Shakrain 1427: Dhaka set to rejoice in throes of kite festival

Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Fazle Noor Taposh promised a day full of joy and colour on 14th January when a traditional kite festival will be celebrated at municipal level for the first time. 

This year's Shakrain - normally a fixture on the social calendar for residents of Old Dhaka only - will be held across 75 wards of the DSCC as an initiative of the Standing Committee on Sports and Cultural Affairs of the Corporation, Mayor Taposh said, at a press conference on "Shakrain Festival-1427" at Mayor Hanif Auditorium of Nagar Bhaban Tuesday afternoon. 

"As you all know, I promised to build the city embracing our traditions in my election manifesto. And the tradition recalls celebrating our culture and festival. We cherish and adore our heritage and culture. The Eight Sakrain, also known as the kite festival represents the key feature of our culture. And we prepared to celebrate the "ghuri Utshob" simultaneously in 75 wards on 'Poush' 30. We want to reach out to the world sharing the joy of the festival," Taposh said. 

As part of the event, a total of 10,000 kites have been given to 75 councilors from 75 wards of the South City Corporation and 25 women councilors from the reserved seats on behalf of the Standing Committee on Sports and Culture. The councilors will distribute the kites among the people of their respective wards. 

The DSCC mayor also urged everyone to come forward to preserve the tradition, saving it from turning Dhaka into a bizarre spectacle of humanity drowning in stone and concrete. 

Among others, Dhaka-4 MP Syed Abu Hossain Babla, DSCC Chief Executive Officer ABM Amin Ullah Nuri, Standing Committee members of Sports and Culture and DSCC councilors were present at the press conference.

Taposh was a member of parliament before resigning his seat to run for mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation. Although he won the Feb 1 election in a landslide against the BNP's Ishraque Hossain, seasoned observers will tell you Taposh's real victory came much earlier, when he secured the ruling party's nominatrion for the ec    

Recently Taposh had a squabble with Sayeed Khokon as the immediate past Mayor said the city corporation is failing to pay its employees and alleged that Taposh has transferred hundreds of crores in taka from the DSCC to Madhumoti Bank, in which he is the biggest shareholder. 

As reporters brought up Khokon's allegations after the formal press conference, Mayor Taposh said, "I don't feel any need to comment on this. The matter has become a laughing stock to people. And as I hold a responsible position at DSCC, I don't think it's appropriate to talk about such a thing. People can comment on individuals in public service, but we have to understand a  number of these comments are just trivial. And so it is prudent not to respond." 

Pushed on the matter of filing a lawsuit, the Mayor said two cases have been filed yesterday in this connection but he himself had no involvement in filing those cases. "Some over-enthusiastic people lodged the cases without my permission. I hope they will withdraw the cases," he said. 

He also said his office might consider 'legal steps' against Khokon's 'libelous statements' in the future after reviewing the overall situation. 

I won't spill a word further regarding the matter even if I have to face verbal abuse, Taposh said. 

The Mayor added, "I have my hands full with the illegitimate usurpation of the markets. Raids are in progress eliminating the illegal activities. We are strategizing on raiding other illegal markets. Not only that we are working on the resulting waterlogging problem in the city. I don't have the time to ridicule myself anymore." 

"We generated a record amount of revenue in the last six months amid this corona epidemic. South City Corporation has collected revenue of Tk 344 crore. We are committed to achieving the goals we have. A lot of work has to be done and we expect to work further fulfilling those goals. Point out our mistakes if we have any. But there is no point discussing such unwanted and inadvertent issues," Taposh added. 

Describing the allegations of "transfer" of money to Madhumati Bank as misleading, the DSCC mayor said, "Madhumati Bank has been operating with a very good reputation for the last seven years. As a private bank, it collects deposits from all government, semi-government, and autonomous banks. Madhumati Bank had business or service transactions with Dhaka South City long before I took charge. The cash of South City is still deposited in Madhumati Bank."