Traffic jam-free Dhaka
Plagued by perennial problems, Dhaka and Chittagong -- our two major cities -- go to polls on April 28. What will a mayoral hopeful do to solve those problems if elected? How all the modern amenities will be ensured? What is his vision for the future of the city? Looking for the answers, The Daily Star has talked to a mayoral candidate.
Elected mayors have plenty of scopes to serve the city dwellers in a better way in spite of having limited jurisdiction, says Jatiya Party-backed mayoral aspirant for Dhaka North City Corporation Bahauddin Babul.
“I know a city mayor does not have adequate authority and financial mandates for fulfilling their lofty pledges they make to persuade voters. Even then I believe we can do a lot to bring changes to the facelift of the city if we are sincere,” he said in an interview with The Daily Star yesterday.
The previous mayors of undivided Dhaka city corporation were busy with making their fortune instead of paying proper attention to serve the city dwellers, he alleged.
“I want to see Dhaka as a world class city in next 10 years,” Bahauddin said, adding, “I want to give words to my valued voters that I will serve them better if I am elected as the mayor because my only aim is to do good for the city I am hailed from and was brought up in as well. I do politics only to serve people, not to earn money.
“I have been keeping in touch with the city dwellers for the last 34 years irrespective of their professions and classes. I have seen their problems from close distance. It would not be exaggerated if I say that I will be the perfect mayor to resolve their problems,” he claimed.
He also called upon voters not to consider political affiliation of the candidates. “Instead, I urge voters to consider whom they think will be able to serve them better before casting their votes.”
In his election pledges styled “traffic congestion free beautiful Dhaka,” the JP-backed candidate said he would sincerely try to free DNCC from traffic congestion with the help of the government.
Ensuring uninterrupted utility services like gas, electricity and water and eviction of the grabbers from the river Turag are also some of his major pledges.
When asked the city corporations have nothing to do with those utility services as Titas Gas Company, Desco and Wasa look after these, Bahauddin said he would constantly remain engaged with these authorities to ensure better services for the city people.
He also said he would free Dhaka from mosquitoes and flies and turn the city into green by planting trees on traffic islands and open space.
On road digging by different utility service providers causing sufferings to city people, Bahauddin said he would coordinate with the authorities concerned to ensure minimum public suffering.
In his eighteen-point manifesto, Bahauddin said he would build a corruption free city corporation if elected.
In his view, communications, sewerage system, water, drainage system and pollution are five major problems for DNCC.
“I will devote myself to resolving these problems on a priority basis if I am elected as the mayor,” he added.
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