Keen to work altogether for port city development: CTG new mayor

Chattogram City Corporation new Mayor Rezaul Karim Chowdhury has said he intends to work in coordination with everyone to develop the port city and solve various problems.

Maintaining the status of Chattogram as a commercial capital, developing it as a tourist destination and preserving other historical sites here including those related to anti-British movement and liberation war are some of the prime tasks requiring concerted actions, according to Rezaul. 

The new mayor spoke of his resolution about the city corporation development at a 'Meet The Press' event hosted by Chattogram Journalists Forum Dhaka at the National Press Club in the capital on Saturday.

"Chattogram city does not belong only to the mayor alone, but to everyone who needs to be involved in its development. The advices that would look sustainable in the development of the city corporation would be given due importance," he added.

It will not be enough only to hold a coordination meeting in the name of the city corporation. All responsible authorities concerned have to attend the meeting, a failure of which will be served with show-cause notice, said the mayor.

Initially, a 100-day programme will be launched to address the problem on a priority basis, he said, adding that he would focus on solving the mosquito problem first.

"It will be possible to eradicate 80% of mosquitoes during the timeframe even if it is not 100%," the mayor hoped.

Identifying waterlogging as a major problem in Chattogram City Corporation area, Rezaul Karim said the roads here are broken and the canals have been occupied while mosquito infestation is on top of that -- all these problems will be solved gradually.

The mayor talked about having leverage over the service providing organisations in order to solve these problems. "If it does not work, it will be difficult to transform Chattogram into a truly planned city," he maintained.