A coordination authority will be formed to bring discipline in the haphazard works by various agencies in the capital city that causes public woes, the newly elected mayors announced Monday.
Their honeymoon recipe, unveiled before the business community at a reception, also is dominated by pledges like establishing a help line, proper waste management, reducing the rate of trade-licence fees and offering a clean city.
The mayors of two Dhaka city corporations cited these as their first priorities which were also their pledges during electioneering.
Sayeed Khokon and Annisul Huq sought cooperation from the city-dwellers and businessmen in getting to these goals for the public good.
The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) hosted the reception at the Institute of Diploma Engineers Bangladesh in the city.
President of the FBCCI Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed presided. The function was also addressed, among others, by vice-president of the apex trade body Md Helal Uddin, directors Addul Haque and Abu Alam Chowdhury, former president of the FBCCI Mohammad Ali and president of Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry Selima Ahmed.
The businesspeople assured the mayors of their cooperation in making the largely unkempt metropolis into a liveable megacity. Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sayeed Khokon said, "We will soon open a help line so that city- dwellers, including the businesspeople, could get help from the city corporation."
Mentioning funds as 'vital' for carrying out development activities, he called upon the city-dwellers and the businessmen to pay corporation taxes timely to facilitate implementation of development works.
He would consider a cut in the rates of trade licences.
The mayor of DSCC said he will soon sit with the shopkeepers to discuss how to free the footpaths from unlawful possession by their goods and hawkers.
He called upon the businessmen to come forward for the development of the city in partnership with DSCC.
"We will work together for resolving the problems facing Dhaka city-dwellers. I am like your (city residents) son. I am ready to work for city-dwellers as my father did," Mr Khokon said.
Regarding the cleanliness of Dhaka, he said DSCC will soon distribute bags for free to 143,000 households so that they could store household wastes and dispose the garbage at the designated places under the corporation domain.
He said that his office will serve all the city residents irrespective of their political identities. Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Annisul Huq wouldn't allow corruption in his office.
"I will try my best to make Dhaka a 'green city' within the next three years," he said and added that the problem related to waste will be resolved within next two years. He would try to fulfil their promises if they get cooperation from the city-dwellers and the business community.
He also promised to serve the city-dwellers irrespective of their political colours.
"I will serve city-dwellers without considering their political affiliation since I had promised to do that. I request all of you (city-dwellers) please cooperate with me--I need your help in this regard," said the businessman-turned mayor.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com
