Md. Irtaza Mahbub Akhond
Programme Associate (Communications), Centre for Policy Dialogue
E-mail: irtaza@cpd.org.bd
Living in Dhaka was never easy. By now, we all realise the struggles why this densely populated city is one of the least liveable in the world. People from across the country still prefer Dhaka over any other city. Should we focus on improving Dhaka only or think of alternate options for people to migrate? The question despite being very basic, we are yet to find the answer.
I always had a preference for Chattogram and Sylhet over Dhaka. Yet, would I ever move out of Dhaka and shift to Chattogram or Sylhet? Probably not! This is the exact answer every other person would probably reply with.
The discussion of cities other than Dhaka not having the similar education and job opportunities is pretty obvious. Thus, where do we start to think from? Should we focus more on the infrastructure of Dhaka like we are already doing through projects like Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) or should we just provide enough to other cities to not invite anymore people to Dhaka? With the current situation, we are probably just asking more people to come to Dhaka.
Since, huge investments have been done focusing only on the traffic concerns of Dhaka, we also need to think of how Dhaka can provide the incoming population with the basic needs.
Universities in Dhaka are already overly crowded. People are struggling to find decent jobs and at times, thousands of people compete for a single vacant position. Other basic needs such as gas and water supply also add to these major concerns. The answer probably lies in either our unawareness or lack of willingness to decentralise Dhaka.
During my University days, at an Inter-University competition on urbanisation, I spoke on how decentralising the education by opening small branches of private Universities in cities other than Dhaka. Probably I was a little too ambitious but if not the exact idea, people can think of similar concepts. Unfortunately, the whole idea was taken too lightly to be even considered as a point of discussion.
Studying in a private University in Dhaka, I still probably have more than two-thirds of my friends who came to Dhaka for better education and have never thought of going out of Dhaka to get a decent job after their graduation. This crowd keeps on growing every year. Even for people who are able with other skills, no one just thinks of moving to any other place than Dhaka. From start-ups to MNCs, would anyone dare to open a new office outside Dhaka? I doubt the practicality of it because all that we have and all that we need, is only Dhaka centric.
The whole point of writing this is not to just complain about Dhaka and its struggles but to share how we just do not consider decentralisation as an option and keep on planning to burden Dhaka further. From hour long journeys from home to office in the morning, to returning home in about 2 hours or more just covering over a few kilometres, I no longer have any time for myself. Eat, sleep and work; this is all that is left. The bright city lights is guiding us to a life which we never wanted. A life where having a leisure time after work has become a luxury.