The problem at the centre of it all

Bangladesh’s capital city has undergone rapid transformation in the past two decades alone, with an increasing number of high rise buildings and the constant evolution of our transport infrastructure perhaps being the most visible signifiers.

However, a city’s development goes far beyond amenities and perhaps even urban development itself -- for a city to be considered truly “developed” it needs to put the needs of citizens at its heart, and given the state of Dhaka in the here and now, a higher quality of life is perhaps the need of the hour.

As things stand, perhaps the biggest impediment to that goal is the sheer over-reliance on Dhaka when it comes to every aspect of our commerce and economy, which is also the primary driver of the city’s dense population.

According to experts, the decentralization of Bangladesh and the sustainable development of our cities go hand in hand and the first step would be the decentralization of our administrative powers as it would invariably help reduce losses caused by major calamities, such as fires, while also allowing the government to be able to deliver services to the masses more easily. The primary reason cited behind the lack of any action regarding decentralization is, as is the case with most such issues, a complete lack of political will.

Needless to say, we need a way out of the status quo.The decentralization of Dhaka is not just an option anymore, it is a necessity as it would not only ensure the sustainable future development of the capital it would also pave the way for the development of the rest of the nation. Yes, it’s not a reality that can be achieved overnight but in fact requires long-term planning and foresight -- but given just how sizable the issues currently facing our capital city and the scope of our national goals in the long term are, the government needs to be more pro-active on this front.

We all deserve a Dhaka that is not hostile to life itself, and we all deserve a Bangladesh that is truly developed and metropolitan in the best way possible. Decentralization is the only way to achieve these goals.