GCC polls: Ajmat pledges for building planned, graft-free city

Awami League-backed mayoral candidate Ajmat Ullah Khan in the Gazipur city corporation (GCC) elections has pledged to make the city a graft-free one by establishing transparency and accountability in administration, good governance, and forming a city master plan.

He announced the election manifesto at the Prokushali Bhaban in Gazipur city on Sunday. Senior Awami League leaders and activists of Gazipur city were also present at the event.

In the manifesto, the mayor candidate highlighted a 28-point pledge for the planned development of the city including the formation of an advisory committee/urban development coordination committee, increasing the quality of services, providing compensation for land acquisition or development work, low-cost ambulance services for the working people, slum dwellers, and poor people of the city.

Ajmat Ullah also put forward various promises for the development of the city, including the provision of free health cards, the development of the city's sewage system, the setting up parking facility to ease traffic congestion, the modernisation of the communication system, and the construction of connecting road network on Joydebpur railway crossing.

He also promised the establishment of technical and other educational institutions under GCC to improve the quality of education, provision of scholarships for meritorious students, and creation of a help desk at a regional office of GCC to reduce the suffering of industrial owners and the business community.

At the event, Ajmat Ullah, also the president of Gazipur City Awami League, said since the city corporation started its journey in 2013, the government has provided a lot of support for the development of the city. The city needs an honest and competent representative, who will solve the existing problems by involving city dwellers and coordinating between the various departments of the government.

While announcing the manifesto, the AL mayoral candidate also pledged to the modernisation of waste management, construction of parks and gardens in the city, freeing of encroachment of water bodies, and conservation of rivers and the environment.

Referring to his political career and participation in the liberation war, Azmat Ulla said, "From 1995 to 2013 I served as the chairman and mayor of Tongi Municipality. I was recognised as the best chairman/mayor of Bangladesh four times, in view of the unprecedented development of Tongi Municipal area, and Tongi Municipality was recognised as the best municipality four times."

"If elected as the mayor, I will adopt a three-tier plan of one year, two years, and five years to ensure  quality services by strengthening the service sectors as well as infrastructural development including roads, drains, culverts, and bridges through a fair plan."

Also, if elected, within two months of assuming power as mayor, Ajmat Ullah promised to introduce the organogram and service roll of the city corporation, establish a free wifi zone in specific corners of the city and establish a day-care centre for the children of the working people.