What you need to feel happy

Illustration: TBS

Happiness is influenced by many factors, ranging from personal circumstances to wider societal conditions. The house you live in, the roads you walk along, the neighbourhood you call home, the paddy fields, playgrounds, rivers, and the shade trees filled with childhood memories—all these have a profound impact on your mood and overall well-being. A good house, clean air, safe roads, and footpaths, reliable transportation, open spaces for walks, and playgrounds for children are essential for happiness. 

Furthermore, access to quality healthcare, uninterrupted utilities, and efficient public services all play crucial roles in ensuring a fulfilling life.

However, while institutions exist to serve citizens, they often suffer from both resource shortages and a lack of commitment. Complaints accumulate, yet many go unaddressed. But are citizens themselves responsible enough? Do they demonstrate civic sense? Do they pay taxes properly? Are our children being taught to engage in community and social work?

Since the interim government took office in August 2024, reform has been at the forefront of national discussions. Various commissions and committees have proposed recommendations aimed at addressing institutional and governance shortcomings. Studies highlight concerning trends: Dhaka's green spaces, water bodies, and open areas are steadily disappearing. The city is plagued by frequent waterlogging during the monsoon season and extreme heat in summer. Unplanned construction blocks the skyline, while roads riddled with potholes and stalled maintenance projects have worsened conditions in many parts of the city. Even basic services, such as birth registration, have become increasingly difficult to access.

Yet, Dhaka remains Bangladesh's most populous and sought-after city, acting as both the administrative and economic heart of the nation. Despite numerous master plans since the 1950s, none have been effectively implemented. In fact, the city's condition has worsened since its division into two city corporations.

The traffic situation in Dhaka is notorious. A 2015 study found that vehicles in the city move at an average speed of just 6.7 km per hour—slower than a pedestrian's walking pace. Google has even labelled Dhaka as the "slowest city in the world."

A government task force on economic strategy highlights the city's inadequate road network, outdated traffic management systems, and lack of a well-integrated mass transit system. It proposes reuniting the Dhaka North and South city corporations into a single "Metropolitan Government," similar to New Delhi's model. The task force also suggests creating a unified mass transit authority to oversee bus route franchising (BRF), trams, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Light Rail Transit (LRT), monorails, suburban commuter rails, MRT, and rideshare services. In addition, it advocates for a comprehensive master plan for Dhaka—yet another attempt to address the city's challenges.

Among the most urgent proposals is saving the Buriganga River from near extinction, using it as a pilot project for environmental restoration. If even a few of these recommendations are implemented, Dhaka could become a more livable city. However, this requires firm commitment, decisive leadership, and significant financial investment. Until then, residents will continue to struggle in a city that fails to meet their basic needs.

Good healthcare is essential for a better quality of life. Although Dhaka is home to many hospitals and clinics, most of them suffer from poor services, leading people to seek treatment abroad. India, once a popular choice due to its higher-quality healthcare at reasonable prices, has now closed its medical market to Bangladeshis. This has highlighted the urgent need for high-quality healthcare within the country. To meet this demand, the task force recommends liberalising foreign direct investment (FDI) in the tertiary healthcare sector. Allowing foreign investments would help curb costly medical tourism abroad while improving healthcare services at home by fostering competition and facilitating the transfer of skills.

"It just requires an announcement to open the door to FDI and better skills in the healthcare market," said KAS Murshid, the task force chief.

Titu Datta Gupta. Sketch: TBS

Another recommendation from the task force, which could be implemented immediately, involves engaging children in community service. The task force has suggested making community service a mandatory part of school curricula to instil social responsibility and teamwork in students. Under this initiative, schools would collaborate with local governments, allowing students to take part in environmental clean-ups, literacy campaigns, and social development projects. Such programmes, widely practised in developed countries, could help foster civic engagement from an early age.

The question now is: Will the authorities take meaningful action? Or will these recommendations, like those before them, be forgotten?