Wishing to turn Sylhet into a “smart and women-friendly city”, Md Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury, the ruling Awami League-endorsed mayoral aspirant in the Sylhet City Corporation election, has unveiled the 21-point manifesto called “Amar Sylhet (My Sylhet)”.
He made the pledges at a hotel in the city in the presence of key leaders of the 14-party alliance on Saturday.
The candidate, who is an expatriate, promised the city dwellers that he will spend the rest of his life in the city if voted to power.
Also, the joint secretary of the UK unit of Awami League, Anwarzzaman said he will focus more on the city's perennial waterlogging issue, thus, helping Sylhet become the first “smart city” of a “Smart Bangladesh”.
Projects to construct a city protection embankment and dig Surma Canal will be taken up and a number of waterbodies connected to Surma River will be recovered to ensure the smooth flow of rainwater to the river, he said.
The candidate also vowed to upgrade the city's poor drainage system, which contributes to the water stagnation problem regularly during the rainy season.
Low-lying areas of different parts of Sylhet district have been inundated due to onrush of hill water and swelling of rivers caused by torrential rains for the last three days.
The water levels in the Kushiara and the Surma Rivers are close to the danger level and may cross it if water levels rise further
Pledges for girls, women
“If I win, I'll take measures so girls and women can move freely and safely across the city. They will be on top of my priority list to get services from the city corporation,” he said, adding, a designated cell will be formed for them.
“At least one specialized market will be built for them. State-of-the-art daycare centres and pre-schools will be set up to facilitate working women,” he further said.
Eyes on greenery
The mayor candidate said he will give maximum importance to the city's green urbanism.
“There will be area-based afforestation across the city. Action will be taken against air and sound pollution,” he maintained.
He also pledged to save the hillocks standing in parts of the city.
Among other major pledges are a well-maintained waste-management system, generating power from wastes, ensuring a standard mass transportation system, and technical training of the youth.
BNP is not joining the polls fray slated for June 21.