Oh Dhaka!
Despite the terror threats and traffic jams, Dhaka has its own charm and its own way of life.
I miss it, sitting in London -- funny, but true. This life is often subjected to massive constructions, and again massive destructions.
I can remember how, once upon a time, we were unsure of what Dhaka should look like.
We got rid of the age-old fountain in Shahbagh to make roads, we destroyed our parks to build Shishu Park in Suhrawardy Uddyan, while a part of Ramna Park went to the famous Kakrail Mosque adjacent to it.
Trees were felled, and children lost playgrounds.
In place of the Suhrawardy Uddyan, the Race Course Maidan as it was known, the Shishu Park was built for major, hidden political reasons.
The place is a historic one, as it has three major historical records. One, it is the place from where Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave his clarion call for the independence of Bangladesh in a sea of humanity.
Two, it is the place where the occupation Pakistani army led by Lieutenant General AAK Niazi surrendered to the joint Indo-Bangla forces.
And three, it is the place where Bangabandhu accorded a public reception to the late Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi, and here she announced that the Mitra Bahini (the allied forces) will leave Bangladesh before March 7, 1971, the birthday of her host prime minister. Many believe it was to erase these from the minds of the people that the Shishu Park was built. Well, that was a politically-motivated decision, but what of Osmany Uddyan with the Osmany Memorial?
We have to think that such mindless destruction of these hotels and restaurants is doing great harm economically. One, the owners who have invested are losing out, and have already started to sack staff because of low business after the terror attack on Holey Artisan Bakery
It is always whim or politics.
Dhaka’s road islands keep on changing, as if those responsible have nothing to do with tax-payer money.
One will lose count as to how many times the road islands have changed their appearances.
In one incident, road islands made only six months back were broken up for new ones as the then mayor of Dhaka had seen something in South Korea which he liked. So, destroy with a bang, and who cares about tax-payer money?
Now, in the face of terror attacks, hotels and restaurants in upmarket areas are being brought down daily. Yes, we have to provide security to the residents, especially the expatriate community.
But the question is: Why were they permitted to open shops and restaurants by breaking down beautiful homes? Who gave them permission?
Was it regular paperwork or in exchange of kickbacks?
They have given permission one way or the other, and that is the fact. These establishments have been paying bills regularly, but how, if they are illegal?
We have to think that such mindless destruction of these hotels and restaurants is doing great harm economically. One, the owners who have invested are losing out, and have already started to sack staff because of low business after the terror attack on Holey Artisan Bakery.
“What will happen to my education if I lose my job?” one young friend asked me. He works hard to ensure he can pay his university fees and live in the big city called Dhaka. There are many like him.
Who are these hotel staff? They are people who have come to the city to earn a living and support their families back home.
Two, they are students who are earning to study in the institutions offering better education than the ones back home, or they were not lucky to get admission in public universities.
They also lessen the burden on their parents, who cannot afford to send their children to private educational institutions due to financial constraints.
Thus, the current decision may be a good step to fight terrorism and bring back the residential homely atmosphere. But, we have to think of alternatives for those involved in these trades.
Many families and students are in great trouble already, and we must not make it worse.
Our city-planners must ensure that those who gave that permission will pay back the owners, who in turn will help their staff.
The fault lies with those who gave permission, and not the other way round, as is happening.
Can we please rethink and help fight terror, as well as of the well-being of all those who are involved in this mad game bulldozers playing in Dhaka?Nadeem Qadir, a senior journalist, is a UNCA Dag Hammarskjold Scholar in journalism. He is the Press Minister of Bangladesh High Commission in London.