Decentralize Dhaka, Olama League urges

Bangladesh Awami Olama League, the religious faction of the ruling AL, has sought immediate decentralization of the capital to save it from a total collapse. A demonstration in front of the Jatiya Press Club yesterday raised the demand.

Speakers at the program said: "Flyover, Metrorail or elevated expressway will not even be able to minimize the traffic snarl of the metropolis. Rather the government-owned organizations need to be shifted at district level to relieve Dhaka."

Calling for generating employment at district level, they advocated for immediate decentralization. "Dhaka apparently has become the sole destination for people while the administrative system has become totally Dhaka-centric. The excessive pressure is overtaking the city which does not leave too many options except decentralization," they said. 

Citing a research finding they further noted: "Dhaka hosts 60 private and public universities among some 82 across Bangladesh. The city has 32 private medical colleges also.""Apart from, well-known educational institutions are concentrated here accommodating 28 percent of total students of Bangladesh," they added.

The speakers went on saying this scenario represents the utmost inequality in higher education. The religious offshoot also proposed a 12-point-demand.