Shitalakkhya tops their pledges

Sand traders occupy almost half the Shitalakkhya near Kanchpur Bridge in Narayanganj. The three front-running mayor candidates of Narayanganj City Corporation polls have pledged that they would rid the river of illegal occupiers and pollution, giving a glimmer of hope that things could improve. Photo: Anisur Rahman

All the three major candidates for Narayanganj City Corporation mayor office during their polls campaign promise to bring back the lost glory of the river Shitalakkhya and make her water safe for human consumption.
One of the front-runners, Shamim Osman, pledges to turn Narayanganj into a “Sky City” by painting city buildings in blue and white.
Selina Hayat Ivy says if elected she will work to keep the city clean and address the perennial waterlogging problem with utmost priority. She also talks about her dream of a modern Narayanganj.
Both Shamim and Ivy say they will convert the single-lane train service between Dhaka and Narayanganj into a double-lane one.
Ivy, the only candidate to print her election pledges, says she will take steps to rid the city of traffic congestions and install lights on every street of the NCC area.
“I shall build a clinic in every ward and rehabilitate hawkers by constructing markets.” She also wants modern kitchen markets for the city dwellers.
Shamim insists that he will construct not only the long awaited bridge over Shitalakkhya to connect Narayanganj with Bandar, but also a footbridge for pedestrians.
He even goes further to promise a tunnel under the river for elders for whom climbing the stairs of the bridge would be tough for its height.
Taimur Alam Khandakar, the BNP-backed contender, wants to make Narayanganj a well-planned city. If voted to office, he would clean the river and recover the major canals crisscrossing the NCC area.
“I shall construct roads on both sides of the bank of the Shitalakkhya and set up parks and a Shishu (Children's) academy.” His pledges include rehabilitating hawkers who were evicted from footpaths.
Ivy, who served the now defunct municipality for eight years, pledges housing projects for the dalit community.
She promises to fight mosquito menace.
“I shall ensure housing for all the employees of the NCC. I shall work for proper waste management of the city and expand the graveyard and cremation facilities.”
Ivy's development plans include repairing all roads in the city corporation area, building a modern medical college and a full-fledged university and a vocational university.
Taimur insists on preparing a master plan to build a modern and planned city and promises to construct modern parks in Narayanganj, Siddhirganj and Bandar and to preserve water bodies, ponds and playgrounds.
Ivy also puts emphasis on quality education by constructing schools and colleges with trained staff. Her pledges include restoring the quality of Shitalakkhya water and constructing concrete ghats (terminals).
Shamim says if elected, he would repair all the bad roads of the NCC area within three months of his tenure. “I shall construct multi-storey buildings for slum dwellers.”
Taimur in his campaign talks about a master plan for the next 100 years to build the city in a planned way.
Taimur is the only candidate whose election pledges focus on law and order of the NCC. He says he would strengthen the law enforcement agencies rather than raising a personal force.