Waterlogging tops agenda in Khulna

Four mayoral candidates of Khulna City Corporation (KCC) yesterday vowed that if elected, they would renovate the drainage system and recover 22 grabbed canals to resolve the city's water logging problem.

The mayoral hopefuls also pledged to take measures for ensuring quality services for city dwellers by checking corruption in the city corporation office.

The candidates -- Awami League's Talukder Abdul Khaleque, Communist Party of Bangladesh's (CPB) Mizanur Rahman Babu, Islami Andolon's Mohammad Mozammel and Jatiya Party's Shafiqul Islam -- made the pledge at a programme in the city's press club auditorium.

Greater Khulna Development Movement and Coordination Committee organised the programme titled “Jonogoner Mukhomukhi (face to face with the people)”.

BNP candidate Nazrul Islam Monju refrained from attending the programme alleging that the organiser was favouring of the ruling party candidate.

The allegation however was denied by the organiser, reports our Khulna correspondent.

Last week, Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik organised a similar programme where all five mayor aspirants were present on the same stage and vowed to work together for the advancement of the city and its residents.  

The four mayoral candidates attending yesterday's programme vowed to eradicate drug abuse, conform to electoral code of conduct and not to influence the election process by allowing the use of black money and muscle power in the election.

They also pledged to accept the result of the election and assured that they would not allow any nepotism and muscle power while carrying out their duties of the KCC.

The organiser laid out a 21-point demand before the mayoral candidates including construction of a modern park, zoo, botanical garden, ensuring special health care services for senior citizens, and construction of a five-star hotel and a modern hospital in the city.

AL candidate Khaleque said he would undertake development projects that he could not complete during his previous tenure in 2008-13. “I must recover the 22 grabbed canals that will resolve the water logging problem in the city,” he said.

On the issue of fresh drinking water supply in the city, he said he was hopeful to solve the problem within a year by drawing in water from the Modhumoti river as the government has already allocated Tk 2,400 crore for Khulna Wasa and the work is in its final stage.

Mohammad Mozammel of Islami Andolon said if elected, he would form a committee comprising people from the underprivileged and the minority for their advancement.

“I have a plan to boost KCC's income without imposing holding tax [on city residents], improve medical facilities and generate new jobs,” he added. CPB's Mizanur Rahman Babu said he would hold monthly meetings with city dwellers for their suggestions on the development of the city.

“I will make effort to reopen the closed factories in Khulna,” he also said.   Jatiya Party's Shafiqul Islam said he would reopen the closed down cinema halls for city dwellers' mental refreshment.