Dhaka South residents to get civic services within 30 mins thru app

The residents of Ward 21 of the Dhaka South City Corporation will get a host of civic services, including removal of waste and eradication of mosquitoes, within 30 minutes of informing the authorities.

The councillor of the ward has developed a digital app named "Clean21.com" to receive applications for services from residents.

The app is now available on a trial basis and it will be launched officially on Sunday. DSCC Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh is expected to make the formal launching of the app.

Councillor Md Asaduzzaman told The Business Standard that the cost of maintaining the app and providing services to residents is not high, and that he will bear the expenses from his own funds.

"It will not require any funds from the city corporation to provide the services," he added.

The app will enable residents of the ward to avail all emergency civic services while staying in their homes. 

What they need to do for this is to download the app from Google playstore first. Then they will have to register their name and take a picture of garbage or any waste and upload it to the app.

"Our administrators will oversee the app round-the-clock. They will receive the documents and will provide required services within 30 minutes," Asaduzzaman said. 

He added that councillors of other wards can also introduce such services if they want. "We will help them in this regard," he added.

Twelve administrators will be appointed to monitor the app constantly.

Meanwhile, 102 cleaners, 20 mosquito-control workers and four electricians will be there to ensure prompt services to around one lakh residents of the ward.

The councillor's office will use its own manpower to provide the services.

Besides, a good number of general students of Dhaka University will work with the councillor's office as volunteers.

Activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal are also interested in working as volunteers.

Al Nahian Khan Joy, president of Bangladesh Chhatra League, told The Business Standard that Chhatra league men always work to keep the university campus clean.

"We will definitely help the local administration if they want cooperation from us," he said.

Aman Ullah Aman, secretary general of the Dhaka University unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, said they will respond to any call from the councillor's office in the interest of general students and the university.

Meanwhile, the residents of the ward have welcomed the initiative. 

Jakir Kotwal, a resident in the Paribagh area, said they have been suffering from a waste management crisis for a long time.

"It will be amazing for us if we get the services within 30 minutes," he added.