In his first public appearance as mayor-elect of Dhaka North City Corporation, Atiqul Islam at a press conference in the capital yesterday said he would bring back road safety and transport discipline, and give the city footpaths back to pedestrians.

Dhaka would be turned into a green city by "developing" open parks and playgrounds at every neighbourhood, said Atiqul Islam, while reading out a written statement at a crowded press conference held at his Uttara residence.

Atiq won Thursday's by-election to the north Dhaka city's mayoral post. “We are going to take a crash programme to contain mosquito menace," the mayor-elect said in response to a question.

He rolled out a list of short-, medium- and longterm goals as mayor, with a view to enhancing civic life in the capital.

The other pledges he made included preventing environmental pollution, digitalisation of north Dhaka, automation of all kinds of tax payment and other financial transactions, urban forestation, extension of urban agriculture and development of 18 newly-annexed wards.

Pointed out by reporters that his tenure is merely a year long, Atiq said, "These goals are not meant for one year; I will continue working for as long as it takes."

Besides, Atiq committed to turning the newly-annexed wards that used to be under Union Parishads in the capital's fringes, into modern urban areas.

Replying to a question on poor turnout of voters in the election, Atiq said, "It is not my lookout how much the voter turnout was or which party took part in the election. I will go ahead with my work along with local lawmakers and ruling party activists.”

Responding to a question on the city's traffic problems, Atiq said implementing agencies of metro rail and rapid bus transit schemes in the city must do their job in compliance with appropriate traffic management and environmental conservation.

He also called upon city dwellers to be responsible citizens in their disposal of solid waste and use of civic amenities.

Atiq himself conducted the press conference with lawmaker and Dhaka north Awami League's general secretary Sadek Khan. No top executive of DNCC was seen at the press conference.