For too long, Bangladesh has suffered from a lack of long-term vision and holistic planning.
Despite the great strides made in recent years, much of our progress has been a case of one step forward, two steps back.
This is because too often, when faced with a problem, we apply band-aid solutions, tinkering with the issues on an ad hoc basis, instead of tackling the root of the problem.
It is time to get out of the cycle of band-aid solutions and piecemeal patchwork planning.
The year 2017 should be the year the nation resolves for a truly bold policy agenda.
The urban development of the capital leaves much to be desired -- economic growth will mean nothing if we fail to lift up the quality of life of the people.
Bad planning, traffic congestion, and infrastructural inadequacies make Dhaka city one of the worst cities in the world to live in.
We can and must change that. But to accomplish a meaningful change, we need vision, we need leadership. We must be bold and think holistically.
Mayors must be empowered to carry out their vision for the city. Enough good projects have been endlessly stalled, often getting mired in corruption and bureaucracy.
We need action, not just promises. Our leaders must prioritise on infrastructural development, and decentralise facilities out of our densely populated metropolises to allow our cities to breathe better.
It is also important to crack down on corruption with a firm hand, and make sure the money allocated for development projects is going into the right places.
As we usher in the new year, let us pledge to make this a year for concrete action.
