Capital city
Obviously Dhaka is choking due to its size. Pressure must be taken off this monster.
This can only be effectively done by a radical Tuglaki manoeuvre. Like Tuglakh, the Mugal Emperor Akbar also wanted to build a new capital at Fatepur Shikri but died before it could be up and running and so the capital and the imperial court remained at Delhi at his death. However, this idea of building new capitals or cities in a well planned manner (unhampered by an existing township which grew helter-skelter) is quite fashionable in modern times. Examples are: Brasilia (from old Rio) and Islamabad (from Karachi). Also our neighbour Myanmar is thinking on this line.
Perhaps a new elected parliament will debate the issue of building a new capital in some erstwhile neglected and impoverished area of the country to take pressure off Dhaka and really develop the infrastructure of the land with prosperity being shared around. A political capital, not immediately in contact with the business world, is also much less susceptible to corruption.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments