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Ways to restore Dhaka's liveability well known

Major mayor aspirants tell Prothom Alo discussion

Staff Correspondent
The problems making Dhaka an unliveable city and the solutions to reverse the situation are both known, several mayoral aspirants told a pre-election discussionyesterday.
Five frontrunners, four from the north and one from the south, joined the discussion, "If 1 become the mayor", organised by the Bangla daily Prothom Alo at its office.
"Both problems and solutions are known but the biggest challenge is the ways to solve," said Mahi B Chowdhury, a Bikolpo Dhara Bangladesh-backed contender of the north.
If elected, he said, he would first try to ensure civic services like proper waste management, road repairs, and street lighting.
Secondly, he would persuade the central government for solving outstanding problems of mass transportation, waterlogging, and public safety.
His third priority would be to mobilise a social and political crusade against corruption, women repression and sexual harassment of females.
Sayeed Khokon, the ruling Awami League-sponsored hopeful in the south, said that though Dhaka was overwhelmed with problems, there were solutions to make it liveable again.
"Ifvoted to be mayor, 1 will turn the Nagar Bhaban into a centre of civic services and prevent it from becoming a party office;" he said. "1 will hold a Dhaka dialogue on the first day of my mayorship and dedicate the first year to remove the barriers to the delivery of civic services."
While Dhaka is branded one of the world's least liveable cities, it is also a unique city of emotional bonding among its dwellers, memories, cultural heritage, and political history, he said.
Citing a survey, AL favourite in the north Annisul Huq said his electorate had identified mosquitoes as the top cause of public sufferings.
"So, fighting the mosquito menace through cleaning efforts and better waste management to build a green city would be my priorities," he said.
His challenger from BNP Tabith Awal said, "On the very first day as mayor, if elected, I will launch a campaign for waste cleaning, road
repairs, and public safety.
He would also lift the standard of civic services, reorganise the public bus routes, introduce modern bus services, and find ways to increase revenues, he said.
The priorities of Zonayed Saki, of the north, will be instituting metropolitan governance, ensuring dignity of all citizens irrespective of their social and economic status, particularly helping women, the elderly and children access civic services, and developing a productive urban economy.
Abdullah Al Kafee, the Communist Party of Bangladesh-backed contender in the north, said he would fight corruption, grabbing and make the corporation transparent and accountable.
Building a liveable, humane, and green Dhaka is his goal.
Conducting the discussion, noted urban researcher Prof Nazrul Islam said, "1 hope the mayor hopefuls will remain true to their pledges after getting elected."
The elected mayor has to obtain his legal agency after negotiation with the central political government to be able to deliver all services he is meant to deliver, said Sarwar Jahan, an eminent professor of urban planning.
Noted local government researcher Tofail Ahmed said a mayor had to duly recognise the role of the ward councillors to make the city corporation vibrant, representative and assertive.