Decentralising administration
The new, 'popular' elected political government has some urgent and serious homework for the JS. Discard the “Late Latif” syndrome.
As usual, it has started, hurriedly, with political mega-projects; ensuring self-security for five years' of 'seed-sowing' [need not explain!] As usual, the civil service is being 'neutralised' -- to whose advantage?
Here are some priority items, prepared by an amateur voter who has seen, for decades, only one side of the coin of our political regimes' ambitious development programmes. The nasty question arises in the minds of millions of voters: the nation first or the party? Ensure continuity of long-term projects.
We have earned some negative fame for subjective, inward-looking governing styles. Decentralize Dhaka metro; and make lively the districts and the upazilas. Reduce Dhaka's floating population [including the beggars] and discourage regular business trips to Dhaka. How many rush to Islamabad and New Delhi? Our density of population is one the highest in the world. Spread thin the home works and daily O&M and reduce pen-pushing at the Secretariat [remember the Writers' Building in old Calcutta?].
Digital governance, as promised during the election campaign, is another important issue. We have the potential human resources at the technical levels. Where are the assembly plants in the SEZs and EPZs needed for the IT industry? We have golden forests but why beat about the bush [the American version is gone after 20th January].
Can't wrestle with the powerful and mini syndicates? Who are the godfathers? No idea? Well, practise artlesseness. Promise to crush the have-not syndrome at the governing levels. No tax-free luxury cars for the MPs -- make the rickshaws 'luxurious' [notice the advertisements on sale of flats, called apartments].
We could have been using coal two decades ago. What went wrong? Some say we have more coal energy than gas energy. We are not using hydel or tidal power -- only readily misuse political power. What is the deshi definition of leadership? Follow the crowd?We have been taught to live with our fingers crossed. Latest Obamaism; if you keep your palm clenched, then how to shake hand?
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