Opinion
Mayoral Election: Some Thoughts
Now the Mayoral Election in the country's four city corporations is widely discussed in the society as well as among policy makers of the major political parties. All the major political parties are deeply thinking about nominating their suitable candidates for this election while some of the political parties have, in the meantime, selected their candidates. Although, I don't have any authority to propose any candidate for nomination from any political party, nor I belong to any political party, but as a conscious citizen of the country and moreover as a Dhakaite I may come forward to give my personal opinion on the Mayoral nomination for Dhaka City at least. I feel it to be my responsibility to comment on the issue as I want to see a better management and an uninterrupted development of the facilities in the city I belong to by generations. My writing has been based upon the existing facts of the society and the demand and choice of the permanent inhabitants of the old part of Dhaka City.
In this civilized world, the position of City Mayor is very important administrative portfolio. The overall flow of the development of the city depends on the personality of the person holding this important position. A City Mayor has to be directly entangled with various development activities and in executing this important task, he needs to coordinate the development and maintenance works of the organizations like DCC, RAJUK, WASA, DESA, TITAS, DPHE, BTTB, and to some extent that of, RHD and PWD etc. Very often he even has to convene and chair meetings of these organizations. In doing so, one City Mayor has to be well conversed about the authority and jurisdiction as well as limitations of the said organizations and their means of execution and facilities they actually possess. And, this is only possible for a person having direct and indirect previous experience of the activities. In this position, it can be safely assumed that his administrative (development activities) capability, maturity of personality etc. are more dominating factors rather than his political background. Yes, he has to be politically conscious, as he will have to work in the existing and ensuing political atmosphere and he has to prove his 'Right of Way' effectively in all political situations during his tenure. In the event of nomination of the candidate in this position, this concept was not seemingly brought into consideration in the past. And, as a result a well planned and balanced development and non-suffering (to the inhabitants) maintenance works could not be done for the city dwellers. The development of facilities for the city dwellers could not be attained up to the mark for the lack of the above unavoidable qualities in the administrative personnel.
Now, let us consider the acceptability of the City Mayor. In the developed and developing countries of the present world, during selection of a Mayor, domicile of a person who is residing in the city concerned for a quite long time, is one of the major factors considered before nomination of the Mayor. In Bangladesh also, except Dhaka City, in other three metropolises, emphasis is given on the period of residence of the Mayoral candidate before the nomination. But, it is unfortunate to mention that, only in the case of Dhaka City, excepting for one candidate in the past elections, nominations were given to persons coming from other parts of the country (living in the city for a short period). In such case their acceptability among a major portion of the city dwellers (original Dhakaia so to say) was not brought into consideration as a factor and/or neglected. Very often and on many occasion, the dwellers of the old part of Dhaka City expressed their dissatisfaction in many ways through their forums. They are also unhappy not having any 'Dhakaia' minister in the present 'Cabinet'. In the consequence, they have not and are not so willingly participated/participating in the development activities of the city and are equally frustrated for lack of any significant development in the old part of the city. Obviously for these reasons, they must be interested to see their own 'son of the soil' in the post of Mayor.
A major portion of the people of the metropolis who are the controlling factor of affairs of old part of the city are unhappy not having any direct representative in the present 'Cabinet'. Though, before two and half years, when the Ministry was formed, they did not show any dissatisfaction but, in the coming Mayoral election they obviously look for their direct representative.
Now, the question arises, whom the Dhakaias are interested to see in the position of Mayor? The matter is being widely discussed among the important groups as well as the common mass in the old part of Dhaka city. I came to learn they were looking for some qualified and versatile Dhakaia personality as they were to some extent, frustrated with the present Mayor as he failed to play the expected role... As such we will have to wait for some time to see the expression of sentiment of the old part of Dhaka City as the area plays a vital role in any poll - Mayoral or general.
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