Syed Shemul Parvez :
The capital is littered with posters and banners everywhere. Nothing was left out of educational institutions, government establishments, mosques and temples. Political leaders, coaching centers and advertisements of various organizations are ahead in these works.
On the spot, it was seen that the walls of Eden Mohila College, a renowned educational institution in the capital, were almost covered with various advertisements including political leaders, cockroach killing drugs, house rent as well as job opportunities.
Even though there is a law, it is not enforced, and this opportunity has flooded the city with various advertisements. As a result, the beauty of the city has gone away under posters-banners and walls graffiti everywhere. Surprisingly the regulatory body itself is not far behind in terms of visual pollution in the city.
It has also been seen on the spot, Gulistan’s Zero Point, which called Nur Hossain Chattar – where it is written the distance of 64 districts from the capital. But it is difficult to show the name of the district in the aggression of posters and billboards. Not only Nur Hossain Chattar in Gulistan, the whole city now looks like that. The situation is such that the establishment has to guard itself with bamboo against the violence of the poster banner.
Urban experts say there is no way without strict enforcement of the law.
Residents of the city say it is unfortunate that political parties or individuals abuse power littering various posters-banner. This city is ours. Why do we put up posters everywhere? We have a responsibility to keep this city clean and tidy, as directed by the City Corporation.
Posters of political rallies should also be removed at one’s own duty, city dwellers added.
In this issue, Hasibur Rahman Manik, Councilor of Ward-26 of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), told the New Nation that they were always conscious about the beautification of the city. But it is very difficult to make understand the locals as they are part of influential. I always try to follow the directives of the city corporation to keep the city net and clean, councilor Manik added.
In the capital’s Basabo, posters as well as graffiti are all over the area. According to the local people’s representative, the city corporation is working for the development as well as beautification.
Chittaranjan, Councilor of Ward-5 of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), said, “There are festoon-banners in some places in my ward as well.” Leaders and activists may have put up posters with pictures of the leaders on some National Days. My request to them, after keeping 3-4 days, should be removed at your own expense.
Meanwhile, writing on the walls and putting up posters (Control) Act-2012 says that posters and banners cannot be put up without a specified place. The law also provides for a fine of taka 5,000 to taka 50,000 and imprisonment for up to one month for non-compliance. But the authorities have not implemented this law for a decade.
DSCC Chief Property Officer Russell Sabrin said, “With our waste management department, we generally remove banners and festoons from the streets.
Urban planner Iqbal Habib said that this subculture needs to be removed. The dream of a beautiful city is in the heart of each of us, it needs to be accelerated and realized. Experts advise to bring all posters and banners under digital board in digital Bangladesh.
