Ruling party Awami League-nominated mayoral candidate for the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Atiqul Islam has promised to build a healthy and modern Dhaka city.
He pledged this at an event titled “Why I want to be Mayor,” held at the National Press Club in Dhaka, on Wednesday.
Addressing the event, Atiq said: “Building a modern city is not only my dream, it is the dream of everyone living in this city. I will work towards this goal. As a resident of Dhaka, each and every citizen should work to ensure a clean city.
He also urged people not to litter, considering the fact that the city is their home.
In his speech, Atiq identified traffic jams as Dhaka’s biggest problem, and claimed that he will make a serious effort to resolve the issue.
“Now Dhaka has become limp and building a gridlock-free Dhaka will be my main duty as mayor.”
Atiqul Islam, who had served as a president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industries (FBCCI), added that he has his own plan for Dhaka city, but he will try to fulfill former mayor Annisul Huq’s dream.
“Annisul Huq was my brother. As a brother it is my duty to fulfill his dream, and I will definitely do that,” he said.
Expressing his determination to curb militancy and drug abuse in Dhaka North City, by promoting sports, he said: “Young people are using drugs and getting involved in extremism, because they suffer from depression.
“Sports can help reduce depression. I will try my best to recover playgrounds and will build a good environment for sports,” he said.
Atiqul added that freedom fighters have gifted us a country and it is our duty to love this country and we should be aware to build a clean city.
Rehabilitation for hawkers
Stating that he wants a sustainable solution for street hawkers across Dhaka, Atiqul said: “We could evict the hawkers from footpaths to take a stance or to show off that we are trying to recover a footpath from hawkers, but some days after the eviction, the hawkers will return.
“In search of a more permanent solution to this problem, I have already talked with BUET’s experts about my plan to build an underground market.”
Describing the hawkers as entrepreneurs, he also mentioned that he has plans to provide hawkers with identity cards.
“I will also launch an initiative for the sustainable rehabilitation of hawkers on footpaths throughout the city,” the ruling party mayoral candidate said at the event.
The by-elections to the vacant DNCC mayoral post and Kishoreganj 1 constituency will be held on February 28.
The election for councillor posts of 36 new wards—18 in DNCC and 18 in Dhaka South City Corporation—will be held on the same day.
