Mayoral candidates for Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) yesterday pledged to turn Dhaka into a modern city with all kinds of civic amenities. They also promised to rid the city from corruption.
The candidates expressed their dissatisfaction over insufficient power of a mayor, they said this at a discussion organised jointly by Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SHUJAN) and Nagorik Adhikar Sangrakhan Forum in the capital’s Gulshan.
A total of 14 out of 16 DNCC mayoral aspirants attended the discussion.
A 21-point demand on behalf of the voters of the DNCC was placed before the mayoral aspirants during the programme.
BNP-backed mayoral candidate Tabith Awal said most of the demands raised by voters are beyond their capacity as a mayor does not enjoy sufficient power to resolve them.
Awami League-backed Annisul Huq, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh-backed Mahi B Chowdhury also echoed his view stressing the need for strengthening the power of mayors.
Tabith said: “People are harassed when they go to city corporation for a service and it is corruption which is the key reason for their harassment. I’ll take necessary measures to curb corruption.”
Tabith in his speech focused more on the security of city dwellers saying that if he is elected as a mayor he would arrange police mapping to root out crimes.
Awami League-backed candidate Annisul Huq came a bit late to attend the programme as he had to participate in another programme. Before he delivered his speech sought pardon for his delay.
Awami League-backed candidate Annisul Huq said an honest and dedicated leadership is inevitable to resolve problems of city dwellers.
Annisul also promised to make a green DNCC where people can live in safe and healthy environment.
Another mayoral candidate Mahi B Chowdhury focused on collective efforts from city dwellers of all corners to solve the prevailing problems.
“We need a safe and dynamic city. If I am elected I will make this dream come true.”
“Through the participation of citizens I want to free the city from corruption if I am elected as mayor,” said Zonayed Saki of Gono Sanghati Andolon.
SHUJAN Secretary Badiul Alam Mojumder urged voters not to elect corrupt, dishonest and incompetent candidate as their future city mayor.
Among other candidates, Abdullah Al Kafee backed by Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) and JSD-backed Nader Chowdhury attended the discussion.
