Rezaul for a modern, tourism-friendly city
Awami League (AL) nominated mayoral candidate for Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) polls Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said he would like to develop the port city to be modern, aesthetic and of international standards, if voted mayor.
He said he has nothing to gain and wants to serve the city dwellers, if given a chance.
Rezaul, also a joint general secretary of Chattogram city unit AL, announced his election manifesto at Chattogram Press Club's Bangabandhu Hall yesterday.
In the manifesto, he stated 37 pledges and requested all to vote for him on election day on January 27.
Rezaul's top priority in the manifesto is addressing waterlogging, one of port city's major problems. He acknowledged that waterlogging is the oldest and most longstanding problem, and considering the urgency, the prime minister allocated over Tk 10,000 crore for a mega project to address the issue.
Service organisations, including CDA, Wasa and CCC, have been implementing the project, he said, while elaborating on the pledges. He would prioritise proper implementation of the mega project.
Rezaul would initiate a 100-day programme on priority basis to get rid of all sorts of hindrances to free canals, drains, rivers and waterbodies from illegal occupiers. Through this, he would play a role to complete work for the mega project on time.
The candidate would take initiative to save rivers and waterbodies, including Karnaphuli and Halda, from pollution and also tackle the mosquito menace in an environment-friendly way.
He would also take a stand against filling up of ponds and other waterbodies, and would take strict steps against adolescent gang culture.
Traffic mismanagement is another major problem, he said, and so, he also prioritised this issue in his manifesto.
He said many buildings and educational institutions mushroomed by the city's thoroughfares, and the establishments do not have their own parking space. Therefore, private vehicles park on the road, creating traffic congestion at peak hours.
"I would take initiative to address the problem after consulting with everyone, if elected mayor," he continued.
"All thoroughfares in the city, including important lanes and by-lanes, would be brought under LED lighting and CCTV surveillance," he added.
Rezaul would also modernise the waste management system to make the city clean.
"I would install a waste recycling plant to produce electricity and fuel from the waste," he said. "Use of plastic and polythene products would be discouraged, while jute products would be promoted instead."
The mayoral candidate would take initiative to flourish the city's tourism potential, providing all sorts of modern facilities for tourism.
Rezaul would fix holding tax at a reasonable stage and would ensure transparency in tax management.
He would also further expand health services and the education sector to ensure services for all. "The health service system would be digitalised," he said. "Public toilets would be set up in all busy thoroughfares, with separate stalls for women."
"I would be a patron of cultural and progressive activities and would take steps to enhance facilities for them, if voted to mayor," said Rezaul, requesting the city dwellers to vote for him.
AJM Nasir Uddin, former CCC mayor and AL Chattogram city unit general secretary, and Prof Anupam Sen, vice chancellor of Premier University, were present among others.
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