workers’ Union general secretary Abdul Latif said, before making any decision about the government move, they would first observe its implementation. ‘We cannot comment on the matter before identifying any positive or negative effect of the decision,’ he added.
Mohammad Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan, president of a faction of the pro-Awami League DCC Sramik Karmachari League, said they welcomed the government’s decision to split the DCC into two. ‘It will decentralise the work of different DCC departments and the city dwellers will get services at their expected level,’ he said.
Mohammad Shah Alam Siraj, president of another faction of the DCC Sramik Karmachari League, said they would also support the government’s decision. ‘We are with our party.’
The mayor, Sadeque Hossain Khoka, said the decision of creating two city corporations was not necessary as the existing one was able enough to carry on doing its duties.
Two city corporations would mean increased administrative complexities, he said and regretted the fact that the government had not discussed with the DCC office bearers before taking the decision.
‘As far as I know, all ward councillors, officials, and employees of the DCC are against the decision,’ the mayor said.
Source: newagebd.com/newspaper1
Read More on Bengali News
No comments:
Post a Comment