Chittagong Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin has stressed on the need to introduce the city government system, adding that he would request the prime minister’s initiative on this regard.
“I will meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today [Tuesday]. When meeting her, I will request the premier to take necessary steps and issue directives for introducing the city government system in all city corporations of the country,” said Nasir.
“This demand had been raised by the first Dhaka city mayor Mohammad Hanif and former Chittagong mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury,” he told a meet-the-press programme organised by Chittagong Journalists Forum Dhaka at the National Press Club yesterday.
The Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) mayor further urged all city mayors to push the government to start the system.
Reiterating his vow to make the CCC free from corruption, Nasir said: “No city corporation official will be spared if they are found to be corrupt. Even political shelter would not be considered.
“I am the general secretary of the Awami League’s Chittagong city unit; so anyone from Awami League will also not be spared for such illegal practice,” he added.
Terming financial crisis and manpower shortage as obstacles to development, the mayor said most of the departmental chiefs at the CCC were in charge in an acting capacity only.
He, however, pointed out that the financial woes could be overcome by properly collecting the revenue and other incomes of the CCC.
Nasir added that he has already directed the CCC chief executive officer to take initiative to free the port city’s occupied canals from the clutches of land grabbers.
The mayor also stressed on implementing the Chittagong Drainage Master Plan 1995 to mitigate the water stagnation situation and to turn Chittagong into a greener and cleaner city.
Nasir also said he has been working to intensify coordination among different government agencies like Wasa and the Chittagong Development Authority.
