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Public toilet sleaze

City Correspondent
Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) is scrambling to construct 56 public toilets in time as the project ends on Decembers 1.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) last year allocated $1 million last year for construction of 70 public toilets under the Urban Primary Health Care Project (UPHCP). But the first work order for construction of 32 toilets was issued on May 19 while the second work order was issued on July 19. Land crisis and disputes forced the DCC to curtail its plan to construct only 56 toilets.
It was alleged that the DCC is desperate to use the funds before the project deadline and constructing the toilets in an unplanned way.
According to the project proposal, the toilets were supposed to be constructed on unused
land.
Sources in the Nagarbhaban said some of these 'hurriedly constructed’ public toilets would be demolished soon after their constructions as they occupy parks and open spaces. The toilet at Osmani Uddyan, a major open space in Dhaka, is one of them. DCC Chief Engineer and President of the Technical Committee on Osmani Uddyan Md Idris Mian sent a letter on October 10 to the UPHCP asking for postponement of the toilet's construction.
"We have decided to demolish illegal structures on Osmani Uddyan and beautify the park. We have to demolish the newly constructed toilets there,” a senior official in the engineering division of the DCC said seeking anonymity.
Meanwhile, the DCC is con-structing another public toilet on a park at Jatrabari intersection
although, according to the project, it was supposed to be built on unused land. The DCC is also constructing public toilets on a park at Motijheel.
"The only walking space and playground for us has been destroyed in the name constructing toilets," said Julfikar, a resident of Jatrabari.
Another public toilet in front of Martyr Memorial in Mirpur created huge public reaction and DCC is adamant to continue the construction work of the toilets.
"DCC chosen most of the places for public toilet is wrong as it occupied open spaces even sensitive spot like Martyr Memorial which is related to our deep feeling of liberation war.'.' sajd Rizowana Hasan, director of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA).
"Public in front of Martyr Memorial is also a dishonour of
our intellectuals who sacrificed their lives for liberation," she commented.
However, DCC's Chief State Officer Abu Thleb, responsible for maintenance of the city parks, said the site for the toilet was selected a year ago before he joined the corporation.
"We have 56 public toilets being constructed which are expected to be completed by end of December," said Dr Md Nurul Islam, project director UPHCP. He, however, denied the allegation of 'hurriedly and indiscriminately construction' of 56 public toilets.
"As our project is ended on December 31, naturally we are trying to meet the dead line, but we are not in a hurry only for using the fund, " Islam said.
"Seventy public toilets is not enough for a city like Dhaka where more than one crore people reside. We would like to construct more public toilets but where is the land?"
Sources said land crisis has compelled the authorities to renovate some old public toilets instead of constructing new ones.
However, The city of 10 million people has a very few public toilets, most of which has been captured by criminals who do not pay lease money to the DCC on regular basis. It is difficult for people to get inside the public toilets as most of these lavatories go under criminals' control after dusk that forces people to discharge excreta under open sky.
DCC chief executive officer MA Momen told the Star City that public toilet should be in proper place. He, however, denied the allegation of indiscriminate location of public toilet. He said, "a DCC team surveyed and decided the places in a planned way."