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CITY GOVERNMENT
A necessity yet unaddressed
Rashidul Hasan, Dhaka
Published: 20 Jan 2026, 12:00 AM
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Dhaka City. Photo: Collected
Politicians acknowledge that establishing a city government is essential to ensure effective civic services and integrated development planning in city corporations, but none have yet committed to the idea ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election.
The Local Government Reform Commission had recommended introducing a city government system in Dhaka and Chattogram and merging Dhaka’s two city corporations into a single authority. However, experts say major political parties likely to form the next government largely avoided the reform agenda in the election planning.
About city government, politicians, city corporation authorities, and experts spoke at a discussion titled “Election Manifesto to Save Dhaka”, hosted by Urban Development Journalists' Forum and Gulshan Society, at a city hotel on Monday.
BNP Chairman’s Adviser Abdus Salam said the need for a city government was urgent as city corporations currently lack the authority to deliver services and enforce decisions effectively.
Salam, a former deputy mayor of Dhaka City Corporation, said the mayor had no police force to maintain law and order and faces chronic coordination failures among RAJUK, the city corporation and other service agencies.
He also criticised the division of Dhaka into two corporations and called it a politically motivated move by what he described as a “fascist government” over the past 17 years.
He then proposed establishing a city government under the direct supervision of the Prime Minister’s Office.
However, while outlining 10 election commitments attributed to BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, including reconnecting Hatirjheel with Gulshan Lake, improving healthcare and cleaning Dhaka, he did not mention the city government proposal.
At the same event, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Dhaka-17 candidate SM Khaliduzzaman criticised past rulers and dynastic politics for governance failures.
He said meaningful change would depend on active public participation, citing past mass movements. He, however, exactly like the BNP leader, made no reference to a city government framework.
Senior Joint Secretary of the National Citizen Party and Dhaka-18 candidate Ariful Islam Adib said his party would work towards integrated governance, expanded greenery and improved healthcare services.
He also did not elaborate on the city government concept or how such reforms would be implemented.
At the event, Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Mohammad Azaz criticised political parties for making promises beyond their mandate while avoiding policy reforms to empower city corporations.
He said city corporations lack authority over planning and civil works, with agencies such as RAJUK wielding greater control and owning most public land, including playgrounds.
He said that despite conducting more than 300 mobile court operations over the past 11 months to evict illegal occupiers, encroachers often returned because the city corporation had no police force under its control.
Gulshan Society President Barrister Omar Sadat, who chaired the programme, said the city corporation must be empowered to address Dhaka’s worsening crises.
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