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Down to Earth

Dhaka gets face-lift for SAARC summit

By A S M Nurunnabi
There has been some criticism of the lavish expenditure being made on certain aspects of the face lift work for the city on the eve of SAARC summit. There will be no two opinions that Bangladesh as the host arrangements for the dignitaries visiting on the occasion of the meet. In this connection, however, questions have arisen whether, keeping In view our resource position, we have been overdoing things and whether we have observed due priorities In undertaking the various works of renovation and improvement against the background of our other essential needs.
Particular aspect* of the beautification work which came under the criticism include Installing fountains at huge coats, breaking up fairly good pavements for redoing, rccarpetfng! of otherwise good road surfaces, erecting a long row of new road dividers at considerable costs.
Observers wonder whether, being one of the world's poorest countries, any inferiority complex has been operating in our mind which has led us to show off that we are not really In straightened circumstances. This is devoid of realism, since the heads of governments and states, delegates and observers whom we are trying to Impress, are already well ac-
quainted with our socio-economic situation. Thus we seem to be possessed with the psy chology of. a poor relative who seeks to entertain his other relatives and friends beyond the limit of his means.
In the present democratic set-up It was felt that the concerned authorities would not be a victim of misplaced prior-itie*. as in the earlier regime. The authorities must be aware that there are many roads, lanes and bylanes in the city which are tn a very bad state of repairs. Even some of the busy roads tn the new part of the city, for example the New Elephant Road, have continued to remain neglected for months for reasons of resource constraints. A resident of the old part of the city lamented: "We have hard luck, for no Itinerary of dignitaries Includes our area."
In our zeal for presenting a front spick and span, it ap pears that we are doing certain things which seem to be beyond our common sense. For example, what is the point in digging up certain lengths of footpaths for planting trees or erecting grills on certain other lengths which make such pavements cramped. Road dividers in two sizes are being set up: one a little higher than the other. One expert motorist opined that the higher ones are alright but the lower ones
pose danger to passing vehicles. The lower one* have sloping contours and if any vehicle should by chance dash against them, there is every likelihood of tts turning over and causing accident. The road planner* may look into this aspect. Looking at the road dividers, one observer commented satirically that these would provide conveniently long and permanent canvas for painting graffiti and slogans of which Dhakites are so fond of.
Certain difficulties arc reportedly slowing down the pace of the on-going renovation work. While fancy road tiles are being laid at one end, the newly laid ones at the other get displaced under -the heavy tread of the passersby. There also reportedly some cases of pilferage of the fancy road tiles. As much of the extensive renovation wojk still remains to be completed, it will require much more hectic pace of work to complete it before the deadline.
With our tradition of friendship and hospitality, it is but natural that we shall go all out to accord a befitting welcome to our distinguished visitors. Criticism has arisen only because In some respects we seem to have lost our sense of balance and proportion In the context of our socio-economic condition.