DHAKA, Oct 16, 2021 (BSS) - Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh today said Dhaka-bound migration will enforce snag for implementation of development work.

“If Dhaka bound migration is not stopped then the development plan work will face a barrier,” he said  while addressing a seminar at hotel Pan Pacific Sonargaon.

Local Government Division and Water Aid Bangladesh jointly organised the seminar titled “Achievement of Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (Wash) during the last 50 years and Future Plan” on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Independence and Birth Centenary of father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Tajul Islam spoke as the chief guest in the seminar. 

Senior secretary Helaluddin Ahmad presided over it, which was attended by DNCC Mayor Md Atiqul Islam as the special guest.

Barrister Taposh said, “Dhaka is a city of 21 million people today. Will it be 30 million in 2030 and 50 million in 2041? But the problem will not be solved. We have to ensure the benefits of a better Dhaka for 20 million dwellers first, that’s why we need to ensure jobs, employment and other facilities in the country's villages.”

“When we can stop pace of migration to Dhaka then we can ensure facilities to dwellers for 21 million in 2030,” he said.

Taposh said Dhaka bound migration can be stopped only after implementation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s vision of ‘turning villages into town’.

The mayor, however, said Dhaka dwellers will get better civic services by 2030.

He said around 95 percent house owners do not maintain septic tanks and 99.99 percent do not maintain soak wells but homeowners need to take steps to ensure those. 

According to the Local Government (City Corporation) Act, 2009, application and permission for reconstruction of buildings has to be obtained from the City Corporation, but it is provided by RAJUK till to date, Taposh added. 

“We have formulated a policy and sent it to the Ministry. The Ministry is reviewing it. We will get it by December and then it will be implemented from next year,” he said.