Govt not to hinder CCC development efforts
LGRD and Cooperatives Minster Syed Ashraful Islam urged the Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) to explore new revenue sources for increasing its own income to implement more development projects.
He said, “The city corporations would have to depend on the government for money if their own incomes cannot be increased, and this is how their autonomy is restrained and the development works are hampered.”
Syed Ashraf was addressing a view exchange meeting on the development activities at CCC conference room with the Mayor Mohammad Manjur Alam in the chair. State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Jahangir Kabir Nanok attended the programme as special guest.
Ashraf urged the CCC authorities to realise the outstanding money from different institutions and advised to go to the court if necessary.
He said the importance of Chittagong would be enhanced with the construction of Dhaka-Chittagong-Kunming Highway and the deep-sea port. The minister told the authorities to prepare for this, and assured them of approving the development projects.
He also assured the mayor that the government would not hinder any development projects in Chittagong for political causes.
Mohammad Manjur, who was earlier a pro-Awami League ward councillor, won the mayoral election on June 17 with BNP ticket, defeating AL leader ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury who ruled the city corporations three terms.
Ashraful said, “The mayor took part in an anti-government demonstration yesterday (Wednesday), yet we have sat here with him today (Thursday) to discuss the city's development.” This is the goal of the present government.
Mayor Manjur and some ward councillors in their speeches cited some crises including manpower shortage and backlogs of development projects.
State Minister Nanok urged all to work together for the sake of the country, ignoring political differences.
Later, both Ashraf and Nanok attended a view exchange meeting at Chittagong Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa).
Primary and Mass Education Minister Afsarul Ameen was present at the discussion, with Chittagong Wasa Managing Director AKM Fazlullah in the chair.
The LGRD minister assured steps to complete all the three Wasa-projects including Karnaphuli Water Supply Project, Madunaghat Water Supply Project and Mohra Water Treatment Plant within the tenure of the present government.
The LGRD minister also attended a rally organised by Chittagong Divisional Jubo Samabesh at Laldighi Maidan yesterday.
As the chief guest, Ashraf said no power can stop war crimes trial. ''The war criminals thought that Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the USA would come forward to save them when the trial starts, but they didn't come.''
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