BNP, Jamaat, Dhaka North join forces to tackle Dhaka-15 civic crises

BNP, Jamaat and the Dhaka North City Corporation today(1 July) launched a joint initiative to address longstanding civic problems in Dhaka-15, in what participants described as the first coordinated effort of its kind involving the ruling party, the opposition and the local administration.

Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam, and Dhaka North Administrator Md Safiqul Islam Khan jointly announced the initiative during a series of public consultations and field inspections across the constituency.

The programme began with a visit to Lane 3 in West Shewrapara before the delegation inspected the East Monipur Baitur Rahim Jame Mosque area, the Baishteki Sarkar Bari intersection in Ward 4, and the Ibrahimpur Government Primary School area.

During the visits, residents raised concerns over chronic water and gas shortages, dengue outbreaks, illegal encroachment and the clogging of the West Shewrapara canal, as well as poor waste management.

The officials assured residents that the issues would be addressed on a priority basis.

'First-of-its-kind collaboration'

Shafiqur described the initiative as unprecedented, saying Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's willingness to listen to the opposition in Parliament had created an opportunity for the government and opposition to work together to resolve local problems.

Referring to persistent water shortages, gas supply disruptions and juvenile crime, he said such challenges could not be solved by the government or law enforcement agencies alone without active public participation.

He urged residents to cooperate with the authorities in improving law and order and thanked the prime minister for facilitating the initiative.

State Minister Mir Shahe Alam said the Dhaka North team had joined the visits under the prime minister's directive to hear residents' grievances directly.

He assured locals that civic problems in Dhaka-15 would be resolved on a priority basis through coordinated efforts by the government, the opposition and the city corporation.

Administrator Safiqul said the city corporation would continue implementing its "Clean Dhaka, Green Dhaka" programme and called on residents to support efforts to curb dengue and juvenile crime.

Tk60 lakh for water pumps

As an immediate measure, the authorities decided to install five water pumps to ease the longstanding water shortage in West Shewrapara and Monipuripara. Residents were requested to help identify suitable locations for the installations.

To support the project, Shafiqur, Shahe Alam and Safiqul each pledged Tk20 lakh from their respective discretionary funds, creating a combined fund of Tk60 lakh.

Managing directors and senior officials of Dhaka WASA and Titas Gas, along with local political leaders, also attended the programme.