THE Economist’s Safe Cities Index 2017 has placed Dhaka as one of the least safe cities in the world while Tokyo topped the list considering personal safety, health security, smooth infrastructure as some vital factors contributing to making people’s life safe and happier. Prepared by The Economist Intelligence Unit, the report reflects Dhaka is under threat of most frequent and most severe terrorist attacks. But in our view the blame is partly true as there are many other cities facing more terrorist attacks while some specific attacks in the past has unjustifiably dented Dhaka’s image that no longer exists.
Dhaka along with other low-income cities such as Ho Chi Minh City, Yangon, and Manila – has been identified for low grade for lack of technology and skills to face challenges from infectious diseases. Poverty still identified as a big factor to safety while cybersecurity is still on lower priorities. On health index Dhaka’s position is just second from the last as the city is failing to deliver basic health services to the dwellers. The index also deals with Dhaka’s inadequate preparedness to tackle security threats from poor law and order and challenge to public health from infectious diseases, environmental degradation and poor infrastructure.
Dhaka and Karachi in South Asia, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City and Jakarta in South-East Asia and Tehran and Cairo in the Middle East and Africa, are among the 10 cities placed at the bottom of the safe city index. The top three cities on the list include Tokyo, Singapore and Osaka. On infrastructure security, Dhaka is placed at the bottom of ten alongwith cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Manila, Yangon, and Karachi. And finally, on the personal safety category Dhaka ranked 43rd and Karachi in the bottom of the list among the bottom 10 countries. Dhaka ranked 58th with an overall point of 47.37.
The Safe City Index summarized the loopholes for Dhaka as a mega-city and also the capital of one of the most overpopulated country on the list of the “Next Eleven” economy of the world. To explore Dhaka’s potential as a mega-city blessed by demographic dividends the biggest handicap comes from political instability, sluggish investment and economy. Safety threats and unbridled corruption also hinged the country’s position to lower level. It said Dhaka’s citizens have the ability to do well in every sphere of life but more government attention is needed to make it possible.
The report has rightly pointed out that economic disparity and socio-political gaps among citizens need to be reduced while more investment in human and natural resources development is needed to achieve higher growth and better safety for the people. There is also the need for upholding justice and accountability, rules of law to upgrade the status of the city to higher level.
