Dhaka North City Corporation’s Tk4,527.74 crore budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year reflects a welcome acknowledgement of some of the city's most pressing challenges, including drainage improvements, dengue control, waste management, and infrastructure development.
These are not merely desirable areas of investment, but priorities that directly affect the health, safety, and quality of life of millions of Dhaka residents.
For too long, the capital has struggled with recurring waterlogging, mosquito-borne diseases, mounting waste, and inadequate civic infrastructure. Every monsoon exposes weaknesses in the drainage network, while each year, dengue reminds us of the heavy price of complacency.
It is heartening, therefore, to see these longstanding issues receiving the attention they deserve in the latest budget.
However, allocating funds is only the first step. This is not the first time such promises have been made, yet we have failed to see them transform into effective results.
Citizens have every reason to expect that the resources committed today will translate into visible improvements tomorrow. This demands rigorous project management, transparent procurement, regular monitoring, and clear accountability for every initiative undertaken.
Progress reports should be made public, allowing residents to see where their money is being invested and what results are being delivered. Such transparency would not only build public confidence but also encourage the more efficient use of public funds.
The government's decision to focus on genuine national and urban priorities deserves recognition, but it must be matched by responsibility.
By the end of the fiscal year, Dhaka's residents should be able to point to cleaner streets, better drainage, fewer dengue outbreaks, and improved public services as evidence that this budget has made a tangible difference.
At the end of the day, the authorities’ commitment to these promising decisions can only be fully trusted when we see real, measurable improvements to public life.