"I know it's an enormous task, yet I'm confident to make it possible and give the 'City Government' concept a real shape for the greater benefit of Chittagong and the country as well," said the Mayor while speaking at a seminar at the local auditorium of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh.

Mohiuddin said the 'City Government' exists in many cities of the world and Japan alone has thirteen such cities where elected mayors are at the helm of all kinds development in their respective cities.

"I don't need any financial assistance, I just want permission from the government to implement the concept in Chittagong," said Mohiuddin.

He also vowed to go-ahead with the plan if the government refuses to give permission in this regard.

The Mayor hoped that the Awami League-led 14-party opposition coalition, if voted to power, would table a bill in parliament on 'City Government' and pass it as an act.

The other speakers, mostly 14-party leaders, gave positive response to the call of Mohiuddin and promised him full co-operation in implementing his concept.

They also urged the government to give the mayor a go-ahead in view of making Chittagong a unique model for decentralised local government system in true term.

"The system would ultimately help the central government immensely in maintaining good governance at grassroots level and ensure the accountability, transparency and credibility of a democratically elected government to its people," they observed. The speakers suggested formulating specific plan, ensuring more participation of local representatives and reducing the influence of lawmakers to have an effective local government system in the country.

Chittagong could be the model of such effective local government if its Mayor is allowed to implement his concept, they said, adding that once the system is implemented the port city would be the focal point of all economic development in the country.

Nagorik Committee Chittagong organised the daylong seminar with its Secretary General Dr Abu Yousuf Alam in the chair.

Awami League Presidium Member Begum Motia Chowdhury MP, Workers' Party President Rashed Khan Menon, Bangladesher Communist Party (CPB) President Monjurul Ahsan Khan, Gono Forum Presidium Member Pankaj Bhattacharya, Bangladesh Samyabadi Dal President Dilip Barua, renowned economist Prof MM Akash of Dhaka University and Premier University Vice-chancellor Prof Anwarul Azim Arif also addressed the seminar.