Dear Professor Mannan
First of all, I owe you an apology. In July, while visiting Dhaka, I could not call on you as promised. On the night of my daughter's wedding reception, I was already running high temperature, with chest congestion. The next morning I was admitted into Square Hospital and stayed there for two days - after which I had to fly out to Singapore enroute to Sydney to attend some emergency at work. Also, I stopped over in Singapore for a check up because my travel insurance covered it. Upon arriving in Bangladesh after 14 years, I simply failed to acclimatize with the local weather and environ.
Many thanks for attending my daughter's reception. My apologies, being sick on that evening, I probably completely failed as a host.
However, since my return - I have been thinking of e-mailing you to apologise. But soon after, a family tragedy unfolded here in Sydney. My nephew's wife (a brilliant water quality scientist) was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer and since then we have been struggling to come into terms with this.
Anyway, I just read your column on bifurcation of Dhaka's local government. This is something on which I have already been opinionated for sometime and therefore, frankly speaking - I am unable to pass an unbiased opinion on your article. I am actually in favour of dividing Dhaka into at least 4 or 6 municipal authorities of manageable size, with functional autonomy - with an overarching coordinating body for asset and infrastructure management as well shared use of resources (e.g.heavy construction equipment).
To oppose the bifurcation move on the grounds that New York and some other big cities overseas are managed by a single municipal authority apparently overlooks our poor governance and lack of management capabilities to run a city of 10-15 million people. As there are large cities with a single municipal authorities - conversely, there are also large cities with dozens of smaller municipal authorities. For example,Australia's largest city, Sydney (4.5 million population) has 41 independent city councils with elected councillors and mayors, the second largest Melbourne is also divided into a large number of city councils. Although in Sydney's case 41 councils is probably too many and they are talking about some amalgamation, the number will probable still remain 30 plus - even if amalgamation happens.
As you must be aware, London has 33 elected borough councils, fully responsible for local governance and services in their jurisdiction.
Canada is a world leader in muncipal governance and structural models. Some Canadian large cities divided into a number of municipalities.
Another information in your article probably needs to be verified. As far as I know, Singapore has as many as 6 CDCs (Comunity Development Councils) with mayors, who are appointed by the Government from amongst the MPs.
It would have been better if you could include in your article some concrete arguments based on the actual demerits of bifurcation- although you cited possible hidden agenda and lack of transparency in such decision-making by the Prime Minister. I am not trying to say this may not be the case.
To compare Sadek Hossain Khoka or the likes and the organisations they preside over with the Mayors of New York, Paris (I have no idea of the municipal structure of Paris), Tokyo and the superior/efficient organisations they run - is like comparing apples with peanuts. Less said is better.
I happen to know Khoka to the core through one of his very close friend.Also, happened toknow Mirza Abbas. It is bad luck for a city like Dhaka to have these people as the mayor. In the 1990s, through a local company and Philips Bangladesh, I was responsible for introducing the low pressure sodium street lights in Dhaka from conception to implementation. I got a good exposure to the City Corporation's organisational capacity (or lack of capacity) and rorts inbuilt into the system.
Incidentally, I have been working for more than a decade in a senior policy advisory role in local government in New South Wales state in Australia, with Sydney as the capital. As part of my work, I research local government structural models and best practice across the world.
I would be interested to further exchange views on this with you. The issue should not be emotively judged or discussed, rather should be debated with an open mind. It is silly to pose a question - in a bifurcated Dhaka, which Dhaka will be the capital! The answer still is - the whole of Dhaka.
Kindest regards
Sayed Chowdhury
Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2011 10:52:08 +0600
Subject: Bifurcation DCC
From: abman1971@gmail.com
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Link to my column appearing in today's P. Alo. It is on government's decision to bifurcate DCC.
Have a nice day.
Mannan
http://www.prothom-alo.com/detail/date/2011-11-27/news/204248
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_________________________________
Abdul Mannan
Professor
School of Business
University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh
House # 56, Road # 4/A
Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka-1209
Bangladesh.
BDT=GMT +5
Working Days Sunday-Thursday
E-mail: abman1971@gmail.com
abdul.mannan@ulab.edu.bd
http://www.ulab.edu.bd
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