Citizens struggling to get essential services without councillors

Bilquis Begum, a resident of Dakshinkhan in the capital, has been visiting Zone 7 of Dhaka North City Corporation for the past three days in search of an inheritance certificate. However, as of yesterday, she has not been able to confirm whether she will receive her certificate from the local executive officer.

Bilquis told TBS, "Previously, we used to receive the inheritance certificate within 2-3 days. But now, when I went to the councillor's office, they directed me to the Uttara Zone Office. Even after going there, I still didn't get the certificate. If I don't receive the certificate within this week, I will face difficulties in claiming my rightful property."

It's not just Bilquis, citizens of the two city corporations in Dhaka, as well as those in 12 city corporations and 323 municipalities across the country, are facing similar struggles in obtaining essential services after councillors were excluded from the process.

Since the removal of some 6,000 councillors, many public services in these areas have been halted.

A councillor's office typically provides various essential certificates, including birth, death, citizenship, character, inheritance, landless, family, single, non-remarriage, annual income, same name, disability, no objection, financial insolvency, marriage, second marriage permit, new voter, voter transfer, unemployment, and temporary residence certificates.

In addition, councillors are responsible for tasks such as road and drainage development in their respective wards, managing street lighting, keeping roads swept and drains clean, carrying out mosquito control activities, conducting anti-drug campaigns, and handling preliminary dispute resolutions.

Currently, the responsibility for carrying out these activities has been assigned to the regional executive officers of the city corporations.

Earlier, on 19 August, the Local Government Division dismissed all city mayors and appointed administrators in their place.

What removed councillors saying?

Most of the councillors across the country went into hiding after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government on 5 August. However, some councillors who were not affiliated with the Awami League politics and maintained a reputation for transparency among the public continued to carry out their duties in their wards.

Mohammad Samshul Huda, a councillor from Ward 7 of Dhaka South City Corporation, told TBS, "In the past four years, I have issued nearly 11,000 various certificates. Now, how will the regional officers carry out their work by reaching out to citizens at the grassroots level? Those of us who were not involved in Awami League politics and have a good image could have been retained as councillors."

A female councillor from a reserved seat in Dhaka South City, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told TBS, "The government could have retained female councillors to carry out these tasks. At least the urgent work in our respective wards could have continued."

Tania Akter, the councillor of the reserved seat of Gazipur City Corporation, said, "Every day, many people are returning disappointed without receiving services. Where 76 public representatives used to perform their duties daily, how will 19 government officials fulfil this responsibility beyond their own work who have no connection with the public?"

Dhaka North City Corporation's Ward 48 Councillor Ali Akbar told TBS, "No secretary has been appointed in my ward to verify documents through them. Now, people will have to go from Dakshinkhan to Uttara to get certificates. In this case, officials will also have limited opportunities for verification. I used to sign around 150 different certificates daily."

Dhaka North reserved Ward-16 Councillor Elora Parveen said, "It would have been better if those of us without lawsuits or serious accusations could continue providing services to the people. Even though residents come to my house seeking services, I have to turn them away. Moreover, the regional executive officers haven't started their work either. They are afraid too."

Gazipur City Corporation's Ward-52 Councillor Jahangir Hossain said, "People in my ward have been coming to my house and office since morning, trying to get citizen services. They are facing various problems, including obtaining citizen certificates, birth registrations, inheritance certificates, and death certificates. I haven't been able to solve any of their issues, and people are becoming frustrated."

Khulna City Corporation's Ward-6 Councillor Sheikh Shamsuddin Ahmed Prince said, "We are not elected from any political party or under any party symbol. This attitude of the government is a significant discrimination against us. We want to serve the people."

Designated officials lack experience

Dhaka South City Corporation's Zonal Executive Officer (Zone-5) Mohammad Sakhawat Hossen Sarkar told The Business Standard, "Now we tried to serve all citizen services from our zone office. Our officials and employees collect the information and application then we will sign after verification and other activities."

He also said, "Our officers are regularly taking attendance of the mosquito control workers and sanitation workers. We are trying to keep the operations running smoothly, but the absence of elected representatives is certainly causing some issues."

However, many are struggling to understand how to execute these tasks effectively. There is also a concern that mistakes or oversights might occur in handling these duties typically performed by elected representatives.

Dhaka South City's another zonal executive officer, Md Sujauddaula, who oversees three zones (zones 6, 7, and 8), told TBS, "The major issue in our wards is that there are no secretaries. Since we don't know each citizen personally, it will take some time to conduct thorough verification."

Dhaka North City Zone-10 Zonal Executive Officer Nasima Khanom told TBS, "I haven't thought much about this issue yet. I also don't understand how to proceed with the work. I haven't been able to grasp the situation fully. Many clients are coming, but we are unable to provide services. Moreover, the lack of secretaries in the new wards is making it even more difficult to work. We have to follow whatever decisions the higher authorities make."

Dhaka North City Zone-7 Zonal Executive Officer Md Sadequr Rahman said, "Various certificates and attestations will have to go through our signatures. This will be a challenge for us. We received the letter on Monday evening. We are now discussing the matter and will decide what to do next."