Dhaka’s worsening living conditions have renewed debate over urban governance, institutional performance and the effectiveness of ongoing development initiatives in the capital.
Speaking at the inauguration of the citizens’ platform “Dokhiner Janala”, launched by Dhaka South City Corporation, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the city is facing deep structural challenges affecting daily life. The programme was held at a hotel in Dhaka on Saturday, June 6. He also mentioned that Dhaka is no longer a liveable city.
He said he sometimes feels he should leave the capital due to its deteriorating environment and services. He pointed to severe air pollution and weakening public facilities as key concerns.
“The air you breathe the moment you step outside your home is polluted. If you visit a government hospital, it is difficult even to enter. Every institution is heading towards deterioration,” he said.
He added that without stronger institutions and better governance, efforts to improve urban life would fail to deliver meaningful results. He stressed that awareness alone is not enough and that accountability must be strengthened across decision-making bodies.
Fakhrul also questioned the impact of large-scale urban spending, saying that despite significant investment in Dhaka’s development projects, the actual benefit to citizens remains unclear.
“Thousands of crores of taka are being spent on project after project in Dhaka, but it is important to assess how much people and city residents are actually benefiting from these initiatives,” he said.
He said city corporations, as autonomous local government bodies, must function with greater responsibility and foresight. He noted that many cities worldwide are managed through empowered local authorities and elected mayors and suggested that Dhaka requires similar governance strength and efficiency.
