Dhaka, April 24 (V7N): The Cabinet has given in-principle approval to a proposal to bring the Purbachal New Town project area under the jurisdiction of the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), and Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA), in a move aimed at improving urban governance and public services.
The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting held on Thursday evening at around 8:30 pm in the Parliament Complex, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The meeting discussed five agenda items, with the proposal from the Ministry of Housing and Public Works being among the most significant.
According to a press release issued by the Cabinet Division, the Purbachal New Town project spans parts of three districts—Dhaka, Narayanganj, and Gazipur—which has created administrative complexities affecting service delivery and security management.
The statement noted that due to jurisdictional overlap, police operations for ensuring public safety were not fully effective, while local government institutions were also unable to provide adequate civic services. In addition, the area being outside city corporation boundaries meant that DWASA services could not be properly extended.
To address these issues and ensure sustainable urban management, the government has decided to bring the area under DNCC jurisdiction. This will allow residents to access services such as birth and death registration, trade license issuance and renewal, waste management, road and drainage construction and maintenance, street lighting, and mosquito control more efficiently.
For improved security, the Cabinet also approved placing the entire project area under the jurisdiction of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). Furthermore, to ensure effective water supply and sanitation services, the area will be included under DWASA’s operational network.
The Cabinet also approved a proposal to incorporate parts of the project area currently under Rupganj Upazila of Narayanganj and Kaliganj Upazila of Gazipur into Dhaka district, considering administrative efficiency and better land and civic management.
Officials believe these measures, initiated by the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, will help resolve long-standing civic service challenges faced by residents of the Purbachal New Town project area and significantly improve urban living standards.
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