The beatification project was launched with the 13th summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) in mind. But the Dhaka City Beautification Cell (DCBC) has failed to take the necessary steps to revitalise the project which has remained idle for the last four months. The largest regional conference is scheduled for November. The DCBC was formed to supervise the project but its officials are unable to provide any authentic information.

One official of the Cell told this correspondent that they have not added anything new under the beautification project. But in many places in the city, new projects have been undertaken targeting the upcoming SAARC summit.

The in-charge of DCBC was asked about the beautification work at Bijoy Sarani which is currently underway. But he expressed his ignorance about it.

"There is no such project to my knowledge. If anything is going on that is not part of our programme," said Haque.

Workers at the spot in question at Bijoy Sarani meanwhile informed that they were constructing a fountain under the current beautification project.

The implementing authority of the fountain Advanced Add officials also contradicted the DCBC.

"We are working here with the approval from the DCC and DCBC. There is no scope for confusion. We have beautified the entire Bijoy Sarani and as a part of that we are now establishing the fountain," said Mizanur Rahman, director of Advanced Add.

The in-charge of DCBC claimed that there was no shortage of cooperation regarding the beautification work in the city. He said that all the organisations were working according to the deed agreement with the DCC.

"I regularly visit the sites and I have not seen any problem anywhere."

But the reality is that in many places the beautification work has became hideous or has been completely destroyed due to lack of maintenance and care. The stretches from Banglamotor intersection to Moghbazar, from Moghbazar to Saatrasta and Gulistan to Golapshah Mazar bear testimony to that.

The DCBC had handed over the Pantha Kunja Park to a private organisation for beautification about a year ago. The park was scheduled to re-open in January this year but the DCBC is yet to retake the charge of the park from that organisation.