1. 2013 Bangladesh National Chapter Report

10F,Seoul Global Center38 Jongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea TEL:(82-2)723-0634FAX:(82-2)-723-0640E-mail:[email protected] http:/ /citynetcongress. org

August 16, 2013

 Introduction: The CITYNET National Chapter-Bangladesh was established in 1994. Since then, Dhaka City Corporation has been hosting the Secretariat. The Chapter had started functioning with the CITYNET 11 members (5 Full members and 6 Associated members) along with other local associates. Due to suspension of the CITYNET membership, two left and another two joined after getting membership of CITYNET. The National Chapter had taken capacity building programme such as training exposure visit, Mayors’ dialogue etc. The National Chapter also executed a pilot project Composting, roof-top gardening and rain water harvesting in 2009-10. Along with that, Dhaka participated in 3 years Post-AWAREE project with CITYNET which was shared with the members. The Chapter also started increasing the number of memberships of CITYNET. In the year 2011, the National Chapter Committee reorganized and hosted the 28th Executive Committee meeting of CITYNET. National Chapter Meeting was also held at that time with the representatives of all members. During the EXCOM in Dhaka, Dhaka City Corporation was bifurcated into two, Dhaka North City Corporation and Dhaka South City Corporation. The position of the Mayor was replaced by two administrators, one for DNCC and one for DSCC till the mayoral election. This arrangement is for interim period. The tenure of the Administrators is for 6 months. Now the 4th Administrator is running the City Corporation. The activities of the CITYNET National Chapter were halted for the time being. In the Executive Committee meeting at Surabaya, Indonesia, the administrator of DNCC joined and represented both DNCC & DSCC. At the same time, in the election of 4 City Corporations, all the incumbent Mayors were defeated who were acquainted with CITYNET. Even the Mayor of one municipality who is the President of Municipal Association of Bangladesh (a network of more than 400 municipalities) defeated in the Gazipur City Corporation recently. In this political change over, the National Chapter activities has been stopped for a while. However, the activities of the CITYNET are well known by the City officials.

 Vision and Mission: The vision of CITYNET National Chapter- Bangladesh is to establish a sound, healthy and environment friendly cities in Bangladesh. The mission of the Chapter is to establish a network among the cities, private sectors and the NGOs in Bangladesh and share experiences and expertise of each other. It also excels to learn of the development of other cities through mutual co-operation and support.

 Objectives: o To coordinate with the local, national and international stakeholders. o To share resources/experiences economically and effectively. o To play a strategic and integrated role in urban planning and management. o To make municipalities people friendly, environmentally protected, socially just, economically productive, politically committed, and culturally diversified 10F,Seoul Global Center38 Jongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea TEL:(82-2)723-0634FAX:(82-2)-723-0640E-mail:[email protected] http:/ /citynetcongress. org

 Organizational Structure:

Mayor of Dhaka City Corporation President Mayor of Khulna and Rajshahi City Vice-President Corporation Chief Executive Officer of DCC Secretary General

Center for Urban Studies (CUS) Auditor Sylhet City Corporation Member Barisal City Corporation Member Rajdhani Unnayan Koitripokka (Capital Member Development Authority Municipal Association of Bangladesh Member Bangladesh Center for Advance Member Studies (BCAS) Dr Tariq Bin Yousuf, DCC Program Manager and Focal point

 Members: 1. Dhaka North City Corporation (Full Member of CITYNET) 2. Dhaka South City Corporation (Full Member of CITYNET)) 3. Khulna City Corporation (Full member of CITYNET) 4. Rajshahi City Corporation (Full member of CITYNET) 5. Sylhet City Corporation (Full member of CITYNET) 6. Barisal City Corporation (Full member of CITYNET) 7. Rajdhani Unnayan Koitripokkha (Capital Development Authority (Associate member of CITYNET)) 8. Bangladesh Center for Advance Studies (BCAS) (Associate member of CITYNET) 9. Dustha Sastha Kendra (DSK) (Associate member of CITYNET) 10. Center for Urban Studies (CUS) (Associate member of CITYNET) 11. Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) (Associate member of CITYNET) 12. Municipal Association of Bangladesh (MAB) (Associate member of CITYNET)

 Specific Activities of National Chapter: The CITYNET National Chapter, Bangladesh carried out capacity building program (Training, Seminar and Workshop), sharing of technical and operational guidelines of infrastructure development, Private sector investment guideline etc., organizing exposure visit, Municipal governance and financial management regulation, planning and implementation of pilot projects under CITYNET National Chapter budget.

 Completed and Planned Activities of 2013: o Completed: . National Chapter Pilot Project named Composting, roof top gardening and rainwater harvesting in a City Building in the year 10F,Seoul Global Center38 Jongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea TEL:(82-2)723-0634FAX:(82-2)-723-0640E-mail:[email protected] http:/ /citynetcongress. org

2009-10. Later this project has been replicated in other part of the cities

. Rainwater harvesting in landfill site

. Solar lighting system in landfill to power the weighbridge database and operation

o Planned: . Mobile public toilet (single unit) operated by private entrepreneur. . Installation of litter bins at specific locations in city street to minimize littering on the streets.

 Assessment of Past and Current Situation: The CITYNET National Chapter-Bangladesh is the focal point of disseminating CITYNET programmes and activities. The activities of CITYNET specially the capacity building program of the local authorities and the pilot projects implemented are well known and appreciated by the municipalities as well as other stakeholders. The National Chapter- Bangladesh was very active and took part in most of the CITYNET activities, shared the ideas and skill among themselves, organized local level meetings and exposure visits for mutual benefits. However, after the bifurcation of Dhaka City Corporation, due to political and administrative instability and uncertainty of Mayor election etc. , it was difficult to carry on the National Chapter activities. Every after six months, new administrator replaces in DNCC and DSCC and at the same time in the four city corporations (RCC, KCC, BCC and SCC) all the incumbent Mayors were defeated, new mayors are taking the positions. In this transition, the National Chapter activities have been moving slowly. However, with the newly elected Mayors, National Chapter activities will have to resume fully. This needs congratulatory and acquaintance letter from CITYNET secretariat.

The SWOT analysis of CITYNET National Chapter- Bangladesh has been shown below: o Strengths: The chapter has been established long years back and most of the members are acquainted with the activities of CITYNET. o Weaknesses: The National Chapter secretariat is not independent, so with the changes of Mayor and Chief Executive Officer (administrative changes), it takes sometimes to acquaint them. It works mostly with the personal effort of the focal point, so supporting staff or dedicated secretariat to do the job. o Opportunities: As the cities are growing up and some of the big municipalities are upgraded into City Corporation such as Narayangong, Commilla and Gazipur, there is wider scope to expand the membership as well as expand co-operation. o Threats: The big projects under the donor agencies are also incorporated networking, capacity building activities including some institutional and budgetary support. In that case, CITYNET secretariat, should collaborate with the donor agencies and bring CITYNET activities into their notice for avoiding duplication but creating a single platform

 Plan for Expansion: CITYNET- National Chapter is needed to work independently with supporting staff. Mostly all the administrative and institutional issues are handled by the focal point who has other jobs in his/her department as well. Rather than inviting members of the CITYNET to participate training program at overseas, it is wise as well as more effective that CITYNET national Chapters could organize training by themselves on a particular issue/interest where CITYNET secretariat could dispatch experts for the capacity building programme. There is need to organize regular National Chapter meeting through SKYPE and share the scopes and challenges. 10F,Seoul Global Center38 Jongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea TEL:(82-2)723-0634FAX:(82-2)-723-0640E-mail:[email protected] http:/ /citynetcongress. org

 Issues and Challenges: The main challenge of CITYNET National Chapter-Bangladesh is not having independent status; it has to depend totally on the presidency city Dhaka. With the changes in the political and administrative structure, the activities of the National Chapter are slowed down. The chapter has no dedicated staff or secretariat to carry out the national chapter activities. It has no budget to run the office and facility to communicate regularly with the members. The National Chapter does not have any approved constitution and there is no provision of membership contribution. The president city always hosts the events. The business plan of the Chapter is not regularly updated. However, the Chapter has an independent Bank Account. The Chapter is administered by the focal point at his office beside his other jobs. If there is a provision of employing a staff for the secretarial job such as regular communication with the members will be more effective and vibrant.

 Specific Support Requested from CITYNET: CITYNET National Chapter should function independently; as it is normally housed in the President City it is thought by the members that all the responsibility to run the secretariat is with the president city. There should have clear guidance from the CITYNET about the importance, function and role of National Chapter. The funding to run the National Chapter should be clearly mentioned. The management and accounts procedure should be clearly defined. The National Chapters are running for a long time but still struggling with administrative and financial issues.

1. 2014 Bangladesh National Chapter Plans/Outline

 Planned National Chapter Meetings:

o Dates : April/May

o Locations: Dhaka

 New Projects

o Title : Installation and Operation mobile public toilet (Single unit) by private entrepreneur at specific points in Dhaka City

o Description: Public toilet is an urgent need, however it is very difficult to get places for permanent construction. With this view, locally made single unit mobile public toilet can be constructed, transported by a tri-cycle van and placed at important places temporarily. It can support livelihood of a poor people who collect money from users and maintain the cleanliness and operational cost.

o Expected Result: It can meet the needs of the pedestrians and keep the city clean from open urination.

 Follow-up to Past Projects

Title: Cleaner and Greener City through roof top gardening, composting and rainwater harvesting

o Description: This project was piloted by National Chapter in 2009-10. In a apartment building where generated wastes are segregated by the residents, the organic wastes were taken in a rooftop, composted in a rotary composter used it in 10F,Seoul Global Center38 Jongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea TEL:(82-2)723-0634FAX:(82-2)-723-0640E-mail:[email protected] http:/ /citynetcongress. org

the roof top garden. Rainwater of the building was captured and used for watering the garden.

o Reported Results: It has managed the waste of the apartment by recycling, kept the roof cool and residents get fresh vegetable.

 Member Communications

o Method of Communication: In the National chapter meeting, the concept of the project was discussed, getting views and approved. At several occasions, members visited, experienced with project progress and outputs. The project was documented and shared with the members.

o Expected Result : Possible replication in member cities.

 Other

2. 2015 Bangladesh National Chapter Plans

 Planned National Chapter Meetings:

o Dates: March/Apr

o Locations: Rajshahi/Barisal/Khulna

 New Projects

o Title : Installation of litter bins at City Streets

o Description: Littering in streets is very common in the city streets. It may happen as there is no specific litter bins on the streets. With this idea, public consultation, instruction and facility provision can be tried through a pilot program to keep the street clean.

o Expected Result: Littering on the streets would be stopped, drain clogging will be eliminated and as a whole streets look clean.

 Follow-up to Past Projects

o Title: Roof top gardening, composting and rainwater harvesting project and mobile public toilet project performance can be evaluated and necessary actions would be taken for further improvement.

o Description

o Reported Results

 Member Communications

o Method of Communication: Establish a dedicated secretariat, communicate the members through e-mail, publishing newsletter, sharing good practices. 10F,Seoul Global Center38 Jongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea TEL:(82-2)723-0634FAX:(82-2)-723-0640E-mail:[email protected] http:/ /citynetcongress. org

o Expected Result: Exchange knowledge and experience.

 Other

Contact Details: CITYNET National Chapter Bangladesh

Dr Tariq Bin Yousuf CITYNET National Chapter- Bangladesh Focal Person 64 Kamal Ataturk Road, Banani, Dhaka-1213. Telephone: +88-02-9855630 Mobile: +88-01817578326 Fax: +88-02-9855630Email: [email protected] Web: www.dncc.gov.bd

Md. Sirajul Islam Chief Town Planner Dhaka South City Corporation 6 Phoenix Road, Dhaka-1000 Mobile: +88-01715023000 Email: [email protected]