Bangladesh

41 wards, 13 officials: CCC struggles to provide services to residents

Service seekers across Chattogram City Corporation are facing mounting difficulties obtaining essential services from councillor offices.

On October 7, CCC assigned 13 officials to oversee duties in its 41 wards. However, with more wards than officials, each officer is tasked with managing two to five wards.

For instance, CCC special magistrate Manisha Mahajan oversees two wards, while regional executive officers Rezaul Karim, Shahrin Ferdousi, and Raktim Chowdhury manage five each.

According to CCC sources, these officials have to juggle their councillor responsibilities alongside their primary roles, leaving them stretched too thin to deliver timely services.

Many are unable to visit wards even once a week, forcing residents to endure long waits for services.

SERVICE SEEKERS SPEAK OUT

Saiful Alam (not his real name) recently visited the councillor's office in ward-21 (Jamal Khan area) to obtain a nationality certificate.

Although his documents were accepted, he was told to return the following week.

"Previously, my neighbours received their nationality certificates in a day, but now they've asked me to wait a week," said Saiful.

Similarly, physician Pintu Kumar Bhattacharjee faced hurdles while attempting to transfer his voter registration at the same ward office due to discrepancies in his application.

"I need to talk to the official performing the councillor's duties," he said, adding that he needed clarification regarding his addresses. However, the officer was unavailable.

An official at the Jamal Khan ward office said the assigned officer, responsible for four more wards, cannot attend the office regularly.

Jalal Ahmed, secretary of the Jamal Khan ward office, said, "No certificate can be issued without the signature and approval of the entrusted officer. He attends the CCC's regional office in Agrabad, and we take documents to him twice a week."

He added that the officer visits the ward office occasionally to review documents.

Abdul Kuddus, a staff member at the same office, said the previous councillor attended daily, expediting service delivery.

"Service seekers were often known to the local councillor, which made it easier to verify documents," he said.

CITYWIDE STRUGGLES

Similar challenges have been reported across other wards.

CCC residents rely on councillor offices for 17 services, including nationality certificates, birth and death registrations, character certificates, and inheritance certificates.

Nazrul Islam, a resident of Ward-15 (Bagmoniram), urged the CCC to assign one official per ward.

"One officer managing multiple wards is ineffective. They need to attend offices regularly to meet residents' needs," he said.

Sheikh Mohammad Tauhidul Islam, chief executive officer of CCC, acknowledged the limitations.

"The BCS cadres posted in CCC on deputation are currently fulfilling councillor responsibilities, leading to manpower constraints. We are passing through a transition period, and I believe everything will improve as time goes on," he stated.

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41 wards, 13 officials: CCC struggles to provide services to residents

Service seekers across Chattogram City Corporation are facing mounting difficulties obtaining essential services from councillor offices.

On October 7, CCC assigned 13 officials to oversee duties in its 41 wards. However, with more wards than officials, each officer is tasked with managing two to five wards.

For instance, CCC special magistrate Manisha Mahajan oversees two wards, while regional executive officers Rezaul Karim, Shahrin Ferdousi, and Raktim Chowdhury manage five each.

According to CCC sources, these officials have to juggle their councillor responsibilities alongside their primary roles, leaving them stretched too thin to deliver timely services.

Many are unable to visit wards even once a week, forcing residents to endure long waits for services.

SERVICE SEEKERS SPEAK OUT

Saiful Alam (not his real name) recently visited the councillor's office in ward-21 (Jamal Khan area) to obtain a nationality certificate.

Although his documents were accepted, he was told to return the following week.

"Previously, my neighbours received their nationality certificates in a day, but now they've asked me to wait a week," said Saiful.

Similarly, physician Pintu Kumar Bhattacharjee faced hurdles while attempting to transfer his voter registration at the same ward office due to discrepancies in his application.

"I need to talk to the official performing the councillor's duties," he said, adding that he needed clarification regarding his addresses. However, the officer was unavailable.

An official at the Jamal Khan ward office said the assigned officer, responsible for four more wards, cannot attend the office regularly.

Jalal Ahmed, secretary of the Jamal Khan ward office, said, "No certificate can be issued without the signature and approval of the entrusted officer. He attends the CCC's regional office in Agrabad, and we take documents to him twice a week."

He added that the officer visits the ward office occasionally to review documents.

Abdul Kuddus, a staff member at the same office, said the previous councillor attended daily, expediting service delivery.

"Service seekers were often known to the local councillor, which made it easier to verify documents," he said.

CITYWIDE STRUGGLES

Similar challenges have been reported across other wards.

CCC residents rely on councillor offices for 17 services, including nationality certificates, birth and death registrations, character certificates, and inheritance certificates.

Nazrul Islam, a resident of Ward-15 (Bagmoniram), urged the CCC to assign one official per ward.

"One officer managing multiple wards is ineffective. They need to attend offices regularly to meet residents' needs," he said.

Sheikh Mohammad Tauhidul Islam, chief executive officer of CCC, acknowledged the limitations.

"The BCS cadres posted in CCC on deputation are currently fulfilling councillor responsibilities, leading to manpower constraints. We are passing through a transition period, and I believe everything will improve as time goes on," he stated.

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