Ward-based budget allocation a must

Mayors and councilors are indifferent when it comes to carrying out their roles described in the corresponding law, said city planners yesterday.

“According to the city corporation act, mayors and councillors have to perform quite a few duties to serve citizens. But they are more concerned about waste management and act as if it is their only mandate,” said Dr Adil Mohammed Khan, general secretary of Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP), at a press conference.

BIP organised the event on “City Corporation Election of Dhaka: Citizen Manifesto on Behalf of City Planners”, at Planners Tower in the capital’s Bangla Motor.

The city planners also emphasised on community-based activities. According to them, all activities of the local government bodies should centre on ward councillor offices.

BIP suggested building ward complexes in 129 wards where residents could avail all civic services.

Dr Adil said people would get better and quality services if councillor offices are made centre of all civic services. He also suggested forming area-based teams to inspect development with an aim to reduce public sufferings.

BIP President Akter Mahmud said, “At national level, we saw parliament members electing president. We also want the same in the local government system where councillors will choose mayors from themselves.”

He said if councillors were given power to select mayors, more competent persons would participate in the polls.

BIP also suggested keeping ward-based allocation in the budget and making the standing committee effective in this regard.

It also asked prospective mayors to manifest good leadership quality and work unitedly with other service-oriented government organisations to ensure smooth civic services.

Replying to a question, Mahmud said there are many successes as well as failures of the previous mayors. “We’ve seen a rise in dengue but the city corporations failed to involve people to prevent its spread,” he said.

The BIP president also recommended setting up ward complexes as it will bring positive change in the society.

About 745 councillors are contesting in 129 wards while 13 contenders are running in the mayoral race in the two corporation elections to Dhaka, slated for February 1.