Appoint a full-time DSCC administrator

It is quite frustrating that Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has been operating without a full-time administrator for over a year, with 11 other key positions also remaining vacant. This leadership vacuum has severely disrupted service delivery, increasing the sufferings of the residents. At present, Md Shahjahan Mia, an additional secretary at the Local Government Division, is serving as DSCC's administrator, while also holding the position of Managing Director of Dhaka WASA as an additional duty. This dual burden on one person has understandably compromised the functioning of both institutions.

In the absence of a permanent administrator and other key personnel at DSCC, essential services such as road repairs, mosquito control, waste management, safeguarding assets, and providing birth certificates and other documents are all progressing at a sluggish pace. With no executive officers appointed in the corporation's five out of 10 zones, service delivery there has nearly collapsed, forcing local residents to travel to the central office even for minor issues. Some residents have expressed frustration that they are not receiving basic municipal services despite paying regular taxes. They further complained that when they visit ward offices, designated officials are often absent, and important paperwork remains stalled for months. Moreover, the current administrator is also unable to regularly attend office at Nagar Bhaban, visiting only occasionally to sign files. Is this how a city corporation is supposed to operate?

Furthermore, efforts to boost revenue have stalled due to the absence of a Chief Revenue Officer, while the lack of a Property Officer has allowed re-encroachment of previously recovered lands. The absence of a Chief Urban Planner has led to uncoordinated development, posing long-term risks to the city's infrastructure. At the same time, financial transparency and accountability remain a question mark due to the vacancies of accountant and auditor positions. This is unacceptable.

After August 5, 2024, the activities of Dhaka's two city corporations came to a standstill. While Dhaka North City Corporation managed to handle the situation relatively better after the appointment of a permanent administrator, the DSCC continues to lag far behind. Moreover, the disruption created earlier this year, when BNP leader Ishraque Hossain led over a month-long siege of Nagar Bhaban demanding his instatement as mayor, further intensified the volatility in DSCC. We, therefore, urge the government to take immediate steps to resolve these issues. It must fill all key positions of the corporation without delay to ensure uninterrupted service delivery. More than one crore people reside in the DSCC jurisdictions, so the government must take urgent measures to alleviate their sufferings.