‘Considering everything, I think I’m successful’
The Daily Star (TDS): What were your plans when you assumed office and how successful are you in implementing those?
Nasir Uddin: There are 32 service providing organisations in port city and CCC, the lone organisation led by elected representative, is one of those. People’s expectation from CCC is immense. When I took over, I had dreamt to build the city as a modern one like those of developed countries. I’ve taken many initiatives in this regard but no dream can be implemented overnight. Initiative, proper planning and implementation take time. Awareness and responsibility of residents are also vital to develop a city.
TDS: How do you evaluate your four years as mayor?
Nasir: CCC has three specific duties -- maintenance of roads and drains, waste management and installing and looking after street lights.
When I took over, the city’s drainage system was in a bad shape. Many roads were battered. I have repaired damaged roads and improved drainage system. New drains have been constructed in many areas. I’m implementing a planned drainage system in the city. I’ve also introduced LED lights on streets.
To improve waste management, I’ve introduced a new concept of door-to-door waste collection. When I took over, garbage was left scattered on various intersections and roads. There were a total of 1,350 waste bins in the city and garbage was being collected during daytime. I’ve reduced the number of waste bins to 600 and introduced waste collection at night. I have also made it mandatory to collect waste every day.
I’ve introduced a hotline for residents to lodge complaints. A visible change has been brought about in the city. So considering everything, I think, I’m successful.
TDS: Many people criticise the lack of coordination among CCC and other service providers. City dwellers suffer for this. They ask why CCC gives permission to different organisations to dig up roads so frequently.
Nasir: Massive development works are undergoing in the city by different organisations. Consequently, people are suffering. I feel saddened and embarrassed for this.
When a project like pipeline installation by Wasa is passed in Ecnec, I have to give them permission to dig up roads. It would be better if all service providers could sit together before undertaking their respective projects. In developed countries, such projects are done under one umbrella. If that can be applied here, the issue of lack of coordination could be addressed duly.
TDS: Allegations have been raised over ongoing beautification works. Are those going on in a planned way? Many alleged that shops are being constructed over drains and footpaths.
Nasir: Who raised such allegations? Are they town planners? There is difference of opinions among town planners. We have been implementing beautification works under supervision of experts. As we have some limitations, we are outsourcing those to private organisations. They have to do the maintenance works and shops are being built to bear the maintenance cost. But those are being done as per experts’ suggestions so that city dwellers won’t have to face any problem now or in future.
TDS: Were you able to address the waterlogging issue -- it was your main electoral pledge?
Nasir: Yes it was. It’s a major problem that cannot be addressed in a year or two. A development proposal was signed with a Chinese company to initiate a project on government-to-government basis, so that people can benefit in the long run.
But a mega project in this regard was initiated by Chattogram Development Authority last year; what can I do now? Yet, I’ve taken initiatives to improve drainage system so that rainwater can recede fast. I’ve also taken approval from the government to excavate a new canal in the city.
TDS: What are your priorities in the remaining year of your tenure?
Nasir: I would immediately repair all roads left in a battered state by service providers.
Bayezid Bostami Road would be widened and development works on Port Connecting Road and Agrabad Access Road would be completed soon. The city footpaths would be widened and freed from encroachment.
The ongoing major projects would be completed and civic amenities for citizens would be further enhanced.
How people see it
Mayor Nasir’s major pledges included coming up with a permanent solution to waterlogging; a clean and healthy city; making CCC free from partisanship; developing road communication; facilitating recreational activities; increasing access to education and healthcare; and bringing back discipline in CCC. He also pledged to make port city a “dream megacity”.
This correspondent spoke to many residents about the mayor’s performance in the last four years.
Here’s what they had to say:
Praising the mayor for successfully removing illegal billboards, Shubheccha Ghosh, a master’s student of Chittagong College, said, “I’m sure it was not an easy task… as the billboards mostly belonged to the pro-ruling party people.”
Ratna Raha, a retired teacher, said the mayor’s concept of door-to-door waste collection helped make the city cleaner. The resident of Jamal Khan Road hoped that such initiatives would continue.
There were some criticisms too.
Abdul Aziz, a resident of Panchlaish, said even though the beautification works in different parts of the city were appreciable, some people were building shops over drains in the name of such projects in Jamal Khan and Kazir Dewri areas, among others.
Nur Uddin Ahmed, a resident of Bakalia, said, “The mayor pledged a permanent solution to waterlogging, but we have not seen any change [in the situation] although four years have gone by.”
Prof Sikandar Khan, vice-chancellor of East Delta University, said, “We didn’t see any significant changes over the past four years of the incumbent mayor. People continue to suffer due to lack of coordination among CCC, CDA and Wasa.”
“Beautification works were not done in a planned way while no significant improvement has been seen in waste management,” he said, adding, “However, he did remove the billboards successfully.”
Anwara Alam, retired principal of Agrabad Women’s College, said, “I would say the mayor is 50 percent successful.” She mentioned removing billboards, installing signs in Bengali and organising Amar Ekushey book fair as the mayor’s successes.
He, however, could not free footpaths from illegal occupations, she said.
“Removing billboards was a good initiative but those are returning in a different form in many areas,” observed Advocate Akter Kabir Chowdhury, president of Sachetan Nagarik Committee-Transparency International Bangladesh, Chattogram city chapter.
Also, waste management was better in the first two years of Nasir’s tenure, and no significant development was seen in education and health sectors, he added.
Abul Hashem Bakkar, general secretary of BNP’s city unit, said the mayor has failed to meet the expectations of residents. “People continue to suffer due to waterlogging and battered roads.”
Former mayor M Manjur Alam, who Nasir defeated in 2015 polls, said city dwellers are the best evaluators of a mayor’s work.
“I would not say whether it has been good or bad... I would say he [Nasir] has one more year of his tenure left and many projects are ongoing... if he remains more conscious and responsible during this time, city dwellers would be benefitted,” said Manjur.
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