Dhaka: As the Buriganga River is on the brink of extinction, urgent action is needed for the survival of both the river and Dhaka, according to a report of a taskforce. Education and Planning Adviser Professor Wahiduddin Mahmud handed over the report of the taskforce on “Re-strategising the Economy and Mobilising Resources for Equitable and Sustainable Development” to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus here today.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the report emphasizes the government’s need to send a decisive message affirming its commitment to this critical undertaking. It suggests that if necessary, emergency legislation should be enacted to facilitate immediate, unimpeded action for this project. Leadership is recommended to come from a dedicated minister or adviser, supported by a strong technical and legal team.
The report acknowledges that resistance from vested interests is expected and highlights the importance of seeking special judicial dispensations to avert potential sabotage. It notes that with rivers granted the right to life under the law, such an emergency response would be fully warranted, recommending that the restoration of Dhaka should begin with its rivers.
In addition to river revitalization, the report proposes a pilot project for rural school and clinic reform, aiming to reform a rural government school alongside a community clinic. This initiative will be tailored to address the unique challenges and scale of rural educational and healthcare environments, while aligning with foundational principles for public hospitals.
Regarding reform in the Bangladesh Road Transport Association (BRTA), the report suggests implementing robust performance monitoring and integrating user feedback. It advocates for taking up an entire ministry on a pilot basis to establish a monitoring and evaluation system that will generate critical key performance indicators in real-time, enabling top leadership to quickly review the performance of projects and programmes across various departments, directorates, and divisions.
The 12-member taskforce was formed on September 10 to reframe development strategies, identify financial system leakages, and restore discipline in project implementation.