Several plans of Annisul Huq to revamp Dhaka lose momentum

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Shahed Shafiq
Published : 04:00, Jul 23, 2018 | Updated : 16:42, Jul 28, 2018

Late mayor Annisul HuqTwelve big initiatives, aimed at minimizing the suffering of urbanites taken by late mayor Annisul Huq have stalled.
After the death of the Mayor of North City Corporation, many of his campaigns like making Dhaka greener, launching of 4000 buses has lost steam.
Urban planner, Mobasher Hossain, says: “if these initiatives are not implemented, the city dwellers will be deprived.”
Meanwhile, DNCC, panel mayor, Osman Goni, told Bangla Tribune: “we are trying to implement the plans of Anisul Huq.”
DNCC began distributing 5 lakh saplings under the project ‘Green Dhaka’ launched by Huq in May, 2016. As part of the project, 29000 saplings were planted in Uttara.
DNCC environmental coordinator, engineer Tarik bin Yousuf told Bangla Tribune: “there wasn’t any allocation for the tree planting project; it was being carried through the late mayor’s personal campaign.”
There hasn’t been any allocation for the project after Huq’s death, he said.
Huq announced 4000 buses to bring discipline into the transport sector. Now a city corporation official says: “it’s not within our jurisdiction to launch buses.”
The construction of 11 U-turns on the road from Saatraasta to Uttara has also hit a snag since it took two years for the project to get approval.
In Tejgaon truck terminal and ten other areas, vehicles used to be parked illegally which created a jam, slowing down traffic movement. In spite of the wrath of truck labourers, Annisul Huq cleared the road.
Last year in Saatrasta, a road divider was constructed which brought benefits to users.
Under Annisul Huq’s leadership, 52 acres of land in Gabtoli which was occupied for a long time, was recovered by DNCC.
He wanted to establish waste to energy plants, mechanical workshops and bus/truck depots here.
Before going to London, Annisul Huq talked about developing parks and playing fields. DNCC sources say: “National Economic Executive Council, ECNEC, has approved a project worth Tk. 280 crore for parks, public toilets, abattoirs, footbridge etc.”
DNCC engineer of the environment circle, Tarik bin Yusuf says: “the city corporation wants to implement Annisul Huq’s dreams; tenders have been called to develop several parks and fields which were in a state of dereliction.”
Annisul Huq also wanted to meet the acute crisis of public toilets by building 100 new ones.
DNCC sources say: “in the ECNEC approved project, there’s plan to construct 73 public toilets.”
Another project was to set up LED lights CCTTV’s and Tk. 442 crore got approval from ECNEC, but lost impetus after Huq’s death.
However, since Dhaka Metropolitan Police has decided to install cameras, the DNCC project becomes unnecessary.
The late mayor’s Green Dhaka, Clean Dhaka campaign aimed at cleaning the city, also faces obstacles.
Annisul Huq also had plans to establish secondary transfer stations at 55 points of the city which is now stalled.

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